I started working at my school in February. Some time in March I had a child brought to me because she fell in the playground on her own, wasn't pushed, and broke her wrist. When the child was brought to me, the teacher was beside her the entire time, and I gave her ice and kept her wrist straight without a splint. I called the mom to come pick up the child to take to the ER. The mother picked up the phone right away and was able to come within a half hour.
Fast forward to a month later, the mom starts asking the school administration for an incident report. The prinicipal then forwarded this request to me, which made me very concerned for the school and for myself, so I took matters into my own hands and went to my other boss whom I report to, the Safety Manager, a move which I now regret. I asked her how we should approach this and she told me I should hand over to the mother my online nursing treatment notes which is erroneously titled an 'incident report' on the software, although, it's really my treatment notes. So, when she suggested this, I had to explain to my boss explicitly that those were my nursing treatment notes and not an actual accident report and I told her I was concerned of potential lawsuits. I still do not know what the mother wants the accident report for. There was a separate incident report written by a teacher who was there at the scene and I insisted, that is probably the better and 'safer' choice to give to the parent. After going back and forth with my boss, she contacted her off site boss who went to consult with the company lawyer and supposedly the lawyers are saying that it is indeed my nursing notes that should be handed over to the mother. I am really beyond baffled about all this. Never in 3 years of working as a school nurse have I ever been asked to hand over my nursing notes to a parent, who is, btw, a nurse herself. I just foresee some bad things happening. The family, btw, is having some legal and financial problems themselves.
I feel like I'm being thrown in the lion's den by my own boss and all I hear is her laughing her way through the halls. This is an international school and they're not well versed on American law or culture one bit. I smell disaster and I'm ticked off.
Btw, I'm still very annoyed because if the "accident" report form we use in school doesn't count for anything when a situation arises, what is the point of having teachers fill them out in the first place?
Btw, I'm still very annoyed because if the "accident" report form we use in school doesn't count for anything when a situation arises, what is the point of having teachers fill them out in the first place?
You aren't trying to apply logic or reason to a government institution are you?
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Is this by chance a special needs child? There are groups out there that tell parents every little injury gets an incident/accident report and the parent must demand it from the school.
Perhaps you need to think of this as you would an incident occurring as a staff nurse in a hospital or long-term care facility. You would never turn over an incident report to anyone not w/in your organization because it's an "internal" document. Just as every risk manager will tell you in orientation to a new facility-"whatever you do don't refer to an 'incident report' in your nurses notes. If you do then it becomes something the plaintiff in a lawsuit can subpeona and read/use in court. As long as it remains internal it is for yours and your facility's attorney's use for reference to what happened down the road in addition to your nursing notes."
I don't have much to add except that this exact thing happened to me in 2nd grade. Mom came to school, took me to ER for lights out so they could set it.
Insurance didn't pay because it happened at school, my dad paid the bill off over the next 10 years.
Just wondering if maybe its for insurance purposes?
Specializes in MedSurg,HomeHealth, School, Clinic Mgmt,.
Being a HS school nurse for over 9 years I had a couple of times this happened to me. The parents requested their child's record and this was for insurance purposes. I didn't see a problem handing over my note. In my opinion the patient (parent) had a right to that information. The first rule they taught us in nursing school was CYA (chart with your protection in mind)...sad but true. And that applies no matter what aspect of nursing you are working. If your note is complete and your actions were correct and reasonable for your site, you followed the policies they have put in place for you, then I wouldn't worry about it. Trust your proffessionalism. As others on here have said, if the parents are looking to sue, they will get your note eventually anyway. If you make this an argument with the family they will start to believe that you did do something wrong.
I would not hand over my personal notes. Period. Your employer may try to hang you out to dry...
But it's not a personal note. It's clinical documentation about medical care provided. The parents acting as the patients proxy have every right to view and receive copy's of it as if it was documented in a hospital or doctors office.
arnoldlayne
11 Posts
Btw, I'm still very annoyed because if the "accident" report form we use in school doesn't count for anything when a situation arises, what is the point of having teachers fill them out in the first place?