Burn Care

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

Good Evening All!

I have a kinder kiddo with a superficial 2nd degree burn on his arm that I am trying to care for at school but I'm not sure it's getting better. I sent a note home instructing the parents to have him seen by a doctor for wound evaluation and management - that went over like a led balloon.

I've been keeping it covered with Telfa and coban. Usually he comes to school with the same dressing, but sometimes not. Last Friday I changed the dressing before he went home and he came in Monday with the same dressing, only to come back Tuesday with a different dressing than the one I put on Monday. I have ABX ointment and dermaplast, and nothing else.

The burn is more red than pink but doesn't look infected.

Any suggestions?

thanks!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Did you contact the parents via phone or face to face? i'm just thinking that if you had sent a written note as your only communication, it's sometimes overlooked (or let's face it, ignored) and the parents can plea that they never got it or knew anything about it.

I'm sure it goes without saying, but document the crap out of all of this. Everything - the dressing changes you do, the communications sent home, the child coming back after a weekend with the same dressing, and so on. Contact your admin as well and apprise them to the situation. A call to CPS may by appropriate in this case. Not saying that they'd necessarily do anything, but to have the report on file is a good idea.

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How did this burn happen?

I agree- document, document, document!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Their reluctance brings up a huge red flag to abuse. I would give them one more chance and consider reporting.

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Their reluctance brings up a huge red flag to abuse. I would give them one more chance and consider reporting.

I agree. If they are not forthcoming with information then it is suspicious. Maybe they don't have the financial resources to see a dr but they need to be up front with you.

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Yikes. Kudos for all you are doing- but did this occur at home or school? I always have to remind myself that I am not taking the place of family practice.

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