Got a call from my state board of nursing this morning...that's right, I'm being investigated for false reports to DFS. Some angry parent decided to call the BON and lodge a complaint about me. Yesterday another parent was making vague threats of "cutting me up" for a report we all made.
I mean, I get it, a visit from DFS is rough, but I don't know, did you try maybe NOT BEATING your kids? That tends to stop the reports.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
You were right to call. You will definitely not lose your license for this. You don't have to be right about child abuse, you just have to be suspicious about it. You were suspicious and you called.
The BON has to investigate because it does happen sometimes that mandated reporters use DFS to harass or punish people. For example, if you called DFS because the parent made a complaint about you to the school, that would be inappropriate.
I was present when a nurse suggested that adult protective services be called because a patient's son was rude and demanding on the phone. The DON stopped that, but this is an example of how these things happen sometimes.
I checked and school staff are not supposedto take photos of injuries, under any circumstances, but especially when abuse is suspected. That is police and DFS responsibility. I also noticed in our policies about child abuse that it specifically states that it is not the mandated reporter's responsibility to prove abuse, only report suspected abuse.
I did my job and someone wants to punish me for it. Nurse life, eh?
I checked and school staff are not supposedto take photos of injuries, under any circumstances, but especially when abuse is suspected. That is police and DFS responsibility. I also noticed in our policies about child abuse that it specifically states that it is not the mandated reporter's responsibility to prove abuse, only report suspected abuse.
I did my job and someone wants to punish me for it. Nurse life, eh?
I had the same rule when I was still working as a school nurse. I did call the sheriff for one foster student with bruising all over his arms, shoulders, back. But I couldn't take photos. Only law enforcement. I did report to DFCS and I called the sheriff at the same time.
As a hospice nurse, I can take photos. I do get permission of the caregiver or the patient of course. And never any facial recognition which can make it harder in court. I've never been to court though. . . yet.
I've been meaning to renew my nursing insurance policy as it lapsed a few weeks ago. I'm doing it today.
both of these are what I was thinking. Aren't reports annonymous anyway?
I've made reports and the parent has called complaining to my principal that they were told by DCS that the school nurse reported them and they were told that by DCS. It has happened to me more than once.
I've made reports and the parent has called complaining to my principal that they were told by DCS that the school nurse reported them and they were told that by DCS. It has happened to me more than once.
I hear ya, I've been ratted out by CPS, the Police, and my principal, so now I just assume the parents will know it's me when I file.
I hear ya, I've been ratted out by CPS, the Police, and my principal, so now I just assume the parents will know it's me when I file.
It's never anonymous, and I know that the second I call. And it equally sucks when I get that letter that tells me the investigation was closed and yet, here I am, reporting yet again to open it back up, only to get the same letter 2 weeks later.
But, seriously, ugh, OP. This is ridiculous.
And as for the outside nurses on this thread, it is worth noting the scope of a school nurse is much different in many ways. One of those way involves taking photos and even viewing an area of a student that is considered private (covered by a bathing suit is the general rule of thumb). To be honest, I would not be looking at the student's butt without at least 1 witness present, or I'd be calling the PD to have the student taken for a full exam where they can take photos.
If a student needed ice all day for a spanking? (And isn't a student know for any dramatics/presented with other evidence such as gait changes, for example.) I'd be filing.
It's never anonymous, and I know that the second I call. And it equally sucks when I get that letter that tells me the investigation was closed and yet, here I am, reporting yet again to open it back up, only to get the same letter 2 weeks later.
But, seriously, ugh, OP. This is ridiculous.
And as for the outside nurses on this thread, it is worth noting the scope of a school nurse is much different in many ways. One of those way involves taking photos and even viewing an area of a student that is considered private (covered by a bathing suit is the general rule of thumb). To be honest, I would not be looking at the student's butt without at least 1 witness present, or I'd be calling the PD to have the student taken for a full exam where they can take photos.
If a student needed ice all day for a spanking? (And isn't a student know for any dramatics/presented with other evidence such as gait changes, for example.) I'd be filing.
Well I wasn't going to weigh in on this but since Jen brought it up...it is more complicated than one not involved in a school system may think. I have obtained photos of non-intimate areas on kids as part of my submission of evidence causing me to suspect abuse. CPS and/or Police have always expressed gratitude for me doing that as the photos are always submitted to them. If there is a reasonable suspicion to warrant inspection of an intimate area, I call the SRO and an administrator to be present for examination. If there is evidence causing us to suspect abuse the Police Officer is the one who obtains the photos.
