How far does confidentiality go?

Specialties School

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I had a student last week who stated she was kicked in the head by a student on a swing (unintentional). She remembered the student's name but claimed she had no recollection after that. This girl likes to make up great stories, she is related to so and so, they are adopting, etc. which drives her mom nuts. She sat in my office and acted like she was passing out, eyes rolling back in her head but maintaining her balance in her chair. Had I not had this history with her, I would have called 911. Long story short, mom was close and I sent her out with instructions to followup in ER. Mom was going to skip, but DD was sleepy, so she went. Mom had emailed us saying DD was on her iThing well after midnight night before, was just overly tired, so doctor ordered no electronics for a day to drive point home. DD came to school the next day stating she suffered a major concussion, to the point that she had to study her yearbook to remember her classmates names, and it worked! Even on the students who were new this year!:roflmao: The teacher came to me for clarity and I talked with mom who said they didn't even do a CT scan, but they couldn't rule out a minor concussion, given her sleepiness and DD acting. I let the teacher know this, but this girl had everyone doing things for her all day and got the poor girl who barely touched her to bring in chocolates for her. She totally played up a non injury and I just wanted to tell her classmates that she did not have a major concussion or she wouldn't have been in school for a few days and been on brain rest. I know in 20 years, when I see her on movie posters, I can say "I knew her when...", but for now I am so frustrated with her. Is it my place to clarify this?

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Specializes in kids.

Ugh. Gotta call her bluff and keep her out of PE recess, miss extra activities etc until all Sx subside....bet she gets better quick!~

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Wow...That is one Academy Award winning performance!

I wouldn't worry too much about letting her class know she is ok. maybe the teacher can assist in delivering that info so that the minions won't have to continue to do her bidding.

Reminds me of 3 years ago, I sent a 5th grader out to r/o leg fx after being hurt in recess football and giving a primal scream every time he tried to move leg. Out he went to Urgent Care for a mild sprain.

The next day, he told his classmates his leg was broken. They were all upset. He was wearing a small knee sleeve the next day. :sarcastic: I had no problem asking the 5th graders if they thought a broken leg warranted only a soft support. LOL!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I was so tempted to pull her in from recess when it was 75 degrees out, but she would have eaten it up. She is an extremely talented actress for 10, but oh my, the drama off stage is just :banghead:.

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Oh my! I had one like this last school year, so much drama! I did a happy dance when a request for records came from her new school district.

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
Oh my! I had one like this last school year, so much drama! I did a happy dance when a request for records came from her new school district.

I must admit...I have been guilty of this as well :)

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Specializes in School nurse.

Status dramaticus. At least for a day...Recess? Nope. Gym? Nope. Maybe even no lunch with friends because, you know, it's noisy and chaotic. Therapeutic boredom sitting in the office with nothing to do might cure her.

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Status dramaticus. At least for a day...Recess? Nope. Gym? Nope. Maybe even no lunch with friends because, you know, it's noisy and chaotic. Therapeutic boredom sitting in the office with nothing to do might cure her.

OMG "status dramaticus"-I think this is my new catch-phrase!!:yeah:

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Specializes in School nurse.

I can't take credit for the saying. Someone wiser than I in this forum introduced it í ½í¸€.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Hospice,Med-Surg.

Ugh. Please tell me this girl moves on to another school soon because you will NOT want to know her when she hits the middle school years.

I had one of those. It was bad news.

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I don't think there would be anything wrong with having a casual talk with her teacher(s). Just so they understand she's extemporizing... (yes, I just wrote that.)

I think NutMeggeRN said it best. Perhaps a little preventive measures - for her own recovery of course - is in order. Some kids just love attention but... C'mon now! (oh wait... Wrong thread.)

Dany

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Depending on the kids, sometimes I give general information regarding injuries. Concussions require brain rest, so no electronics, no noisy or bright areas, more time to do assignments, etc. I'm not talking about the students, but I am using it as a teaching moment. I'd be concerned with your drama llama that if you made her rest/followed concussion rules that would just make her be like, "see, I am injured!" and reinforce with her friends/classmates that she really is injured and oh no, how did she survive?

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