Do you refer kids with glasses

SassyTachyRN · Feb 16, 2015

Hmmm... I refer those with glasses that don't pass. I figure their prescription needs evaluated. This year I had a lot of parents/md notes tell me their kids were being adjusted slowly with glasses and the strength would be increased slowly over time.

OldDude · Feb 17, 2015

Yes, I refer kids with glasses that don't pass the screening and rescreening.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Feb 17, 2015

I re screen if they are SUPPOSED to wear glasses and don't have them at time of screening. Sometimes I do not know they have glasses, cause they never wear them!. I re screen WITH the glasses and then refer if they fail. Or if their glasses are MIA and they fail, I advise parents they need their glasses, either the current ones or the new ones that may be prescribed based on MD eval.

AdobeRN · Feb 17, 2015

Yes - I refer those with glasses if they fail the vision screening.

kidzcare · Feb 17, 2015

I do not screen the kids if they are wearing glasses. I refer if they say the glasses are more than 2 years old or if they are visibly damaged.

If they say they have glasses but do not have them with them at school, then I screen and refer if they fail. I also send a note that says "Your student reported that he/she did not have his/her glasses at school this day". A little push to get the parents to remind the student to bring them.

mamahuff · Feb 17, 2015

Thanks for bringing up this question. Yes, I screen and refer kids who have glasses the same as I do with those kids who don't. I have been improving my referral note to parents to help gather more information. I have attached a copy of the most recent version. Kids' vision is very near and dear to my heart...probably because I can't see my hand in front of my face without my glasses!

I think that I am going to develop a better tracking system of when kids go to the eye dr. and if the note from the eye dr. indicates the child is supposed to come back for a re-check in 3, 6, 12 months, etc. I will send a reminder or another note at that time. It certainly is a work in progress, but one that I find is very worthwhile. As parents don't usually take kids as often is recommended.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

a.

Brand new vision referral.docx

allnurses Guide · Feb 17, 2015

Yes, I screen kids with glasses. Unless they just got a new pair and then I call the parent and let them say they don't want them screened.

Bureaucracy can be a bear sometimes . . . . . "yeah, they just got glasses but it is time for their Initial/Triennial screening and you simply must do one before the deadline or the school loses money".

I like that form mamahuff except I say "left" or "right" or "both" because I doubt parents understand o.d., o.s., o.u. :specs:

Massmagic · Feb 17, 2015

I do screen students with glasses. I like to make sure they are for distance and not just "reading glasses." I check vision with and without glasses. I do send home a referral and call the parent if they fail the screening with glasses. This year, I have so many who have lost their glasses - I still screen and refer just to have the screening documented and to let parents know that their child still needs to wear glasses. This age group - tons of lost glasses - I have 3-6 graders. I am finding that many of these parents were not planning on getting their child another pair. Strange. So, my phone call and the referral paper helps to give them a little push towards the eye doctor.

One student told me that they lost their glasses and then said, "I don't have to wear them anymore, even my mother said so." Well, he failed the screening, and I called mother. She said, "I am so glad you screened him as he keeps telling me he can see fine without glasses, and I wasn't going to bring him to get another pair."

I do refer those with glasses who fail - I guess I like everything documented.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Feb 18, 2015

i rescreen if they forgot their glasses. if they forget again, i just send a letter stating that I tried to screen the student twice, they stated they wear glasses and forgot both times. This also lets the parents know if they are pulling the old "Jan Brady" and leaving them home on purpose and help address if the glasses have been mia for long stretches - i am amazed by the amount of kids that tell me they had glasses and lost then in the summer... and it's March...

allnurses Guide · Feb 18, 2015

I am too busy to "rescreen" if they forgot their glasses and I was trained by the previous nurse to not rescreen in this situation. She worked 17 hours a week and I finagled 24 hours during negotiations when I was offered the job. That's not enough time to do everything and the focus for the teachers and principals is hearing and vision screening and health reports for the unending IEP's.

I also have to drug test the athletes 3 times a year. Write care plans for every student who has a medical issue. Attend 504's for those medical students who need one and write that care plan as well. Train staff about diabetes, epi-pens, asthma, etc. Work with dietary regarding carb counting. Sign all the papers for kids who are allergic to something. Oversee how many kids get meds during the day and train regarding that. Do the Kindergarten H&V screening. . . . . . . .and the list goes on.

The prior nurse also taught me that when you are doing an Initial and you cannot get the parents on the phone to interview - give it 2 tries and then write in the report "...unable to contact parents. Will add an amendment . . . ".

I know I've said this before but there are eleven campuses here - two high schools, two junior high schools, two elementary schools, multiple continuation and special ed areas.

There are not enough hours to get it all done. And the teachers/principals scream for the H&V's.

No such thing as a full-time nurse here. I'm super lucky to have one health aide at my office at the D.O. She handles the immunization paperwork and a bunch of other stuff so I can try to accomplish more. She was well-trained by the previous nurse.

(rant over)

mamahuff · Feb 18, 2015

Good point Spidey's mom. The form is actually an evolving work in progress, but has become a very effective tool.