Please take care of your little one rant

Specialties School

Published

I sent a kindergartner home yesterday who's lungs sounded like bagpipes with how much she was wheezing. It took 3 hours for someone to actually answer the phone and get her.

Today she comes into my office with her uncle's inhaler. When I asked if they went to the doctor, she said, "no mom said to just use this whenever I cough". Thankfully she had no idea how to use it and that's why she brought it to me. Lungs still sound awful, cough is still awful.

I call mom again who gets mad at ME for refusing to give her daughter the inhaler and kept repeating "She needs it to breathe, what don't you understand about that?!".

Finally I explained that I have a standing order for a neb that I can use if her cough continues, and mom mentions how they did a breathing treatment this morning. When I asked her if the student has seen the doctor recently, mom tell me no, it is actually for her but figured little one needed it too...:banghead:

I started to say that her daughter really needs to see a doctor and get her own medication because she may have asthma and need more intense treatment but then she hung up on me and turned off her phone.

And as an aside, they aren't avoiding the doctor for financial reasons. It's just laziness and that is my biggest weakness. I have a really hard time tolerating laziness.

This is medical neglect of a minor, you know about it and you are a mandated reporter by law. Do what you know needs to be done.

Specializes in School nursing.
This is medical neglect of a minor, you know about it and you are a mandated reporter by law. Do what you know needs to be done.

The OP did report it.

Sometimes, as school nurses, we really do have an inside view of the home and family life. The parent who is unavailable because they were in tennis league, or the same family has taken the kids out of school for a vacation during a non vacation week (because they have stated they don't want to be on vacation with "everyone else") or the live in a great part of town, or dad has a high level executive job and everyone, kids included are driving high end cars.

So yes, sometimes we CAN say it is not financial.

OK, thanks.

Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

Dr. Mom, Google medical school graduate. I fear for this little one.

Specializes in NCSN.
How do you know their finances and that the issue is laziness?

As Nutmegge said, sometimes our position allows us to know details of the child's family life. If they were delaying care due to financial reasons, I would have held off calling and done more educating on local resources.

Snippy? Did she think you should not have been reporting? Maybe she should be reported.

The vibe I got was she didn't think it was reportable. Or she might just have been having a tough day. I could NEVER be able to work in a CPS call center.

Sad that it had to be reported. But I'm really glad that you did!!! :up:

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