Interesting Article

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2015

I definitely would like to know if she had an accurate history on him. Further, why on God's green earth would they let their kid play FOOTBALL with this pre-existing condition??? WTH are they thinking?

SnowyJ, RN · Nov 4, 2015

I agree. where is the accountability on the part of the parents? Who in their right mind would allow their child to play tackle football with this kind of health issue?

Though truly, I am not that surprised. Last year i had a 4th grader with a concussion that was taken out of sports/recess at school. We followed our concussion protocol along with SCAT-3 testing, etc. His dad still had him playing football outside of school! Thankfully the mother found out and called me, in tears. (Divorce situation.) I had her call the child's coach. He didn't even know about the concussion!

Some people need to start taking concussion seriously!

Flare, ASN, BSN · Nov 4, 2015

I agree with the OP -i get a lot of students that come into me with football related injuries and the only football team in town is town rec sports. I have nothing to do with that. I wouldn't even know how to relay a message of injury to one of those coaches. An injury sustained there would have happened well after school hours and so many times the students tell me that they didn't bother reporting to a parent and "just went to bed". Yet they come to me looking for ice, ace wraps, crutches, x-rays, medications ... all sorts of things i can't do here - except maybe the ice and some education on basic first aid.

I would have called about the headache and double vision too - especially after the second visit, but then again we don't know the student.

nyy2 · Nov 4, 2015

I agree with the other posters - who would let their kid play football with that sort of pre-existing condition!?!? As Flare said, I would have called the parent about the blurry vision, but maybe he is a frequent flyer that is always trying to get sent home?

I have the "boy who cried wolf" speech with my frequent flyers, but still get the return visits. With something like blurry vision with both visits, I would have definitely called the parent, just so they are aware of the complaint. I have called my FF parents and said I'm not sure how legitimate this complaint is...but they were complaining of "x" today if it is an injury, or something possibly concerning (like blurry vision).

It is possible that the nurse didn't even know about the pre-existing condition. I have had multiple occasions where the parent has said nothing about a condition and then the teacher says something, or it shows up on a physical exam. Some MD offices are better than others at actually documenting conditions on the physical exams. Regardless, even on a student with no history of any conditions, I still would have called home with those complaints.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Nov 4, 2015

I call with first complaint if it is known that the child has trauma. Had a student last year go 2 days with concentration issues and she told the athletic trainer, not me. Have a child with me right now, same symptoms after being hit in L temple with a frisbee at recess. Sent home after hit with immediate dr. appt which confirmed concussion. HA remains after 6 days, appt. with neuro today and mom brought him in. In her defense, she texted me before school and I was unable to respond. I am constantly amazed at how many kids have head injuries. Did we have this many growing up and I was sheltered, or are we devolving into egg skulled fragile beings?

kidzcare · Nov 4, 2015

but then again we don't know the student.

This is what laypeople don't understand. A parent might run to complain on FB that "My kid told that nurse that he had a stomach ache 9/10 pain!! and she did NOTHING!!!! Now I'm in the ER and it's appendicitis! Thanks a lot school-- maybe try to get someone with half a brain in your office!!!" Now the story goes viral, the nurse is flamed "How could you let that happen??" Other nurses chime in "Uh, yeah. 9/10 pain and you don't even call home? What cracker jack box did your nursing degree come out of?" What no one mentions (or care about) is that the kid came to the nurse's office 40 times for benign stomach ache since August. The 41st time might be appendicitis, but this kid's history is suspicious.

I'd like more facts in this case.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Nov 4, 2015

oye.....

1) Parents fail (IMHO) for letting child play

2) MD fail, for clearing him to participate

3) Nurse....depending on how much she knew: is it in the medical file? for sure should have called parent with those c/o

Did the nurse know that the kid played football? depends on the size of the school (maybe) often medical forms are processed through the athletic department

What a sad mess.....

CampNurse10 · Nov 4, 2015

I would have called with 1 visit of c/o blurry vision (even if the kid was a freq flyer). I have learned that it's better to just make the call then to not make the call and something like this happens.

ctate3 · Nov 4, 2015

"I am constantly amazed at how many kids have head injuries. Did we have this many growing up and I was sheltered, or are we devolving into egg skulled fragile beings?

I have wondered about the increase of head injuries. I have wondered if the effects of our diets and all the additive/preservatives in our processed foods have had something to do with the increase. Sometimes it has been "minor" hits to the head have caused issues and the the "major" hit that should have issues do not. Some times there is not rhythm or reason.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Nov 4, 2015

I have wondered about the increase of head injuries. I have wondered if the effects of our diets and all the additive/preservatives in our processed foods have had something to do with the increase. Sometimes it has been "minor" hits to the head have caused issues and the the "major" hit that should have issues do not. Some times there is not rhythm or reason.

My worst case to date was a football to the back of the head that caused a double concussion, one at impact and one to the frontal lobe from recoil. I am hoping the increase is more about awareness.