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Discussion

Berated by parent

Situation:

Student with a permanent medical diagnosis in need of assistance with pain management initially came to the medical room for help last semester in pain. At the time, found that student was allowed to carry oxycodone by parent to take while in school. No orders for pain medication. Discussed the danger of this practice with parent and requested orders for pain medication, inhalers and accommodations (heating pads, rest, etc). Forms sent. Alerted Principal of the situation.

Fast forward to March and no orders received although requested frequently. Student now no longer comes to the medical room for assistance. Some forms eventually received but are incomplete. Missing parts of the order like, Provider signature. Communicated this to parent and eventually was able to get SOME orders directly from the provider. No medication sent in with orders.

Presently, Monday's scheduled class trip is out of state and overnight, I have no medication, still need one med order (Emergency med) and teachers report student was out ill for several days. (d/t pain?)

Requested previous medication, missing order & provider clearance (d/t diagnosis) from parent for student to attend trip OR chaperone. Parent called to yell, berate and insult me yesterday and today has continued to do the same also talking to other teachers on campus. Administration was made aware and although seemingly in agreement has played good cop. They are also busy with graduation details.

Yesterday I did well and was professional and courteous but firm. Today, professional but very down. Why do some people think its ok to talk to Nurses this way? I am only trying to assist the student and uphold the law and our medical standards.

Featured Replies

  • Expert
On 5/24/2019 at 11:50 AM, tining said:

Since this will be on going - next year - policy needs to be clarified for next year. Medication - even over the counter on a student is a "Level III Act of Misconduct" in the Student Code of Conduct in my district with coinciding levels of discipline. What is the policy of looking in backpack for medications? If allowed, next year, look in backpack at the beginning of the day. Confiscate med, call parent to pick up. Again irritating them, however maybe they will get the paperwork completed. Send a letter, with your med forms attached, this week stating "moving forward have the paper work filled out over the summer at your convenience . . . " Print student code of conduct to attach.

At her convenience? The time for the parent to have convenience has long passed. The parent shows no concern whatsoever for other children. Or for the rules, or for even her own daughter, who might decide to OD or sell the stuff or lose it or God only knows what.

Rules are made for a reason - safety, compliance with the law. The devil with the parent's convenience.

And what if she still does not comply? What will the school do come the new school year? And, no, this parent deserves no extra reminders or gentle proddings - only a notice come the first day of school that the daughtetr is suspended immediately because the required forms have not been provided and no medication has been received.

I know you can't allow yourself to be so angry that you sever ties with the parent, but this stuff makes me angry.

Is it the nurse not reporting this mess way earlier to those who have the authority to enforce the rules or is it the nurse allowing a parent to disrespect her? Or the authorities doing nothing, despite numerous notifications by the nurse? Or am I missing something?

And what about searching pockets, backpacks, desks, etc., as someone mentioned earlier?

Is this parent just a lazy, disrespectful flaunter of law and rules? Or is she overwhelmed by a home or work or whatever situation? Maybe DCFS should have a look at her and the home. She is endangering minors.

And the student in pain needs another doctor. There might be dietary changes that could help, physical therapy, other types of therapy, nutritional supplements, stop all sugar and grains for starters.

  • Expert
On 5/24/2019 at 10:28 AM, RNTadaaaa said:

Situation:

Student with a permanent medical diagnosis in need of assistance with pain management initially came to the medical room for help last semester in pain. At the time, found that student was allowed to carry oxycodone by parent to take while in school. No orders for pain medication. Discussed the danger of this practice with parent and requested orders for pain medication, inhalers and accommodations (heating pads, rest, etc). Forms sent. Alerted Principal of the situation.

Fast forward to March and no orders received although requested frequently. Student now no longer comes to the medical room for assistance. Some forms eventually received but are incomplete. Missing parts of the order like, Provider signature. Communicated this to parent and eventually was able to get SOME orders directly from the provider. No medication sent in with orders.

Presently, Monday's scheduled class trip is out of state and overnight, I have no medication, still need one med order (Emergency med) and teachers report student was out ill for several days. (d/t pain?)

Requested previous medication, missing order & provider clearance (d/t diagnosis) from parent for student to attend trip OR chaperone. Parent called to yell, berate and insult me yesterday and today has continued to do the same also talking to other teachers on campus. Administration was made aware and although seemingly in agreement has played good cop. They are also busy with graduation details.

Yesterday I did well and was professional and courteous but firm. Today, professional but very down. Why do some people think its ok to talk to Nurses this way? I am only trying to assist the student and uphold the law and our medical standards.

They think it because you let them think it.










  • Author

@Kooky Korky

Sooo....I think I will take the good advice from what you wrote and let the assumptions about what I allow or dont evaporate into ether.

At the core, what you wrote has good intentions, thank you for the advice.

  • Expert
5 hours ago, RNTadaaaa said:

@Kooky Korky

Sooo....I think I will take the good advice from what you wrote and let the assumptions about what I allow or dont evaporate into ether.

At the core, what you wrote has good intentions, thank you for the advice.

I concur. The 'convenience' verbiage was to deescalate the parent & my own :cheeky:.

18 hours ago, Kooky Korky said:

At her convenience? The time for the parent to have convenience has long passed. The parent shows no concern whatsoever for other children. Or for the rules, or for even her own daughter, who might decide to OD or sell the stuff or lose it or God only knows what.

Rules are made for a reason - safety, compliance with the law. The devil with the parent's convenience.

And what if she still does not comply? What will the school do come the new school year? And, no, this parent deserves no extra reminders or gentle proddings - only a notice come the first day of school that the daughtetr is suspended immediately because the required forms have not been provided and no medication has been received.

I know you can't allow yourself to be so angry that you sever ties with the parent, but this stuff makes me angry.

Is it the nurse not reporting this mess way earlier to those who have the authority to enforce the rules or is it the nurse allowing a parent to disrespect her? Or the authorities doing nothing, despite numerous notifications by the nurse? Or am I missing something?

And what about searching pockets, backpacks, desks, etc., as someone mentioned earlier?

Is this parent just a lazy, disrespectful flaunter of law and rules? Or is she overwhelmed by a home or work or whatever situation? Maybe DCFS should have a look at her and the home. She is endangering minors.

And the student in pain needs another doctor. There might be dietary changes that could help, physical therapy, other types of therapy, nutritional supplements, stop all sugar and grains for starters.

Yah...so when dealing with the parents, we are dealing with "taxpayers, who pay our salary" as we are often reminded. There is a delicate balancing act that goes on day in and out. Life is rarely black and white in this area, like many others.

That lack of that definition has undone me more than once, necessitating a "conversation follow up" to an angry email, letter or phone call from a parent. Administration has to really play both sides of the fence.

Makes me nuts some days!!

On 5/27/2019 at 5:29 PM, Kooky Korky said:

What came of those talks?

I don't understand why Admin, both Principal and Nursing, don't lay down the law, suspend, etc.

In every situation students' meds were confiscated, parents were phoned, I had to speak with students about why they can't carry around medication in school, and we sorted out the proper paperwork needed. For reasons I can't clarify here (because it'd be too identifying) many of our administrators fail to understand the laws in place around this. If it was my choice the student would be suspended first time around...but we are a private school and cater to parents.

32 minutes ago, BiscuitRN said:

If it was my choice the student would be suspended first time around...but we are a private school and cater to parents.

... and I bet these parents donate $$$$ to allow their child to have special preference. See this all the time.

  • Expert

Happens in public school. Parking space auction $$$$, PTO, . . .

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