Disappointment in colleagues

[SchoolNurseBSN]

I am just feeling really let down lately with the other adults on my campus and my district. We are large, urban, and serve low socioeconomic population.

So much of the mentality of," let me wash my hands of this kid and let somebody else deal with the hassle."

Examples:

1. Teacher referred a student to me with a note that says "rash" when it is obvious there are mutiple bruises present AND the student tells me she told her teacher about mom beating the tar out of her. Teacher just did not want to deal with the CPS report.

2. Another teacher sends a kid whom I have never seen before with a note stating "ask her what happened to her forehead." Later, I find out that this teacher knew of an abusive family history (which i knew NOTHING about) and did not want the student to tell her of abuse because..... you guessed it, she didn't have time to do a report.

3. Taught a CPR class last week and most participants not interested, were mad they had to check off and many stated " i'll never need to do this, it's NOT my job."

4. Have at least a kid or 2 a week come in with an injury and no note / pass. Turns out another student inflicted injury and the parent gets mad at me because I cannot give them more info!

Really, do not work with children if you want no resposibility for their safety and welfare.

I am considering requiring staff to send a separate "injury" form with these students - something where they are required to check more than just an injury / wound box but must give details. Do any of you do this?

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

I understand your frustration, but frankly I'd *rather* just do the CPS reports myself. I know that I can do a very thorough exam, documenting details that I KNOW will stand up in court. Yeah, is a PITA, but when I get done with it I know it's been done right.

As far as the students injuring one another, I had a lot of that at my last school. It was much like yours, an urban/suburban environment, lots of guns, gangs and drugs. They beat the crap out of each other every day. Sometimes the student would give me the real story and sometimes not--they didn't want to be accused of "snitching." If I could get the real story out of them I would call the principal and fill him/her in. They usually took it from there. If I had to make the call to the parent I just gave them the brief version "Johnny was involved in a dust-up with another student. He says his (whatever body part) is hurting. I've given (whatever) first aid." Sometimes I recommend they take their child to the doctor. Parents get angry when their kids are hurt, but it's not my job to sort out the fight. I refer all that stuff to the principal. Usualy parents understand that, once they calm down a little. I just keep telling them the same thing over and over:"I am not in charge of discipline, you'll have to talk to Mr.K"

[LACA, BSN, LPN, RN]

If they know of the abuse, they are required by law to report (at least in my state). Failure to do so is a crime punishable by jail time and/or fines. Is that not the case in your state?

As for the CPR, they need to realize that they may have to use that at times other than being on campus. I've done CPR ONCE in my life and that was on my 11 week old son. NEVER thought that would be the case, but thank God I had taken the training and knew what to do.

I'm with mustlovepoodles on the injuries...I would just explain to the parent (repeatedly, if need be) that you are not sure of the details other than what the child has told you, anything further than the physical examination of the injuries they will have to refer to the teacher or principal.

Have you tried discussing these issues with administration? Or is that more like ramming your head through a brick wall and hoping for a dent?

[schoolnurse09]

I know what you mean about being disappointed in school staff (and administration)..that kind of thing happens at my schools also. Health Office=dumping ground. But just let me ask something of them (teachers, mainly) ....and they usually can't be bothered. Not all, but enough to make it hard to get things done sometimes. To be fair, though, I think sometimes the rest of the staff really doesn't know what to do in certain situations. I guess my main complaint is that they do not function with the Health Office as a team.