boundaries with coworkers' medical info

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So I *almost* made it to summer without sending a coworker out in an ambulance (alas!). Adult in 60's, dizzy, diaphoretic, altered mental status, satting mid-to-high 80's at rest, multiple comorbidities I don't even want to know about. They ended up being admitted, still in the hospital as far as I know.

Which brings up this question: how on earth do you set boundaries about your coworkers' personal medical details? In this case, the teacher clearly was acutely ill, so of course I jumped in (by throwing some O2 on, kicking out the gawkers and the 'helpful' staff trying to offer a ride home (!), and calling 911). But now I get questions all day about how the person is doing, and folks including my principal seem confused about why I'm not texting/calling family to get reports, or even why I don't go uninvited to the hospital. The person does have a spouse and other family members involved.

I don't happen to be personal friends with this teacher. If I were, I certainly wouldn't blab health information to the whole school. And since I'm not, I think it would be intrusive to ask...and, frankly, I don't really want to know colleagues' personal medical details. Helping in an emergency is one thing, case management and reporting private data to the supervisor is quite another.

Does this happen at your school? How do you handle these discussions? No one's directed me to act differently, but they seem kinda...surprised....by my idea of appropriate boundaries.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Sigh, I'm afraid it does happen every time I send a staff member out in an ambulance, or even home ill. The admin's and other staff think I am the link to all that's medical. I simply try and remind them that the staff member that I sent out has the same right to confidentiality as anyone else, and if they want the rest of the school to know they will call and share their status with them. They don't like it, but, they get over it. I am not going to breach confidentiality.

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I am the same way! My job is done once that person goes out in the ambulance. If they want to update me, great. If not, they are adults and that is their choice.

Everybody is a nosey nellie in the education setting.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

The same way you do for kids. If there's not an educational need to know (and here, there most def is NOT) I say "thank you for your concern but I can't talk about it."

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I hear you! When I've sent out a coworker and others start asking, I've told them to contact the person directly because I can't give any info. Luckily, I haven't ever had anyone push back on it.

Hope your coworker is ok!

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Specializes in kids.

Same as I tell the kids...

"If I tell you, I have to kill you!"

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
1 hour ago, NutmeggeRN said:

Same as I tell the kids...

"If I tell you, I have to kill you!"

You are so much better at this than I am!!!

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Specializes in kids.

25 years in this saddle, I pretty much do not care who I piss off!

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Thanks all! This school world is really a weird place sometimes... As it turned out, speaking of inappropriate boundaries, one of our security staff members went over to the hospital of their own accord, apparently received or overheard medical information, and started blabbing personal details all over the school.

Yikes. Shaking my head, and staying out of it.

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Feeling this today--I've got a member of administration who wants me to shake down a staff member & do a neuro assessment because they had a concussion a few weeks back and have a headache today. The staff member came into my office and asked to take some of our stock ibuprofen--sure, not a problem. They've told me nothing of their concussion (I've only heard through the grape vine) so that tells me that, unless they're in need of emergency care, it's none of my business.

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Specializes in School nursing.
21 hours ago, BiscuitRN said:

Feeling this today--I've got a member of administration who wants me to shake down a staff member & do a neuro assessment because they had a concussion a few weeks back and have a headache today. The staff member came into my office and asked to take some of our stock ibuprofen--sure, not a problem. They've told me nothing of their concussion (I've only heard through the grape vine) so that tells me that, unless they're in need of emergency care, it's none of my business.

Yep, yep, yep.

Now if a staff member comes down to check in about a medical issue that is impacting their ability to work and/or be at school (they have disclosed it, not anyone else telling me), I'm happy to help. But usually it is to justify to them a call to their doctor (and tell them to stop reading WebMD). And I'm lucky as isn't something staff abuses with me at all. Emergencies are a different story.

If staff asked for acetaminophen or ibupofen, I set out my large bottle of it and let them take it and dose themselves.

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Specializes in school nurse.
On 5/24/2019 at 10:52 AM, NutmeggeRN said:

Same as I tell the kids...

"If I tell you, I have to kill you!"

As long as you're willing to follow through... ?

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