Accident Reporting

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Hi everyone,

Just curious how/which accidents you report? We have a computer system to track all visits, and I put most everything in just so I can keep track of frequent flier visits and just in case anything seemingly minor needs to be referenced. I draw the line at minor scrapes that could have been taken care of with class or playground first aid kits. Still, if there is a bump/fall, even if I don't see a bump/bruise and a student seems fine, I still log it, just in case it becomes swollen/bruised later or a parent wants to know more details. I feel like it also reflects on me - and shows what keeps me busy during the day :)

However, our administration is looking at the numbers and thinks I'm reporting too many accidents versus other schools in our organization (we're a private school). I feel stuck and a little uncomfortable now having to differentiate between an accident that needs to be logged in the computer and one that doesn't. Our principal has suggested I can log incidents in my own/separate way too (ones that do not go onto our computer system) - although this just seems like more work to me!

Anyone encounter anything similar (with administration wanting fewer accidents reported)?

Thanks much!!

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We use a computer program and I log everything that comes through my door. Because it's my show of what I do and my work, and my documentation. I have a separate form that I can complete for accidents that require more than a half day missed or evaluation from a doctor.

I would ask for specific guidelines on what constitutes an accident if they want you to document fewer, and then still maintain your current system even if in paper.

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I track everything. It's my license on the line if I don't record something and it turns out to be a bigger deal than I thought (ie: student with pain to leg after PE. I chart "no open skin, normal gait, no swelling/bruising noted at this time. Gave ice pack" Now the student goes home and it swells, goes to urgent care, diagnosed with hairline fracture. My butt is covered with the charting)

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My first year I did an accident report on EVERYTHING!! Now I do an accident report on anything that bleeds, swells, will be bruised or just doesn't look right. And of course head injuries. At the end of my first year the principal held a staff meeting to announce we would be getting new gym flooring thanks to the nurse and all the carpet burn accident reports she sent in!! (Yes our elem school had carpet on the gym floor, nasty nasty nasty!) I know that isn't the reason the carpet is gone, but if the teachers want to think I did it ... okay with me!

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Specializes in School nurse.

I chart everything that comes through the door. Remember, if it's not charted it didn't happen. I'm not risking my license for appearances.

Accident reports are a separate form and are reserved for things that are referred for further dx. There is one for staff and one for students. Example: Injury with suspected fracture, concussion, just not sure etc. yes I hate indoor hockey, field day, and gym in general lol.

The accident report goes through the chain to the board. School insurance forms are sent home which covers out of pocket expenses for the ER trip.

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I log everything that walks thru my doors - even if it is just a bandaid or ice pack. It is my license on the line and besides who knows if that small bump or abrasion turns into something bigger when the kid gets home - at least you have a record of what happened at school.

Our accident reports are also seperate forms - we have policy/protocal to use them for anything major - ambulance calls, use of Oxygen, AED, EpiPens, or our stock Albuterol neb treatments, non staff injuries, any kid injury where I have recommended MD evaluations - lacerations, fractures, concussions etc. I have even filled them out for injuries that have happened due to unsafe things - broken equipment, uneven sidewalks etc. The accident forms go to our risk management department for review.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I log absolutely everything that walk through my door. My nurse manager wants it this way because it helps when it comes time to ask for more nurses :). If it takes up my time, it gets logged, even putting an earring back in (why a female teacher is NOT capable of this is beyond me).

As far as accident report goes, at the beginning of the year my principal made me fill them out on everything, every single scratch, monkey-bar blister, everything. The nurse manager let her know that I was only to fill them out if I saw the accident happen. There is a portion on the AR that says "was first-aid administered", if I did anything for the student (band-aid, ice, etc.) I fill this portion out and send it back to the teacher to complete the rest and call the parent, unless it's a serious injury. In my opinion one only needs to be filled out if I feel that the accident may result in a dr's visit, but the principal wants one on EVERYTHING. The first day of school I filled out 19 accident reports. I see anywhere from 30-50 kiddos a day in our 463 student school. Ours trumps everyone in accident reports (not a good thing from a board of education standpoint), but I don't run the school ;)

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Specializes in kids.

I log everything that comes thru the door, and accident reports are done for anything that:

1) may need out of school referral

2) I am not sure of the etiology

3) head injury

4) chronic overuse injury

5) crazy parents

6) my gut says you need more!!!

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We also have an accident form for staff, but most of it is filled out by administration. I fill out a small part if I administered any first aid. This year there was a cafeteria worker who got a laceration to her wrist, my involvement included looking at it and saying "That needs stitches. Who can drive her to urgent care?" A couple years ago a staff member slipped on ice in the parking lot and broke her ankle. I went out there but there's really nothing I can do at that point. There was gross deformity, can't move her. Called 911 and put our coats on her since she was laying on ice. I asked her if she was allergic to morphine (no) or anything else and we called her husband.

For students, there is a form, but I seldom fill one out. I chart the heck out of anything I refer for further evaluation or send in an ambulance. Luckily, we have fast response time with our EMS. When I'm sending a student with a parent with the recommendation to see a physician, I chart everything that I saw/did and make sure to note "Advise parent to see physician, parent voices understanding" I do kind of like the written form though with the parent signature acknowledging that I stated they should see their doctor.

ETA- I also chart every time I call a parent about something. ie: Suzy bumped her head, I chart "Called home to inform parent of injury. Parent voices understanding. Will update parent with any changes to condition"

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i chart on everything electronically too, but have a paper form for student accidents that cause more than just garden variety bumps and boo boos. I write up anything that I send a student out for further eval or anything that i feel may be questioned.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Thanks everyone for the feedback - just wanted to confirm I'm not crazy and doing too much. I don't feel like I have that many visits compared to most schools either. I see 10-20 students a day (more than 20 is a BUSY day), and we have about 500 students. We'll see what happens when I meet with my supervisor to discuss it. Thanks again!!

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Hey chaser- I bet you don't like dodge ball either. I hate it with a passion! :angrybird12:

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