Pretty much told to lie

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So I had two kiddos come in last week who had clearly been in an altercation, (Elementary school). We couldn't get the actual story of who had started it, but they both admitted to putting hands on each other. So I documented in the computer "altercation with another student," etc. and the injury. While filling out the accident reports the principal asked what I was putting and I told her. She then tells me not to put that, to put "unable to get actual story of incident, teacher unsure." (Teacher was a sub who really was unsure, but knows they were fighting)

I then had to call one of the parents and say "So and so ended up on the ground, we aren't really sure how, but he has a place on the back of his head." Knowing full well when the kid gets home he is telling parent his side of what happened. Just curious on how the rest of you would have handled this. My principal is very intimidating. I did refuse to fill out accident reports on the other two kids that were involved because I never laid eyes on them.... but she tried to get me to nonetheless. And then decided since I wasn't filling it out, then it didn't need to be done at all.

Methinks your administration is trying to avoid a HIB situation.

Haemopholus influenzae?

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Methinks your administration is trying to avoid a HIB situation.

Haemopholus influenzae?

Yeah, that was my impression as well. HIB means "Haemopholus influenzae" in my mind.

Curious now about what it means for school nursing.

As to the OP's post, I agree with the consensus here that you chart what you see/do and don't let the principal intimidate you. As someone who had one of those principals and because I'm not a rabble-rouser but a peacemaker, I had a hard time standing up for myself.

This is a great forum for help though!:up:

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Specializes in School nurse.

Harassment, intimidation and bullying report. Huge in NJ. There is even dedicated staff in each school to address/prevent HIB. Reports have to be investigated within 48 hrs and the board gets involved. It's a big deal.

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Harassment, intimidation and bullying report. Huge in NJ.

Whoa.

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Whoa.

Yeah, whoa. Never heard of it.

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Specializes in Hospice.
Methinks your administration is trying to avoid a HIB situation.

"Hit 'im Back"??

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Never been a school nurse, but being told or ordered to lie is common and standard in nursing in general. For example I was ordered to lie to surveyors on every Magnet recertification.

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Never been a school nurse, but being told or ordered to lie is common and standard in nursing in general. For example I was ordered to lie to surveyors on every Magnet recertification.

About...?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
About...?

Usually given the "approved" answer to give surveyors and threated with being fired if we don't provide the "approved" answer, true or not.

Usually about staffing levels, practice counsels , self governance. Arriving to work on survey day and finding all the travelers, who usually make up 50% of the staff, gone and a whole unit of regular staff on OT. Told to say this is normal staffing, things like that.

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Usually given the "approved" answer to give surveyors and threated with being fired if we don't provide the "approved" answer, true or not.

Usually about staffing levels, practice counsels , self governance. Arriving to work on survey day and finding all the travelers, who usually make up 50% of the staff, gone and a whole unit of regular staff on OT. Told to say this is normal staffing, things like that.

That must suck.

It doesn't roll like that in school. Unless you have a crap Principal. Schools are not a business.

My hospital was not magnet. But it was a huge LI hospital and I remember being prepped for the "right" answers.

Ugh.

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Specializes in School nursing.
"Hit 'im Back"??

See, after Haemopholus influenzae, my first thought was Head In Butt situation. Which, oddly enough, could apply to many situations.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

I'm not aware of any HIB policy, but I am sure it has something to do with not wanting to have to explain, or looking bad.

Also, very much a control issue... we had health screens a couple of weeks ago. HAD to do them during essential arts, could've had the whole school done in 2 hours, but instead had to lag around the whole day as to not "interrupt instruction time". We (including the district health coordinator) pulled a couple of the lower grades from recess because they take longer. We were then told they would have to make up recess because we interrupted it.

Make up recess?!?! How... by interrupting their instruction time?! My DHC just rolled her eyes and said "wouldn't it be nice if we made the rules?" GAH! But nonetheless, I really, really, really do LOVE my job. Really.

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