pregnancy scares

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Specializes in School Nurse, NICU.

I have a recent trend in JUNIOR HIGH of students who think they are pregnant. Most of the time they are sent to me so i can talk to them. Problem is i don't know what to say! I live in Texas where they teach abstinence only education but I have never been trained what to say and not to say in a situation like this. when I ask the counselor and other nurses in my district what i should say I get different responses (everyone does their own thing) I am very nervous one day I will say the wrong thing and get in trouble. Most of the time the counselor is with me but at times I am unable to find her. Most of the girls have already talked to their moms before they come see me but for those that don't am I bound by privacy laws NOT to say anything? I want them to trust me but I am also realistic. I just don't know what to do! Help! feelin' stressed about this today. :confused:

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Middle school? Yikes! I'll be following this thread to see what advice you are given.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Middle school!? Yikes.

You have a few sticky points here. If you discuss other contraception options with your students, are you violating some type of district policy? The first image i see is you getting driven out of your job by angry parents because you showed their child a condom. If those same parents put the same type of effort into actaully being a parent to their kids, then they would not be in that situation. I think it's advisable to bring the issue to the administration (of course not naming any names) and inform them that their abstinence only policy may not be effective as you've had x visits to your office with pregnancy scares.

The next issue is naturally privacy. Ideally, i think that our own Bergren could weigh in on this better, I believe a federal statute exists that may cover this, but you should also check into the laws of your state regarding confidentality and minors, especially mature minors.

As far as what to say to them. Well, my approach is to always start with what they know. Let them guide the conversation and direct them with simple and honest answers. My feelings are that we live in an age where information (both correct and incorrect) is freely available. We can act as the guides between fact and fiction.

Ideally, i would strive to hold an informational session aimed at parents so they can take some of the responsibility of teaching their own kids, but the reality is that the parents that attend something like that are usually the parents that are doing the right thing.

Keep us posted.

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" Well, my approach is to always start with what they know. Let them guide the conversation and direct them with simple and honest answers"

Absolutely - get them to do most of the talking. Then you can even get them to give the answers, "well what do you think you should do?"

Talk to your state school nurse consultant: about what you can say- this is one on one care, not health ed class.

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/default.shtm

state minors rights laws:

http://guttmacherinstitute.org/sections/adolescents.php?scope=U.S.%20specific

Also try to figure out why they are in the situations that are leading them to think this? Unsupervised parties? Home alone? Alchohol? Target those interventions also.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I don't know about Texas but I know that teens over 13 have privacy laws that restrict their sexual history from their parents and can only be reported for reportable STDs and age discrepancies (i.e. the girl is 14 and the boyfriend is 18). A 14 year old girl can get an abortion without their parents ever knowing, yet a school nurse needs parents permission to give a Midol.

I would contact your nursing board but a quick check with your local Planned Parent Hood could get you a ballpark idea.

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