I was approached by one of the HS assistant principals regarding a 12th grader who they think looks like she might be pregnant. Thie issue is that they want me to meet with the student and inquire about if she is pregnant or not ( in the manner that the teachers noticed changes and are concerned ). I happen to like this asst. Prinicipal very much but I think it is a little intrusive of the student's privacy especially since she is a senior and is graduating in less than 2 months. Even if the student is pregnant I think it is a violation of HIPPA and FERPA which doesn't require me to share this information with anyone else in the school. I don't see how this student being pregnant is pertinent to the remainder of her senior year.
What are your thoughts?
PS There is already a pregnant 11th grader who is openly pregnant in the school. Also I'm a very experienced nurse in Labor and Delivery.
This "lawyer" info seems bogus. If the student is 18, she is considered an adult by law. Therefore all laws of confidentiality apply. She would have to give consent for that info to be known.
The nurse in the other district sent me the lawyer guidance memo which does state that parents are to be notified if students under 21 are pregnant. According to NYSED that is their guidance as well despite a supreme court ruling of a school district notification to parent being overruled in 2009. Since, I am a new school nurse I went ahead. Now I have no relationship with this student so the encounter was awkward but, she said no and yes she has been gaining weight. I tried my best to smooth it over as the staff is only looking out for her best interest and stressed that I mean no harm. She was fine when she left my office and reassured me that she was okay.
Well as you all suspected, and myself, this situation has now taken on a life of its own. One of the teacher approached me and said that the student is upset that the staff would think she is pregnant. I felt so horrible. She was with another teacher and I went up again to give emotional support. She wasn't upset with me cause as she said I barely know her so someone else had to have come to me. On the consult of the teacher we referred her back to guidance because that is where it originally came from. The poor student was so upset and according to the teacher the mother is a "hot head" (as some of you predicted might happen). I really felt like that used me as a scapegoat because I am new to the position having started in October. I feel really bad and told the student I totally empathize and apologized.
I told the counselor that the student is very upset and will probably tell her mother as a heads up because I am not dealing with it anymore they wanted to know they should have asked instead of pressuring me to feel that it was my duty because of what the lawyers said. His rationale was that they know of a case where a teacher suspected a student was pregnant and did not tell the parent and she almost died from pre-eclampsia which could have been treated had the parents know and started prenatal care.
This is the part of school nursing I do not like and has truly been a lesson learned !
That is just awful. I'm so sorry this happened to you and to her.
I personally would have to look into the legalities here. Sometimes I think .. .no MANY times I think the school has taken on too much outside of education (and not doing a great job of that as well).
Making schools like medical clinics drives me a bit batty . . . .
As a parent, I would rather the school errs on the side of caution. Awkward, yes. Life saving, of course.
I also don't think this was a nursing issue unless OP was supposed to do a pregnancy test. The counseling department should have been able to handle it with a simple yes or no question and answer. OP, you can use this opportunity to have the protocols reviewed to prevent future misunderstandings.
As a soon to be healthcare provider, if I have any reason to think for example that my patient's life is in danger, I am allowed to ask upfront uncomfortable questions such as; are you depressed? have you thought of committing suicide?
Sorry that happened to you and I applaud your courage for bringing it up here so that we all can commiserate, support each other, and learn. Sorry too for the student. What a crummy way to end and remember high school.
Asking any woman "are you pregnant" because the outside perception is that she has gained weight is a BAD idea and super awkward for all involved if the answer is no.
I would not participate in notifying parents of adult students of pregnancy, regardless of what the department of education says. There's no way that can be legal. I'm glad I live in a state where sharing this information with parents is not permitted without the student's consent, at all, regardless of her age.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
RNqueens please keep us posted!