Facial Drooping in Adolescent

Published

Hi all! I need some feedback. A student presents with facial drooping on one side of face, but no breathing problems, alert and oriented x4, no recent injuries, no vision problems. Parents are called and strongly encouraged to take student in ASAP to have it evaluated. Parents come and get student and take to ER. Now parents are coming unglued because and ambulance wasn't called. No mention of what is wrong with student, but apparently 'it's bad' according to principal. Should we have called 911? Nothing was wrong that we could see other than the facial drooping with no history of anything. What would you all have done?

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Just an FYI in these cases, inquire about the flu vaccine, it can cause Bell's Palsy, as well as Lymes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
if he can walk, talk, and breathe, and he's not hemorrhaging, he doesn't need an ambulance

This should be the slogan on all ambulances!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

That sounds like a hard day, sorry you had to go through that. I think you did a good choice in calling them. I mean I usually explain the parents I don't know what it can be, I don't have any way to do studies or anything to see what they have and it's best to see a doctor. I would of not called 911 either because the child wasn't in distress or anything, and since I would not be sure what it was, it's better to call parents than to call 911 and have them get billed.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med-surg, IMC, school nursing, NICU.

You can't please everybody and some days you can't please anybody.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion