New School Nurse-Question re: student contact

[HyzenthlayLPN]

Hello,

I am an LPN in OK with 5 years nursing experience (2 years in private duty special needs pediatrics the rest LTC/SNF as a Charge Nurse (1 year) and MDS/PPS Case Manager/Coordinator). I very recently accepted a position to work in a local school district 16 hours a week as a nurse.

My first day was Friday and a little girl had an accident involving explosive diarrhea. The school secretary helped me get together a change of clothes and some wipes but told me I could not touch the little girl...I had to stand outside the bathroom stall and hand the things to her and have her do it (this is at a Pre-K-1st center so these are young kids).

This was really foreign to me since I'm a NURSE and normally I would clean my patient up as needed. Is this the usual thing in schools? I mean I can see why they have such a policy....but if that secretary hadn't said anything, it would not have occurred to me not to clean that little girl up...

Thanks in Advance!!

Christine

[OldDude]

I don't know about your school policy. Our Pre K teachers deal with potty accidents occasionally. I don't. I call parents to come to school for that, take them home in a case that you're referring to. I don't expose the area usually covered by a bathing suit unless I think it's an emergency or if a Police or CPS officer is present in cases of suspected abuse. No exceptions.