If a child is removed from the home, do you get informed?

Specialties School

Published

I was just sitting at the front desk covering the phones for 10 minutes and got a call from a social worker. She informed me that she was assigned to student X, a Kindergartener, who had been removed from the home on an emergency basis on 1/6. She was calling to follow-up on her and see how she was doing?! I had NO idea this even happened. I asked her who her point of contact was here at school and she gave me the principal's name, so I took a message and said the principal would call her back. She ended the conversation with "Oh, and by the way, she STILL has lead poisining"!?!

So I went and looked into her chart and there is a copy of a letter sent indicating an emergency removal from her home. I'm feeling like as the nurse, I should have been informed of this, especially because I occasionally cover the desk and answer phones and dismiss students. I would have had NO idea she wasn't allowed to leave with anyone but the social worker had I been covering the desk. And the lead poisoning is a while other issue. I have no documentation of that anywhere...

So my question is, for any of you who have had a student removed from the home where you weren't the one making the complaint, were you made aware at all? I plan on talking to the principal about everything but am wondering what happens in most cases.

Thanks

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Sounds like a serious issue that doesn't take the priority it should with lots of school districts. Guess it will all change when a sentinel event occurs and makes the national news. Nurses may want to make a paper trail to prove they were being proactive to make sure it didn't happen.

I am also notified about these type of things - I am not always privy to the details tho & our computer info is updated immediately when we have issues of custody, who can remove children from school, who should be notified if kid is sick etc. We also have the ability to put alerts that pop up on the screen when you pull up a kid info - helps alot with issues of custody etc.

This would be amazing!

Specializes in Peds, Oncology.

I am sometimes notified. Even if I DO make the CPS report, I feel like they always call the school case manager to give case follow up info instead of me. Which is usually ok, because she usually updates me, but not always.

So how did the school's principal handle your questions when you brought this to their attention? How are they now informing the school nurse of these very serious matters? This is a very concerning situation as I want to become a school nurse one day.

Specializes in kids.
We also have the ability to put alerts that pop up on the screen when you pull up a kid info - helps a lot with issues of custody etc.

There is a "notes" section in our program that is highlighted, but like any system, it is only as good as the info that is in there. Soooo much information gets trapped at the front desk...

Specializes in School Nurse.

A couple years ago I had an ill student who needed to go home so I called his Mom "Kendra". Imagine my embarrassment when "Kendra" had to correct me by saying that her name has legally been changed to "Kenneth", and would I please call him "Kenny." Nothing like being the last person to learn that your student's parent transitioned over the summer.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
I am also notified about these type of things - I am not always privy to the details tho & our computer info is updated immediately when we have issues of custody, who can remove children from school, who should be notified if kid is sick etc. We also have the ability to put alerts that pop up on the screen when you pull up a kid info - helps alot with issues of custody etc.

What computer system do you use? An alert would be awesome! Wonder if Power School has that option.

What computer system do you use? An alert would be awesome! Wonder if Power School has that option.

E-school

Specializes in kids.
What computer system do you use? An alert would be awesome! Wonder if Power School has that option.

MMS and it is a colored tab when there are notes in it

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