Parents with poor compliance/lack of follow-up

Specialties School

Published

I think one of the things I like least about this job is feeling like I am chasing parents down for follow-through on returning forms, bringing in medications, notes from doctors, etc. We have a field trip tomorrow to go apple picking and I have to go b/c we have a couple seizure kids and a few epi-pen kids. One of the epi-pen kids has a bee/wasp allergy. Last year there were a zillion bees and one of the teachers actually got stung. I have been hounding this mom since the beginning of the school year to send in the epi-pen and I called and spoke with her Friday telling her that if I didn't have it by this morning, her son would not be able to go one the field trip. It is the entire First Grade going so if he stays behind, he will have to join a K class for the day which sucks for everyone. He is also not the best behaved kid. It just really makes me mad that this mom won't follow through and her kid has to miss out and the K class has to be inconvenienced. I asked if there was a problem getting the epi-pen and she said in an angry tone "I have it, I just forgot to send it in". :mad: She yells at me like she is mad that I don't want her kid to miss the trip.

Specializes in school nurse.

I just received a health info/emergency consent to treat form back after chasing down a parent for a while. What do I get back? A form with a signature and NO INFORMATION QUESTIONS FILLED IN.

Hello, emergency contacts? Allergies? Medical conditions? Updated phone numbers?

What do you think- congenital idiocy?

Jedrnurse-right?! I got back 10 medication forms that were just signed-no med, no info, no doctor signature, no student name-just a parent signature.

As far as stock epi-pens, I don't volunteer that information to very many people. The epi-pens that I have are for unknown allergies, not as an alternative to a parent supplying their child's life-saving medication. That being said, I have sent my stock on a field trip with an allergic kiddo because no meds had been sent to the school.

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

I have found THE most effective technique is to send a note that identifies EMS response time to show how long their child will be suffering without a med. Dramatic, but honest and effective. The worst feeling is knowing what to do and not having the resources to make an effective change.

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.
Jedrnurse-right?! I got back 10 medication forms that were just signed-no med, no info, no doctor signature, no student name-just a parent signature.

As far as stock epi-pens, I don't volunteer that information to very many people. The epi-pens that I have are for unknown allergies, not as an alternative to a parent supplying their child's life-saving medication. That being said, I have sent my stock on a field trip with an allergic kiddo because no meds had been sent to the school.

I make it clear that my stock epi pens are not intended for children that have allergy action plans. You have an allergy action plan- you supply the medications. The stocks are for unknown emergencies and need now situations. If i have an epipen for a specific student, every effort will be made to use their prescribed medication.

I don't think i have any students tha have epi ordered that didn't bring one in. I am still waiting on orders for 4 epipens from last year though...

I have found THE most effective technique is to send a note that identifies EMS response time to show how long their child will be suffering without a med. Dramatic, but honest and effective. The worst feeling is knowing what to do and not having the resources to make an effective change.

After I saw your post about this earlier, I used this when talking to a mom about why it would be beneficial to have an inhaler at school for her child's poorly controlled asthma. It worked! Inhaler was delivered today!

Specializes in School Nurse.

I am still waiting for some epi's and I do think it is because of price. I did ask them to bring Benadryl and told them I would be calling 911 for a hint of reaction.

Specializes in School Nurse.

What do you think- congenital idiocy?

Natural selection?

Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

MrNurse- I love your idea.

Never thought saying quite like this! I love it!! (Another tool for my old tool box. Thanks. :) )

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

Thankful I can contribute what little I have.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

Well, the good news is I finally go the kid's epi-pen. The bad news is, it expires this month so I am sire I will be chading her down for a new one.

Specializes in kids.
Well, the good news is I finally go the kid's epi-pen. The bad news is, it expires this month so I am sire I will be chading her down for a new one.

Bwahaha!!

Sorry could not help myself!

Specializes in Home Health,Dialysis, MDS, School Nurse.
I have found THE most effective technique is to send a note that identifies EMS response time to show how long their child will be suffering without a med. Dramatic, but honest and effective. The worst feeling is knowing what to do and not having the resources to make an effective change.

Great idea, but for us, our hospital is about 5 blocks away with excellent response time. This is the main reason we couldn't get stock epi-pens until the very end of last year. The main dr. there said there was no need since the ambulance could be here so quickly. Well, that dr. retired and I asked one of the other docs there and he was more than happy to order them for us!

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