Our school district also has a policy not allowing the photography of children without parental permission. This policy was written to prohibit the inappropriate distribution of the photos or other visual recordings. The district policy wasn't written to prohibit mandated reporters from being the student advocate the child abuse laws were passed for. If a child doesn't need immediate medical attention it may take several days for an investigator to actually visit with the child and thus, initial presentations can resolve ending up with nothing to support the initial filing...the case is closed with no action...until the next time. Photos prevent this from happening. And yes, the reporter will get ratted out and fade whatever heat that ensues; but we are the student/patient advocate and better us than the defenseless child fade the heat.
I am not saying anything different should have been done in this instance nor am I offering any should've or could'ves.
Just a little perspective regarding the subject in general and for the benefit of those looking in from the outside.
You are a mandated reporter. If you did not report the suspected child abuse, you would have broken the law. YOU DID YOUR JOB. Just show the board you did all the proper documentation and followed all of the protocols and you'll be fine. No BON has ever revoked a nurse's license for reporting child abuse in good faith.
This "parent" sounds like a spiteful POS. I hope these kids get taken from her. Sadly, they probably won't. She'll just probably get parenting classes. I wish there could be a State Board of Parenting. I feel like one should have a license to parent these days!
Two questions: Did YOU report her threat to the police? Do it now if you haven't. And how long has the abuse been going on and what led up to this?
YES to all of this. If parent made a threat towards you, throw the book at them. You have much more of a case of threat than they do of any wrongdoing on your part.
And STATE BOARD OF PARENTING - boy we need that more than we need anything else!! Love it!
I checked and school staff are not supposed to take photos of injuries, under any circumstances, but especially when abuse is suspected. That is police and DFS responsibility. I also noticed in our policies about child abuse that it specifically states that it is not the mandated reporter's responsibility to prove abuse, only report suspected abuse.
I did my job and someone wants to punish me for it. Nurse life, eh?
If you are supposed to not take photos under any circumstances but you do suspect abuse, it seems you should call police and DFS to immediately come and take pictures. Does your policy address this? Or what does your boss say?
If you are supposed to not take photos under any circumstances but you do suspect abuse, it seems you should call police and DFS to immediately come and take pictures. Does your policy address this? Or what does your boss say?
My boss was in the room and she saw the bruises as well. I faxed a report to DFS immediately, with a diagram of what I saw/where I saw it. I called DFS to follow up my faxed report later that day. I notified the resource officer immediately after the call to DFS. All of this is according to policy. As far as I know no one from police or DFS looked at the kid's butt that day, I do not know why. Basically, I did everything I was supposed to do. I may have mentioned it before, but the bruises aren't even the point--I have a child telling me an adult hit them hard enough that he had trouble sitting and needed ice to relieve the pain the day after being hit--that isn't your run-of-the-mill spanking and warrants a DFS call.
I am sorry you have to deal with this. Every time anyone is reported and investigated here, which seems to be fairly often, it is just assumed that I have knowledge about what is going on and that I did it. 75% of the time, I know nothing and had nothing to do with it. I tend to watch over my shoulder when I leave the building, lock my doors as soon as I get in the car, and I do try to smile and make friends with everyone as much as possible. Darned if you do, darned if you don't. I know it's hard to think this way when it is happening right now, to you, but try not to let it bother you that much. You did everything by your policy, and you documented appropriately. You have nothing to fear. Hang in there, we are all standing united with you!
Just like us, they have a job to do. This parent may call on every school nurse they encounter and they are doing due diligence and it will be filed and put away. As we are mandated reporters, not investigators, they also have to answer to the public with a complaint. NAd the complaint will be unfounded I'm sure, but if there is ever a question, they did their part.
Some people just lie in wait for a "screw up" so they can sue.
Some people are really mean and they ______...well, you know where I am going with this!
FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN
2,322 Posts
You were right to call. You will definitely not lose your license for this. You don't have to be right about child abuse, you just have to be suspicious about it. You were suspicious and you called.
The BON has to investigate because it does happen sometimes that mandated reporters use DFS to harass or punish people. For example, if you called DFS because the parent made a complaint about you to the school, that would be inappropriate.
I was present when a nurse suggested that adult protective services be called because a patient's son was rude and demanding on the phone. The DON stopped that, but this is an example of how these things happen sometimes.