I work as an ER nurse. I encountered a parent who brought a child in to be evaluated because the child suddenly developed heart palpitations. The child was complaining of a racing heart. After evaluation it turned out their heart was beating well above the normal range. The child was awake, and responding appropriately, the other vitals were good.
I informed the doctor immediately and was later given verbal orders. I then let the parent know that we needed labs, I was informed by the parent that the child admitted to taking a piece of an Edible brownie laced with marijuana.
The parent states that they themselves had consumed the brownie but wasn't aware that the child had come in contact with it. I told the doctor that I needed to contact DCFS due to the fact that a minor ingested a drug laced brownie. The doctor didn't think it was necessary and wanted to immediately discharge. Drug test was positive for THC. I contacted DCFS.
What could have been done differently?
Staff note.... This has been edited and may not reflect in the initial replies
What mother hasn't had those moments? If an accident happens, do we turn them in to the authorities?
WE don’t, but unfortunately a lot of Karens on social media do. There are some people (I am not accusing OP of this, we are off-topic now) who think that the standard is perfect parenting. An 8yo falls off his bike and breaks his arm— why was he allowed to ride in that location where there are rocks around? A toddler chases her ball down a hill and cracks her head— why weren’t you physically holding her every moment? A baby suffocates because she had a toy in the crib— Karen will report you to the authorities for not being up-to-date on all the research about safe crib space. If you don’t hit the 100% mark every second for 18 years, some people (a minority thank God) think you don’t deserve to be a parent.
I have reported an abuse case in which the doc disagreed. She is smart, well intentioned, and well educated.
But- her opinion did not release me from my obligation. there is nothing in the wording of the lae in my state that has anything to do with the opinion of another professional.
18 hours ago, Rasberry_RN_ said:
It would be awesome if you shared that story.
I actually don't recall the specifics.
What I recall was that it was a bit of a marginal case, in which I had to give some thought as to whether it was reportable. I am sure she felt the same way.
I discussed it with her. No argument or conflict.
I did a bit of research on the law, and learned that my obligation was independent of the doc. If I recall correctly, I would be fulfilling my obligation if I reasonably believed that it would be reported. In other words, if I reported my concerns to the doc, or social work, and my understanding was that they would follow through, I would have fulfilled my obligation. Clearly no point in several people reporting the same case.
I did let the doc know that I felt legally obligated. This didn't cause any conflict. In my ER we have a good working relationship between the two disciplines.
I think reporting it was the right thing to do on your end. You are a mandatory reporter. What DCSF chooses to do with that information is beyond your scope of responsibility. In my opinion, parents should not be punished for their child accidentally consuming marijuana, but that my opinion. We live in a litigious and punitive society. So unnecessary to punish parents for things like this when there are children who face actual abuse.
I think reporting it was the right thing to do on your end. You are a mandatory reporter. What DCSF chooses to do with that information is beyond your scope of responsibility. In my opinion, parents should not be punished for their child accidentally consuming marijuana, but that my opinion. We live in a litigious and punitive society. So unnecessary to punish parents for things like this when there are children who face actual abuse.
I don’t know why people think that calling Child Protective Services is punishment to the parent. I was in no way trying to punish anyone. Calling CPS is like kinda like calling the cops on and elderly person to do a wellbeing check. In this case that’s exactly what I was doing.
CPS may open an investigation. These can be scary things for parents. I worked in pediatric mental health for over a year. Anytime we called CPS they could open up an investigation. Depending upon the state you live in, many states will open up investigations for very minute reasons. Many of the NW states are like this- especially Oregon and Washington. An open investigation can have consequences for parents, especially if they themselves work in health care, law enforcement or social services.
I'm a school nurse and mandated reporter. The case workers I've talked to have always said, when in doubt, report. It's up to the intake person to decide if it's worth investigating. There is a good chance that DCFS will look at the report, and decide it wasn't worth investigating. I've had a couple that I've reported where I thought DCFS would have been there immediately, and they've said, "meh- this doesn't qualify" (not in those words).
Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).
9 hours ago, FolksBtrippin said:
Scenario B has never happened. And thank god, because I would turn in my license right now if this were the actual practice environment. We aren't fortune tellers.
Look up for yourself how often anyone, nurse or not, has been charged under mandated reporter laws and what the actual circumstances were before you spread fear based nonsense.
If you think you need to report a parent every time a teenager hurts himself, you are sadly part of the problem. When we start blaming them, they stop looking to us for help.
I am playing out scenario's. Which I stated. A hypothetical if you will. What I stated could happen I am not trying to spread fear though all nurses should practice to the highest standard of their license knowing full well that the BON is quiet capricious and they (Nurses) could have their license to practice challenged at anytime.
As for Scenario be having never happened: Check out this link;
I did not say I think every event when a child or adolescent harms themself is reportable. I quoted California Law (Penal code 15610.63) which states a mandated reporter is "Required to report any reasonable suspicion of abuse, neglect or endangerment" It further states: "Failure to report, or impeding or inhibiting a report of, physical abuse defined in Section 15610.63 of Welfare and Institutions Code, abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse, or neglect of an elder, dependent adult or minor in violation of this section, is a misdemeanor, punishable by not more than six months in county jail, by a fine not more one thousand dollars ($1000) or by both that fine and imprisonment. Any mandated reporter who willfully fails to report and the abuse results in death or great bodily harm, shall be punished by not more than one year in county jail, by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5000), or by both that fines and imprisonment. "
There is not much wiggle room in that. I have seen more cases than I care to count over the last 20 years where parent's were directly responsible for adolescent's being put in harm's way. It is not my job to decide what is or is not reportable - In fact in California you can call a DCFS hotline and give a brief description of a questionable occurrence and DCFS will tell if the event is or is not reportable. They can also check to see if there are any open or closed cases involving the suspected persons.
I am not sure if you practice with adolescent's but even cutting and self harm behavior which are endemic rarely come about out of the blue.
So again yes I would report the case under "Reasonable Suspicion."
I am actually not trying to have an argument I merely stated how I would act to the original post and defended my answer as requested. Each person makes their own decision and is responsible for the consequences. So do whatever you feel is your duty but don't try to tell me my interpretation of the law if false.
CommunityRNBSN, BSN, RN
928 Posts
WE don’t, but unfortunately a lot of Karens on social media do. There are some people (I am not accusing OP of this, we are off-topic now) who think that the standard is perfect parenting. An 8yo falls off his bike and breaks his arm— why was he allowed to ride in that location where there are rocks around? A toddler chases her ball down a hill and cracks her head— why weren’t you physically holding her every moment? A baby suffocates because she had a toy in the crib— Karen will report you to the authorities for not being up-to-date on all the research about safe crib space. If you don’t hit the 100% mark every second for 18 years, some people (a minority thank God) think you don’t deserve to be a parent.