CPS question.

[Farawyn]

One of the TAs just came down with one of the Special Ed kids with a small bruise on his forearm. The kid told the TA his mom did it to him today, and could have been a thumb print but was an old, resolving, yellow, soft bruise. No other bruises or marks noted or reported. The kid is known to tell tales or exaggerate. Me, the teacher and the TA (both of whom have a relationship with the mom, I do not) called the mom and spoke to her on speaker. Mom says her son has been tantrumming and running through the house at 2am, and he does sometimes self abuse, he will bite his arm superficially and look for a reaction, and she may have grabbed him, but not today.

I was satisfied after talking to mom, the teachers and the kid. I gave the kid an ice pack and he was happy with that.

Question: Should I have called CPS? I think no. I have before in other situations. Wondering what you all think. Am I missing or overlooking something? Or is sometimes a bruise just a bruise?

I also realize that the TA or teacher could have easily made the call, too, especially since the kid initially reported to them and I was really just evaluating the bruise.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

as a rule of thumb, the person making the initial discovery needs to be the one to make the call to CPS. so that being said they can come to you or guidance or the principal or whomever will aid in making that decision as it's not always a clear cut case of whether to call or not.

I've always said that when in doubt make the call, but in a case such as this, i would tend to side with your thoughts - sometimes kids can get out of control, parents grab them to control them and a mark will be left. If the story was that the child had the mark left maliciously or something didn't feel right about the story then there would be no hesitation about calling

[caliotter3]

Based on what you said, I would make note of this, but I would not be making a call until something more definitive occurs or a pattern develops. If they had called CPS on me when I was a kid, my parents would still be in jail, due to the fact that I was always full of "kid" bruises obtained from navigating through life.

[Red Kryptonite]

Dear Jesus. If someone called CPS every time one of my kids had a bruise..... I'd be in the lifer unit. My kids don't even have special needs and we've given them bruises trying to control tantrums, restrain from dangerous behavior like running out in the street, or just by accident.

I think CPS is needed, but I also think some people are much too quick to call.

[Farawyn]

Thank you!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I agree with everyone!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Yes, sometimes a bruise is just a bruise.

[Red Kryptonite]

And of course right after I posted that....my daughter got pushed in her soccer game today and went down face first. She's got a pretty good scrape on her forehead, may develop a shiner, and might need a concussion evaluation tomorrow.

Kids.

[Farawyn]

And of course right after I posted that....my daughter got pushed in her soccer game today and went down face first. She's got a pretty good scrape on her forehead, may develop a shiner, and might need a concussion evaluation tomorrow.

Kids.

I'm sorry.

Did they WIN?

[Red Kryptonite]

I'm sorry.

Did they WIN?

Unfortunately no. Que sera sera.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

So you know the deal for her....no TV, txting, online screen time, heavy reading, fluorescent lights etc...really let her brain settle down and begin the healing process. I'm sure you do, but this is one of my passions.

Hope she feel better soon!

[Farawyn]

So you know the deal for her....no TV, txting, online screen time, heavy reading, fluorescent lights etc...really let her brain settle down and begin the healing process. I'm sure you do, but this is one of my passions.

Hope she feel better soon!

Good, I will borrow you next football season. We were 0-10. Plenty of concussions.