Why didn't you call me?

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I had a parent stop by my office very angry that i didn't call after the child was complaining of a stiff neck aggrivated bt sit ups in PE. I tried to explain that I only call on things that i feel need follow up or continued monitoring. I explained that i told the student to perform ROM exercises and apply warm moist heat at hime if still affected. Apparently not good enough. Seems i'm still wrong because i didn't call her about this. So would you have made a priority call for a stiff neck with no c/o numbness or tingling?

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

If the child's neck was hurting just because of doing situps in PE, and the child told you that, and there was no other s/s....I probably wouldn't have called either. If the child reported that it started earlier or had some other symptom (headache, fever, back pain, etc), I might have called depending on what they were reporting. Personally, I think you did the right thing....I am very selective about what I call home about, simply because parents usually take a call as an opportunity to come pick your child up and have an excused absence (uh, no!). Did the child continue to complain? Did the neck pain eventually go away? Did you speak to your administration about the upset parent? What was the outcome after you explained your reasoning to the parent? Were they still upset or had they come around some?

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

The student (7th grade) didn't come back. I assume either called from main office or illegal cell phone. Mom was in about 2 hours later fuming. I could tell just by her tone that she came into the office looking for a fight. I told her i'd call for any and all future visits but she still seemed angry. Call admin - gotta cover my butt too and also noted in my charting that parent was upset along with my rationale for not calling.

Spoke to nurses who have had to deal with her in past - and this is just the way she is apparently. Fortunately, the child really doesn't come to the office frequently at all.

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

Yeah, I have quite a few parents like that. I have one particular boy in 1st grade (who, in my opinion, is a very immature child) whose mother I have to call EVERY time he steps through my door...even for a BANDAID. Mom insists that I call her IMMEDIATELY. He complained one day of an headache, no fever, no other symptoms, played outside at recess like always (AFTER complaining about his headache)...I called Mom to let her know (as ordered, lol) and she insisted on coming to pick him up. I told her, it's up to you but it's an unexcused absence...her exact words "But my baby is in terrible pain, he has to come home with me immediately." Seriously?! Your BABY is 7 years old and cries over every little thing and MUST have his way or he's melting down...and I think I know how he got to be that way!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

If I called home everytime I saw complaints not associated with any other symptoms, I would be on the phone ALL DAY LONG.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

There is a parent like that at my school too. I refuse to indulge her. I told her, with full support from principal and health services admin, that I see far too many students per day to phone home for minor illnesses or injuries, and with over 500 students in the building I cannot be expected to remember if certain parents want notification for every minor ailment (although this is partially true...there is no way I would forget who this student/parent was!!!) The mother was not happy, but I got my point across.

I try very hard to set limits with my time and to treat every student/family the same. I will admit that I probably call more frequently for students where the parent is this type, but I refuse to call for a simple bandaid or 5 minute headache. I do not think that is unreasonable and neither does admin, so my rear is covered!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.
Yeah, I have quite a few parents like that. I have one particular boy in 1st grade (who, in my opinion, is a very immature child) whose mother I have to call EVERY time he steps through my door...even for a BANDAID. Mom insists that I call her IMMEDIATELY. He complained one day of an headache, no fever, no other symptoms, played outside at recess like always (AFTER complaining about his headache)...I called Mom to let her know (as ordered, lol) and she insisted on coming to pick him up. I told her, it's up to you but it's an unexcused absence...her exact words "But my baby is in terrible pain, he has to come home with me immediately." Seriously?! Your BABY is 7 years old and cries over every little thing and MUST have his way or he's melting down...and I think I know how he got to be that way!

I have a student like this. I no longer assess him when he comes in, I just call Mom immediately. She's going to come and get him anyway, may as well save a step or 2 :)

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I tried to refuse calling her, but my principal's thinking behind giving in and calling her every time was that she would eventually get tired of being called all the time and tell us we didn't have to call her...yeah, that didn't work haha! I don't see him very often (thank goodness) his teacher this year has to really think he's sick to send him. Most complaints get knocked down in the classroom, so that's a big help. I just can't stand helicopter parents, ya know the ones that hover over every little thing their child does, every little complaint or problem they have, and all that...drives me up the wall!

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Specializes in emergency room, TBI.

Boy do I know where you are coming from. I actually have 3 names taped to my desk, so if they come in it is an automatic call home. My principal and I spoke about it because I too have 400-500 students, and I wouldn't have time to call for everything (I think that is what I am paid for "my nursing judgement" :nurse:) I figure though, since the request has only been made a couple of times...it is easier to handle it ahead of time, instead of after the parent calls the principal to complain about me! :angthts::grn:

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Specializes in School Nursing, Critical Care.

Purple-scrubs you are so lucky. I have two students on my list to call anytime and 900 students with medically fragile students also. The principal is hoping they will get tired of me calling, but no dice.

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Gotta love those parents! With certain students I will just send a note home that they were seen and I felt they were ok to go back to class so that way the mom can't say she wasn't notified but the kid doesn't get to go home for some silly reason either. This works with a lot of students but I still have those that I call because the mom insists she know right away if her baby graces my doorway!

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