Jumping on the 911 bandwagon...

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Specializes in Sub-Acute, School Nursing, Dialysis.

Today I had to call 911 for the first time as a school nurse. And ever really. 8th grade student with suicidal ideation. Brought a bottle of pills with her to school. Apparently has a history of trying to slit her wrists several years ago. She was admitted to a psych unit. Poor thing. :(

What bothered me about the situation is the people involved. The vice principal leans over to me and says make sure the parents get to the hospital asap because I don't feel like waiting there. Mom does not speak any English. Thank goodness the Spanish teacher was there today to help me translate. While she is translating for me, I'm getting phone calls on my cell from the secretary, literally screaming at me that she needs an approximate time that she will be there and to have the translator get to the point that this is an emergency.

We were working on that! Mom was a wreck on the phone and understandably so. She also does not drive so she had to wait for husband to get her at work. Rough estimate about a half hour to get to the child at the hospital. I tell the secretary so she can tell the vice principal. She screams at me AGAIN saying not acceptable, tell her to grab a cab and go take care of her kid. I'm glad it's Friday and almost spring break!!!

Oh and 911 was also called yesterday but I took a personal day off due to a meeting I had to attend at one of my children's school. One of the teachers was complaining of chest and left arm pain. This year has been a doozy! Happy Friday. Hope everyone has a good weekend. I'm going to relax and play with my babies.

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Specializes in Sub-Acute, School Nursing, Dialysis.

And I did not find out any information about this student and the outcome. The principal didn't bother to tell me. I found out from the gym teacher that she was admitted. Why is the medical professional the last one to find out what the heck is going on?!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Jeeze! what a mess! I am wondering if the police could have provided a ride to the parent from home to the school? That would have cut out that 30 minute wait. And the V-Ps attitude would have set me off, the lack of communication to me would have too, though perhaps IF she was allowed to keep her cellphone (which I find doubtful if she was getting admitted for psych reasons) it's possible she texted a friend.

Here's to hoping that the student gets the help she needs.

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Specializes in Sub-Acute, School Nursing, Dialysis.

Update:

Student is back in school. No other information provided to me. This drives me nuts! How can you go from being suicidal on Friday, being admitted to the hospital and by Monday act as if nothing happened. I'm worried about this child. These feelings just don't go away. I wonder if her parents signed her out of the hospital?? The whole situation is strange to me. My first time dealing with a psych issue.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

well, 72 hour would have expired as of yesterday. I find no shock in the fact that a parent would just send their child back in like nothing happened. And you are right - those feeling don't just vanish. I am hoping that the parents understood all of the info from her care manager and that she gets some follow up therapy. With her history, it sounds like she needs outpatient counseling.

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Specializes in School Nurse, Pediatrics, Surgical.

Is there a safety plan in place? Maybe there was a meeting before re-entry that you were not invited to. One of the many annoyances I have with being a nurse in a school...collaboration is an issue.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
Update:

Student is back in school. No other information provided to me. This drives me nuts! How can you go from being suicidal on Friday, being admitted to the hospital and by Monday act as if nothing happened. I'm worried about this child. These feelings just don't go away. I wonder if her parents signed her out of the hospital?? The whole situation is strange to me. My first time dealing with a psych issue.

My pseudo foster kid threatened to kill 2 students, one my son, in class with a sharp piece of glass. Not only did the teacher hesitate to report it to me, administration didn't really want to do anything. It took me calling his counselor and her telling them he needs consequences to act. I took him for emergency petition, 7 day stay and THEY NEVER SPOKE OF WHAT HE DID! Child psych these days is scary. It is also in crisis, most psych patients are boarded in ER's for days before a bed opens. Now pseudo foster kid does not live with us anymore, as I am the only one in this world who took his threat seriously and held him accountable. Wonder why atrocities occur in our teens?:banghead:

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