Phone calls to parents.

[Amethya]

So I've been told I need to call parents FOR EVERYTHING. So because of this, I call all parents, but majority of our students are Hispanic, and some do not know English. I'm Hispanic, born in Texas, so I know Spanish and can speak and translate easily, but here's the problem.

I call or leave a message, "Hello, This is Ms. Amethya, the medical aide here in [Name of school]. I'm calling because of your son/daughter, [Name of child]. They came to my office because of a complaint of a sore throat. I checked their throat, it was slightly red, but no signs of white spots or anything. They have NO fever, 98.7. I was just calling to let you know they came to my office and what they were in for. I told them to go back to class, and if they feel worse to come back. If they do come back, I'll call you back, but as of now, they are fine. If you have any questions or concerns, you can call me back at [school number]. Thank you and have a great day!"

I translate this in Spanish and even the parents answer and say they understood me, and I tell them this, but still I get them to come to the school asking about their children, even after plainly told them that their child is fine, they don't need to go home.

I'm not sure if I'm saying it wrong or something, but this happens on occasions. Is there another way to tell them everything is fine, this is just a courtesy call for them to know why their child came?

[nursetlm, ADN]

Calling for EVERYTHING seems like a bit much. I would be on the phone all day if I did this. Sorry you have to do this. It is truly not necessary.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I agree - i call when I deem necessary. Pick ups are obvious, concern for medical follow up, malingering students probably get a call after 2nd visit, and so forth. I would not and can not call after garden variety visits for stuffy noses and scratchy throats.

[Amethya]

Yeah I tend to ignore the orders and just call for the obvious calls, but they tend to bother me about calling about EVERYTHING, which I find stupid.

[SaltineQueen]

Who has told you you have to call for everything? Your superior, or the teachers/staff members? I call for head injuries (duh), and any time a child will go home looking significantly different than when they came to school (knees that get scraped up good, bruises to the face, etc.). Med administration I sometimes just send a note, sometimes call. Depends on the kid & my mood. Maybe after you say "they are fine" you could say "you do not have to come to the school at this time" ??

[MHDNURSE]

I have parents that will do this, even after I specifically tell them not to come. It might be cultural (I too am part Latina and speak Spanish).

As an aside, I never say specifically why I am calling. This is my script if I have to leave a message "Hi this is the nurse calling. It is NOT an emergency but I would like you to call me back to discuss a recent office visit I had with X". That way, they can call me back to get any info.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

I only call when...

1) child has hit their head/face

2) child will be coming home with a mark on their body that was not there when they arrived at school (eg: significant scratch, bruise, etc.)

3) parents have specifically requested that they be contacted for any and all health office visits (I currently have 5 of these students)

4) child is sick and needs to go home, I want parents to be aware of something I've noticed (usually it's a possible ear infection after I've looked in their ears) or the child has come to see me 3 or more times that day

[tch1920, BSN, RN]

If I called every student's parent that came into my office, I would be on the phone non-stop. When I do call, I leave a general message stating it is NOT an emergency and ask them to call me back at a convenient time. Most of the time they don't call back so... if anything creeps back up on me I can say that I did call.

[tining, BSN, RN]

I have the same issue with Spanish speaking parents. I have to reassure them 4 times in one conversation. This is a courtesy call, absolutely not necessary to pick up, I just wanted to inform you, your child is fine . . .

Continue to say their child is well and if they continue to pick up, show your principal the data that this is causing ___ many kids to be picked up every day for things that should have stayed, and or was of no consequence.

[momto5RN]

That would drive me nuts!! I pretty much do as the above posters have mentioned. Definitely if they hit their head or injury to the face, if a student uses their inhaler or uses it too much, the obvious fever/vomiting or a headache that won't go away, injuries that may be a sprain or possible fracture, and I have several parents that want me to call for everything, even a paper cut. I can't imagine that! I always want to say to those parents, listen, I have five kids and kids are just naturally clumsy and will get hurt.

[WineRN]

I would never get anything done if I had to be on the phone for each visit.

Could you send notes home for non emergent things? One of the nurse's in my other district has a cute "Your Child stopped by to see me" nurse's note where she fills out the reason and what she did. She has very very needy parents, so if they don't get a call or a note and little suzy says she saw the nurse, there is heck to pay.

[NurseBeans, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

This ^^ is what I do. I know most of my little notes get crumpled up in the bottom of backpacks but no one can say I didn't try. Phone calls are fine but I can't possibly make one for every visit. I never have an empty office to be able to ensure patient privacy when making a call to a parent, and my office is so small my voice is audible in every corner. Now, if I got my lunch everyday, then maybe I'd be able to make more calls. HAHAHAHAHA