Ethical dilemma

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So, I've been an LPN since 2010. I started a few months ago being a one on one nurse with a student with special needs. I accompany him to school everyday, take care of his needs there, and ride the bus home with him.

While there, I see the teacher interacting with the other special needs students. Over time, I noticed some disturbing trends. The teacher would withhold one students lunches because he "behaved better" while waiting to eat. She would hold his food for a long time (sometimes up to 2 hours after everyone had eaten) because he would sit quietly while waiting. He would often sign he wanted to eat and would even try to steal food off of his plate while waiting.

This seemed horribly inappropriate to do to any child, especially a special needs child. My talks with the teachers went no where, so I reported it to a school official.

She got in trouble, knew it was me, told me and everyone else in her class that "what happens in her class, stays in her class" And I had to put what I saw in writing. Now most of the teachers friends think I'm a nark, even though she was in the wrong.

Did I overreact? Should I have just said nothing since the student was technically not my patient?

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As a licensed nurse, you are a mandated reporter. What this teacher did was disgraceful. I would care less if they called me a "narc" or not. This teacher has no business teaching. Especially with children who have special needs. Disgusting.

I would report it to the state, as you are mandated to do as a nurse. If the school official gives you too much flak, I would bring it to the school board.

Parents entrust their kids to people who they would like to think look out for their needs. With-holding food so the child sits quietly and waits is absurd.

Someone needs to be the voice for these kids. That all the other teachers thinks this is OK is just outrageous. "What happens in the class stays in the class" NO WAY what happens inappropriately in the class could be a reportable offense. And you being the licensed member of the group have obligations.

I am so fired up about this I could spit.

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I would have done the same given the same circumstance. I believe licensed professionals are mandated reporters.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.

What she did was abuse....I can't believe she even has a job after doing that. You were right and the student's parents should be made aware of what happened. I bet they'd be ******.

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I salute you Iamwrong for being a patient advocate.

Sometimes it is very hard to stick with your principles but I find it necessary. Because who else will do the right thing but you on that situation. Do not doubt yourself for doing the right thing. If you ever get in trouble for doing what you did. Just leave, because nurses like you deserves to be somewhere else better.

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.

You did the right thing. That is too bad that the other teachers do not realize how inappropriate the teachers behavior is. That makes me wonder what else she has done before or what they have done, since they do not seem to think this behavior was unacceptable...?

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Specializes in pediatric.

No, amiwrong, you are RIGHT! 100%.

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No you were absolutely NOT wrong. This is the reason a lot of people get abused because it goes unwanted. She should not be teaching doing something disgraceful like that especially to a child and a special needs one at that.

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I'm with you on this! You did the right thing. You tried to keep what happened in the classroom in the classroom by talking to the teachers first. They did the wrong thing. You had no choice but to go up the chain of command. Now they have it in writing incase there's as next time. Be proud and let those teachers know you won't put up with it. I am shocked she has a job too. If there is a next time, be sure to report it to her licensing board and/of the police. I hope the child's parents know what you did for their kid. I'm sure they are grateful!

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I'm with you on this! You did the right thing. You tried to keep what happened in the classroom in the classroom by talking to the teachers first. They did the wrong thing. You had no choice but to go up the chain of command. Now they have it in writing incase there's as next time. Be proud and let those teachers know you won't put up with it. I am shocked she has a job too. If there is a next time, be sure to report it to her licensing board and/of the police. I hope the child's parents know what you did for their kid. I'm sure they are grateful!

I agree with most of this post, however, one time is one time too many. And as a mandated reporter, any one time needs to be reported. Period. It would not be up to the OP to attempt to discuss this with the teacher, she should know better.

As a parent who has a child with signigicant needs, I would be red HOT to think that my child was being denied food as a behavior modification. That is cruel on a number of levels, this teacher obviously has some significant control issues, and has no business teaching. If a PARENT did this at home and it was communicated at school, CPS would be at the door the same day.

And that is the worst part of being the licensed health care professional in the room. The responsibility of one's license can go far beyond your own student. Because if the parents found this out on their own, then found out that there was a licensed nurse in the classroom who observed this and did not report, I am not sure what could happen, but would not want to find out.

This is not ok. This is not something that I would be inclined to debate. Report as you are mandated to, and let the reporting agency decide. Ethically and morally it is the right thing to do. This is not a case of "the teacher yelled at the child". This child was meant to sit and wait to eat. Up to 2 hours. To make sure the child behaved. Until the child was so hungry, the child attempted to grab food. Which can give this kid some larger issues. Disgusting.

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Actually Jade, you're absolutely right! (I must be off my game lately.) Once is one time too many! There are hotlines or she could make a police report. As OP struggled with, it would not have been overreacting to just call first. No matter how you view it, it's child abuse.

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you are a mandated reporter and this is abusive (and just plain bizarre to me). You reported it - what happened after that was out of your hands. Using food for behavior modification is NOT an appropriate practice! If any teacher says anything to your face remind them that you are a mandated reporter - (as are they! but also that will also hopefully remind them that what the teacher was doing was NOT okay!)

On a personal note, I keep thinking what if that was my kid, and you send your special needs kid to school thinking they'll get fair decent treatment, and he/she is treated like THAT? Makes me sick. So screw her, she shouldn't be working with kids.

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