How do you handle...

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

... anonymous phone calls reporting head lice? Last year, I had a family member of 2 of my students call to report that the students were "crawling" with head lice. I checked them and one did indeed of lice, the other did not. This same family member has called the District, again today, with the same report. This person does not live with the students. Just not sure how to handle this. I mean, I will check the kids, that's not a problem. I guess I'm wondering if you all deal with these "reports" and how you handle them?

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

Since our state laws have changed so drastically here in the last few months regarding head lice, I actually don't do checks anymore. If a child comes to me and says something about lice (ie--"I think I have lice", etc) I will check their entire classroom at the same time. If a child comes to my office and says "My head itches" or something along those lines (without actually mentioning the word "lice), I will close my door and quickly flip through their hair to determine if it's dry scalp, dandruff, or actually lice. If it IS lice, I send them back to class then check their entire classroom. But with our new state law, I can not send a child home for lice and children with lice can not be isolated in the classroom--they can't even be moved to a different area of the room.

As far as the phone calls, I would probably not do anything, simply because I can't send the child home anyways and I can't tell the parents that they must treat the child for them to return to school, its up to them if they pick their child up or not, and since they no longer have to show proof of treatment, they would just send them back the next day.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

LACA - what state are you in?

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I'm in TN.

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Specializes in Coronary Care, School Nurse.

I do not check students based on a report from a "innocent" third party. I will let the classroom teacher know that there has been a report. If he/she sees signs of an infestation (excessive itching, nits, live bugs) then he/she can request a headcheck and I will follow up. I am not going to be pulled into neighborhood/clique drama.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Gastroenterology, School Nrs.

I did check the students this time, both of which were completely nit/lice free. I will not entertain that anonymous report again; however. Lots of time spent pulling kids from class and them missing instruction, all over "neighborhood/clique drama" :)

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I'm in TN to and I still send home kids with head lice, where did you find out you can't do that?

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