Missed one

Published

I am still new but I feel like I'm pretty good at screening out my fakers. I've had a little boy be sent to me every day this week for a sore foot. He was playing around at home and fell down the stairs. Normal ROM, no swelling, and most importantly I saw this little one doing jump rope in PE without ANY signs of pain. I spoke to his mom the first day and she was asked if I thought she should get checked out and I said no (because of the reasons above).

Guess who just came into my room escorted by her teacher who announced "Let's show the nurse what we have on our foot!" He has a boot on and supposedly has "multiple broken bones" per the teacher. I still haven't received any paperwork but I now feel a awful for missing it.

Just be glad you didn't make it to Facebook for it to be shared multiple times, the local paper, and local tv. I made all 3 with 16 years of experience in school nursing. No deformity, bruising, swelling, Positive pulses, full ROM. Dozen kids in my office crying and puking. I felt horrible and thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I had a huge amount of support form coworkers and community although I couldn't say anything because of HIPPA. You had to know the family, they lived for drama. I am usually overly cautious.

:nailbiting: Yikes! So sorry that you had to deal with that!

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This teacher likes to pretend her hand is better my thermometer (so many passes with "fever?" written on them). I had to talk with her at the start of the year because she would send me the same little ones multiple times during the day just for temp checks. So the fact that I was wrong about something was exciting to her.

And currently the parents still haven't returned my call, and I haven't received any paperwork.

Teachers like that drive me crazy. I hate gloating.

Hmmmm....nothing back from the parent yet? Maybe there really aren't fractures.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Like someone else said, mom may have had the boot at home, and student is playing the oh so willing teacher. If you'll remember I had a kiddo telling staff she had a broken back...and they believed her. I would keep trying mom, and keep us updated. Inquiring minds want to know.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
...So the fact that I was wrong about something was exciting to her.

And currently the parents still haven't returned my call, and I haven't received any paperwork.

It wouldn't make any real difference because of all the reasons stated and unstated but you are not "wrong" yet...all you have is hearsay so far.

Was the the kid on crutches when you saw him in the walking boot?

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I make a point of saying "I can only see what is on the outside, not the inside. It would not hurt to get it checked out." I feel this covers me and bounces the ball right back into the parents lap (where it belongs). Mom missed it also, it happened at home. You should really not even been the one to assess the injury since it did not happen at school.

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I make a point of saying "I can only see what is on the outside, not the inside. It would not hurt to get it checked out." I feel this covers me and bounces the ball right back into the parents lap (where it belongs). Mom missed it also, it happened at home. You should really not even been the one to assess the injury since it did not happen at school.

Yes!!!

Our handbook specifically says that the school nurse is not to assess injuries that happened outside of school (not that any parents pay attention to our pesky "rules")

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"multiple broken bones"

Oh malarkey!

Sorry you have to deal with this weirdo gloating scenario. You didn't miss anything, and whatever his problem is, they didn't rush him to emergency fixation surgery and instead are allowing him to bear weight. If there is a "they," that is.

Random $.02 from the ED :happy:

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Specializes in NCSN.

Was the the kid on crutches when you saw him in the walking boot?

No crutches, just the walking boot.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
Yes!!!

Our handbook specifically says that the school nurse is not to assess injuries that happened outside of school (not that any parents pay attention to our pesky "rules")

oooh - i like it- i think my handbook needs a review! (again, not that the parent's will pay attention to it, but it will give me some teeth!)

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I'm sure you did a good job. I haven't had this issue yet, but I do tell parents that if the child still complains of pain or anything at home, they should take them to the doctor just to make sure. And when I first present the symptoms, I do tell them I don't have X-ray vision and I can't tell if it's broken or not, but if they feel they need to come get them and take them to the doctor, they are free to do so.

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Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
This teacher likes to pretend her hand is better my thermometer (so many passes with "fever?" written on them). I had to talk with her at the start of the year because she would send me the same little ones multiple times during the day just for temp checks. So the fact that I was wrong about something was exciting to her.

And currently the parents still haven't returned my call, and I haven't received any paperwork.

Did this teacher flunk out of nursing school before she became a teacher? This smells like an axe to grind.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
No crutches, just the walking boot.

OK then...no fracture. Walking boots are frequently used with minor fractures pending orthopedic appointments but NEVER without non-weight bearing status. Just like JKL33 said above - "malarky!"

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