Did I do the right thing?

[luvschoolnursing]

A student cut himself in the shower at my school. He was bleeding a lot and the wound required a pressure dressing to get the bleeding to stop. I called the mother to take the student for medical care, which she promptly did. The cut was quite deep and required quite a few stitches. I am now being complained about because I did not clean the wound. It happened in the shower, so it wasn't like there was debris in it and I felt it was well cleaned with the large amount of bleeding. I explained to the parent that I did not want to cause even more tissue damage by cleaning it with H2O2 or even soap and water. I was sending the student to a medical facility where he would receive stitches and any special dressing they felt necessary. Was I wrong?

[noreenl]

You absolutely did the right thing direct pressure was the priority and that's what you did! Parents were probably upset that's all!!

[luvschoolnursing, LPN]

Thanks, guys! I love coming here. Spoke with my principal today, because the parent wanted to schedule a meeting with him about the whole situation-not just me. My principal said, "I see no negligence here, don't worry about it." Thanks again for your support!

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

u are great!

[SchoolNurseBSN]

You can please some of the people some of the time......but not all of the people all of the time!!

You did great! The parents would probably have been upset about something regardless!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bergren]

Ditto -

H2O2 is no longer used, not the evidence based care, causes additional tissue damage.

According to AHRQ National Guidelines, "Abrasion and laceration wound care: pre-school through grade twelve, you followed the standard of practice.

"Tap water should never be used in cases where a full thickness injury has been sustained ...(Fernandez, Griffiths, & Ussia, 2004. Evidence Grade = A1)."

To read the entire guideline:

http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=10196&nbr=5380#s23

Just very confidently state that you followed the national recommendations for that type of wound, no defensiveness, no apologies.

Why the complaint? Did it get infected?

[morte, LPN, LVN]

was the kid fooling around? is that how he was injured, if so, the parents may be trying to deflect blame

[tsansom]

You did absolutely the right thing. Try to put it out of your mind.