The angry parent

Specialties School

Published

It's the last day of school here, and just had an angry dad come in. Yelling at us because his daughter (an 18 yo senior) was in the other day for chest pains. She had seen the nurse at the (school affiliated) job training center that morning so I called over there and got a report from that nurse. Both of us assessed her as all VS WNL, + pulses, lungs clear not diminished, etc. Called mom and informed her, she already knew though bc the student was texting. The mom said she gets costochondritis and thought that's what was going on. She was okay with student going back to class. Sent her back with a medical referral, f/u with a doctor.

Anyway, guess she ended up in the ED and was dx with blood clots yesterday. The dad said we were upset when his daughter was in the other day (actually I was very nice to her and the mom was laughing and pleasant with me on the phone!) didnt take it serious, and that I should rethink my career if this is how I'm going to act. The parents are divorced so idk if he was mad over the mom's reaction too but geez louise. I said that day that she needed to see a dr to rule out (or in her case dx) anything. She was totally stable though on Wednesday, and her mother wanted her sent back to class! I don't have xray vision or a crystal ball in my office! He refused to look at the notes from that day (saying "yea I know you documented to cover your *****) and wouldn't let us even speak before storming out of here.

So glad that it's the last day and this girl is graduating!

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"I am very ANGRY and I am going to yell at you about it and don't you dare try to use any of that REASON bullcrap or address my concerns because I am not here to actually SOLVE anything I just want to YELL!!" :madface:

At least you're almost through!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Sounds like the father has lots of issues......none of which you are responsible for. You did the right thing...assessment....called the mother....made referral. That's all I would have done also. Forget about this and chalk it up to the parent being a real horses butt.

And thank your lucky stars that the student is leaving !

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Too bad you guys left your crystal ball in your OTHER lab coat... it would have saved dad a lot of yelling!

VS were stable, lungs were clear, parent was contacted and parent said student was to go back to class. I am positive that is the student came in with abnormal VS, shortness of breath, etc other troubling s/s that you or the other nurses would have pressed the mom to pick up the student and seek medical attention right away.

As far as dad goes... it sounds like you did everything the way it was supposed to be handled... sometimes you just gotta let a donkey bray! Hee haw!

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Specializes in School nursing.

You did exactly what I would have done in that situation. I often tell my student and parents with a smile that "I don't have x-ray vision - if I did, I would be a millionaire!"

Funny enough, I have also dealt with an angry parent with a student that had possible costochondritis. Except that parent was a nurse trying to tell me that standard OTC dosing for ibuprofen by weight for her 128 lb 13 year old child was 600 mg and that she didn't need a doctor's note for that dosing and that my standing orders from a pediatrician were wrong.

Some things you can never win. You just document and walk away. I'm happy for you that this student is graduating and you won't have to deal with that angry parent again!

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Specializes in SICU/CVICU.

Did she have point tenderness? This is one of the ways to tell if chest pain is costocondriatis.

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You did what you could. The child was assessed, the parent notified, there are some people that you will NEVER please. Glad it's your last day with him. Enjoy the summer!

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Specializes in Acute Care, CM, School Nursing.

I have a feeling dad's issue was with mom, more than you. I have had divorced parents try and drag me into their drama before. It's not pleasant. Based upon your assessment and mom's reaction, I think you did what you could. But, it's always easier to yell at the nurse... :no:

Enjoy your summer, and be glad that student is graduating!

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