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.
That a bummer of a situation. I think most people know nursing is a thankless job, but it is upsetting when people go after you because you did the right thing. It is a tough situation and I hope the complaint is dismissed quickly since they will now you had reported the parent to family services.
"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:44-45
School nurse should Be absolutely 100%"sure that the injuries are from abuse and not injuries. I feel most nurses are quick to call cps and tip off a on going investigation putting innocent people through the worst possible pain of losing their children because some uneducated school nurse is acting on a hunch or suspicion of some kind of abuse ..I feel more worried by a parent going postal after their children being taken after a nurse reported them on a little feeling in their head .Some parents might snap all because a school nurse felt it was her responsibility to be nosey & help ..School nurses should be punished suspended \terminated if proved tip was wrong..so quick to call just do ur job
School nurse should Be absolutely 100%"sure that the injuries are from abuse and not injuries. I feel most nurses are quick to call cps and tip off a on going investigation putting innocent people through the worst possible pain of losing their children because some uneducated school nurse is acting on a hunch or suspicion of some kind of abuse ..I feel more worried by a parent going postal after their children being taken after a nurse reported them on a little feeling in their head .Some parents might snap all because a school nurse felt it was her responsibility to be nosey & help ..School nurses should be punished suspended \terminated if proved tip was wrong..so quick to call just do ur job
100% sure? Um, so we should do our own investigation first?
That actually is not our job at all.
Our job as mandated reporters is to report any suspected abuse, whether evidence of injury seen and/or when a child reports a caretaker of theirs inflicting abuse (which isn't a reported accidental injury right there). Period. It is not our job to do an investigation.
Additionally, abuse doesn't always leave bruises, but very much may be reported by a child. This also includes medical neglect.
I don't like when I have to make a report. It is not fun. For anyone. But it is my job to keep the kids safe. So I do it. It is the job of child services and the police to investigate from there.
School nurse should Be absolutely 100%"sure that the injuries are from abuse and not injuries. I feel most nurses are quick to call cps and tip off a on going investigation putting innocent people through the worst possible pain of losing their children because some uneducated school nurse is acting on a hunch or suspicion of some kind of abuse ..I feel more worried by a parent going postal after their children being taken after a nurse reported them on a little feeling in their head .Some parents might snap all because a school nurse felt it was her responsibility to be nosey & help ..School nurses should be punished suspended \terminated if proved tip was wrong..so quick to call just do ur job
Actually per Mandatory Reporter laws in my state I am legally obligated to report any suspected abuse or neglect of a child in my nursing care. If I fail to report I can be prosecuted. Mandatory Reporter training in Illinois (I've never been trained in any other state, so I can't speak for those) tells us to NOT ask probing questions or conduct an investigation because we could interfere with the actual DCFS investigation. So yep...I will do my job as I was trained and as I am legally and morally obligated to do.
School nurse should Be absolutely 100%"sure that the injuries are from abuse and not injuries. I feel most nurses are quick to call cps and tip off a on going investigation putting innocent people through the worst possible pain of losing their children because some uneducated school nurse is acting on a hunch or suspicion of some kind of abuse ..I feel more worried by a parent going postal after their children being taken after a nurse reported them on a little feeling in their head .Some parents might snap all because a school nurse felt it was her responsibility to be nosey & help ..School nurses should be punished suspended \terminated if proved tip was wrong..so quick to call just do ur job
we can't be 100% sure. we are instructed to report suspicion and not to do our own investigation. that is CPS's place. we are mandatory first reporters.
School nurse should Be absolutely 100%"sure that the injuries are from abuse and not injuries. I feel most nurses are quick to call cps and tip off a on going investigation putting innocent people through the worst possible pain of losing their children because some uneducated school nurse is acting on a hunch or suspicion of some kind of abuse ..I feel more worried by a parent going postal after their children being taken after a nurse reported them on a little feeling in their head .Some parents might snap all because a school nurse felt it was her responsibility to be nosey & help ..School nurses should be punished suspended \terminated if proved tip was wrong..so quick to call just do ur job
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you are 1) not a school nurse, 2) not a nurse or healthcare worker of any kind and 3) a parent who has recently been investigated for child abuse? Maybe because of a report by a school nurse?
Just a guess. Anyway, no one I know enjoys making calls to CPS. It's a minimum 45 minutes on hold, then a long, boring conversation with an investigator, then paperwork on top of that, all while other students stack up in my office waiting to be seen.
Nevertheless, I call whenever I have a "suspicion" or "little feeling in my head" (your words) because that is exactly what my job is. It is my responsibility to "be nosy and help" (your words).
If I am correct and you are a parent who is being investigated for suspected abuse, I am sorry you and your child are in that situation. But let's please not suggest the school nurse should be punished/suspended/terminated if they are wrong in reporting SUSPECTED abuse. We call when we suspect abuse. Period. It's the LAW, and it's called mandated reporting.
So very sorry!!! I was pulled into a child custody battle this school year and had to appear in court. Though nothing at all was called into question about my nursing judgment, it was still scary!
I couldn't imagine being contacted by the BON for doing something you are mandated to do.
It is so sad to me that we get pulled into these type of things when at the end of the day, we only ever have the student's best interest at heart.
cinderella1521
4 Posts
I say hang in there my friend as long as you are doing your job and you are on the right that's what matters,
keep your chin up and the truth will eventually come out. You are doing your job and don't worry as long as
you know you haven't done anything wrong.