Am I missing something? SOS

[WyVy, LPN]

I need an opinion on an interesting situation guys.

I have a Kg student in a resource room who is normally very bubbly, however he's had a rough couple days. The day before yesterday he had a wicked cough and his aide "suggested" he had whooping cough or croup, it was juuuust a cough. So yesterday and today he has been sleeping in class. This isn't completely unusual for him, he has napped in class before because his older brother says he doesn't have a bedtime and usually stays up late. Teacher and aide have told me several times in these last two days that he is sleeping and difficult to wake up, but all vitals are normal. Today the teacher insisted I check his pupils, then asked me what that tells me.

The parents of this child NEVER respond to my calls/messages. He still has Christmas papers in his backpack!

Long story short, what's a nurse to do?

[OldDude]

Why doesn't the teacher check his pupils...since they're concerned about that. What you describe isn't unusual unless the kid started a new med in the last couple days. Otherwise, same stuff, different day for the ones that fit this scenario. Maybe you could wave your magic wand.

[WyVy, LPN]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks teacher may be overreacting. I've done all I can do, but they're grasping straws. They also hunted me down five minutes after I left their room to demand I check his oxygen levels. He doesn't have any respiratory conditions and when I was down there his RR was WNL.

This teacher and I have had the go around in the past anyway. I swear, everyone's a critic.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I would probably TRY to give parents a call, just to CYA. Leave a message. If they call back let them know the teachers concerns about him falling asleep. Otherwise I would let the teacher know that it takes a lot of of a little body then they are sick. If he isn't able to get rest at home, this is where he is getting it.

[WineRN]

The parents of this child NEVER respond to my calls/messages. He still has Christmas papers in his backpack!

Has the teachers or admin been able to get a hold of the parent in the past? If the little one still has papers from a few months ago in his bookbag, and there sounds like there might be some other worry some flags (no bed time, repeated sleeping in class), I feel like the teacher is trying to use you to get a medical reason to call DCFS. Which you absolutely don't have at this point.

You just keep doing you and document all the crazy things they are asking for.

[Farawyn]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks teacher may be overreacting. I've done all I can do, but they're grasping straws. They also hunted me down five minutes after I left their room to demand I check his oxygen levels. He doesn't have any respiratory conditions and when I was down there his RR was WNL.

This teacher and I have had the go around in the past anyway. I swear, everyone's a critic.

Do they think he's high?

Document every time you try to call the parent. Also, I would maybe e,mail parent and say you've been trying to get in touch with them. Start that paper trail.

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I find that special ed teachers are more focused on every little thing with their students because they have the luxury of small classes and aides.. so each student gets extra special attention (where is a teacher with 25 students is less likely to be hyper focused on one child.)

If there's no fever and he isn't in distress, what more does she want?

[WyVy, LPN]

Thanks guys! I absolutely document everything, describe describe! Our Principal got ahold of mom yesterday and said she was nice as can be. Well that's the difference between me and an authority figure I suppose, but makes me seem like a dummy. She told Principal that he was recently dx: insomnia and is on Rx for it. Of course today he comes in alert and back to his usual self.

Yes, they are building a case for him anyway regarding other things, but for some reason they're trying to pull me into it. Oy vey.

Happy Friday!! :)