parents won't pick up sick kid!

Specialties School

Published

I have never had this happen before, and don't know what to do. The parents and both secondary contacts refuse to come get a sick child from school. They say that none of them can leave work. This child is 8 years old with a 103* fever. I told them they need to find someone to pick up the child, they say they have no one else to call. What else can I do?

Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I only had one student with this issue, and took the whole day for his mom to get her. The mother came in later crying, saying sorry because she couldn't get off work. I got it and told her it's fine, but take the child to the doctor and don't bring him to school until his fever is gone completely, which she did but I felt horrible for the child and mother.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

This was me about 20 years ago - I was the sick kid. I hadn't been feeling well for a few days and my mom was convinced I was faking to get out of giving an oral presentation. (I love the woman, but she to this day guilts me over missing work for illness). Her go-to was "well, if you don't feel well, go to the nurse." Now, she knew full well that my social anxiety/chronic bashfulness meant that I wasn't going to the nurse. That would mean asking the teacher then talking to the nurse.

So, I walked in to school and presented myself to the nurse before first period. I had a fever and she wanted to send me home. My mom consented to Tylenol but that was it. I trudged back to class, only to head back during third period. But there was an emergency with a special needs student and the office had to be cleared out. The nurse had noticed that I had been one of the students waiting and had me called down to her office. By this time it was fourth period. She called my mom *again* and my grandmother ended up picking me up. I'm really thankful that she advocated for me like that, although I guess I would have been okay for the rest of the day after that nonsense!

Anyway, sorry to make this a tangential story but I wanted to share.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You call child protective services. That is medical neglect on the part of the parent and you're a mandatory reporter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You guys would seriously call to report "neglect" on a parent that didn't come immediately for their child with a 103 fever? I have three kids that attend the same school and I informed the school nurse not to contact me unless it is an emergency. As a nurse, I trust her assessment and judgement. Threatening a parent with CPS/ACS is not cool and is downright mean. Are there protocols for school nurses to take in such cases, besides medication? In the school emergency contact form, there is a question about what to do if the emergency contacts cannot be reached and I simply put, they can stay with the nurse and if it is severe then take my child to the nearest emergency department. Things happen and people miss phone calls, but if there is no evidence of actual neglect then why get a family on a long list when these agencies could be investigating real neglect instead of wasting their resources on a family that couldn't easily be reached about a fever.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

LM NY- Are you a School Nurse?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You guys would seriously call to report "neglect" on a parent that didn't come immediately for their child with a 103 fever? I have three kids that attend the same school and I informed the school nurse not to contact me unless it is an emergency. As a nurse, I trust her assessment and judgement. Threatening a parent with CPS/ACS is not cool and is downright mean. Are there protocols for school nurses to take in such cases, besides medication? In the school emergency contact form, there is a question about what to do if the emergency contacts cannot be reached and I simply put, they can stay with the nurse and if it is severe then take my child to the nearest emergency department. Things happen and people miss phone calls, but if there is no evidence of actual neglect then why get a family on a long list when these agencies could be investigating real neglect instead of wasting their resources on a family that couldn't easily be reached about a fever.

NO, I would NOT.

I have quite a few undocumented kids here. Their parents work all day long and cannot come get their kid. Yes, I will keep a child with 103 fever in my office and I will NOT call CPS unless it happens on a constant basis.

By the way, I think you are right on.

In NY CPS would laugh at me on this, unless the kid had huge documentation of being here with a fever and being "neglected" repeatedly.

Also, EMS would laugh at me if I activated 911 for a kid with 103 fever as well.

So happy I have a reasonable Admin and school policy, ad they trust my NURSING judgement.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You call child protective services. That is medical neglect on the part of the parent and you're a mandatory reporter.

NO.

You DON'T.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I only had one student with this issue, and took the whole day for his mom to get her. The mother came in later crying, saying sorry because she couldn't get off work. I got it and told her it's fine, but take the child to the doctor and don't bring him to school until his fever is gone completely, which she did but I felt horrible for the child and mother.

It happens. Yes.

Again, if it is habit, that's another story.

Most parents should have a few backup plans in place.

I did.

But, it HAPPENS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NCSN.
I will NOT call CPS unless it happens on a constant basis.

I think this is the point some people are missing.

Having sick ones in the office is a part of the job. Being unable to pick up your child once or twice due to work is no fun for everyone involved and by no means warrants a CPS or EMS call or "threat".

But having the same kid come in repeatedly for fever, or uncontrolled asthma, or chronic lice/flea bites, or an undiagnosed allergy, or fatigue from not being able to sleep at home...Those kids I am paying special attention to and calling in reinforcements when needed.

Same with the parents who simply don't care. The ones who refuse to bring in meds because "you have stock there" or they don't think the child needs them anymore ;refuse to pick up their child before noon because their "gym is 45 mins away"; refuse to leave work because "he doesn't sound like he's crying enough to have a broken bone".

Up Vote Up Vote ×

*points to my eyes then yours*

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I don't like Wine but I like WineRN's post. Each child comes with their own set of circumstances. I will add, fever, in and of itself, is not a medical emergency.

I had a kid in here yesterday who came in at 9:30 AM with fever, laid in here all day, with fever, until I walked him out to his mother at dismissal with a temp of 98.7. I gave him no medicine during the day. Oh yea, I called several times to get the same message, "voice mail box is not set up," and I sent several text messages, I left messages on alternative phone numbers or listened to another contact number, "this phone does not accept incoming calls." The mother told me she received nothing from me on her phone. It's likely she is lying to me but it may be just as likely she isn't; you know - technology - reliably unreliable. So, she did heed my instruction, the student is not back today. I'll file this away. If it happens again with her it'll throw the circumstances into another category and we'll go from there.

Know what I mean?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
LM NY- Are you a School Nurse?

No, I am not a school nurse. I do not think that is relevant.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment