Privacy when calling parent about sick child

[skwirlfixer]

My 8 yr daughter has been dealing with issues from what is a traumatic injury to her perineum which required 2 surgeries to repair. She's having BM issues and was in nurses office. I received a phone call saying that she had pain and wanted to come home. I asked the nurse to let me speak with her and I was told "I'll put you on speaker phone" I told her not to as the questions I wanted to ask my daughter were private. The nurse told me that she does not allow students to use her phone as she does not want the flu, and put her on speaker. I told her once again, please take me off speaker I want to speak to my daughter privately and was again denied. I then went to the school to see my daughter and manage the situation. Can anyone please tell me if there is any privacy act that would cover phone calls? While I was there I had to listen to other parents talking to their kids on speaker. I don't think this is fair to any child. I cannot find anything specific in HIPPA or FERPA. Seeing other posts regarding privacy with head lice checks etc, I've seen that go on as well right in front of other students. I've seen kids with bloody noses sitting on a bench, others lying on cots in full view, obviously ill and waiting for pick up. I have to deal with the nurse regularly since my daughter takes daily meds. I'm hesitant about kicking the bee hive but feel strongly that I should be allowed to have a conversation with my daughter with out a room full of kids/adults hearing it. Before I approach the school principal I would like to find information that would back up my thoughts that she is not considering privacy especially when specifically asked for from the parent. If this is normal practice, please let me know as well. Thank you.

[WineRN]

I'm sorry this happened to you and your daughter. I feel like this situation really is an exception to the rules (I very rarely let a student use my phone). As others mentioned, I would make sure it was indeed the nurse in there and not a front office person.

And in regards to your other concerns, please keep in mind the space given. There are offices where 100% privacy simply isn't possible. I'm lucky to have a larger office, but right now with all of the colds and influenza going around, if you look into my office on your way past in the hall, you will see whoever is going home because I simply have no where else to put them. Same with bloody noses and lice. There are days where I see over 60 kids and I only have 2 cots and 4 chairs. We do our best.

[skwirlfixer]

To answer several questions, There is the Nurse and an office assistant (non-RN) in the office. This was the regular school nurse. I actually find the substitute to be easier to work with and she WILL put the child on the phone. My daughter that day was dealing with gas pain as I suspected and I brought her gas ex which helped. I have spoken with her in the past on phone and have always ended with my child to get back on with the nurse to let her know what I think or plan to do. I do think it's wrong if I specifically ask to speak privately and I am denied. The nurse knows of the injury since it initially happened. I have kept them up to date, along with gym/class teacher, social work and school psychologist. I will take it up with the school principal or further. IMO It's as simple as adding an additional phone line if you don't want the kids on yours and you can listen in. Unfortunately I deal with her often because my daughter takes ADHD meds . I also didn't like it when the nurse said her dose should be higher because "she's older this year and it's increased as they get older" I just politely responded that her NP in Neuropsychology and I feel the medication is appropriate and she responds well at this dose. Thank you for your opinions. Sad that there is nothing standard to fall back on regarding privacy, but I'll make sure going forward her privacy is respected.

[JKL33]

On 1/20/2019 at 1:20 PM, skwirlfixer said:

Can anyone please tell me if there is any privacy act that would cover phone calls? While I was there I had to listen to other parents talking to their kids on speaker. I don't think this is fair to any child. I cannot find anything specific in HIPPA or FERPA. Seeing other posts regarding privacy with head lice checks etc, I've seen that go on as well right in front of other students. I've seen kids with bloody noses sitting on a bench, others lying on cots in full view, obviously ill and waiting for pick up.

Personally I would deliver your complaint with as few words as possible. I wouldn't wade too far into all these other waters - some of which you may be technically correct about and others you probably aren't. At least with HIPAA, the law makes commonsense allowances. I don't know as much about FERPA, but think about how a school would possibly provide care for multiple students' health needs throughout the day if it were against the law for them to be incidentally seen holding a tissue to their bloody nose. Or seen sitting on a bench waiting to be picked up.

Approach with fact that this was simply ridiculous from the standpoint of common human decency and that you don't expect to be treated that way ever again.

[LikeTheDeadSea, MSN, RN]

I read your post shaking my head and then hugged my box of disinfectant wipes that sits next to my phone. I have no problem letting students use my phone.

As others have mentioned, the bloody nose and waiting to get picked up heavily depend on how an office is constructed and impacted by time management and availability. When we're seeing 60+ kids a day and have 3 beds and 5 chairs and kids are rolling in left and right, common sense needs to be used to figure out where the best place for a student is in the moment.

[Keeperofbandages, LPN]

I have one phone in my office, I let the student talk to the parent on my phone. None of the phones at my school have a speaker options so that has never been an issue with me. I do keep disinfectant wipes by the phone and use them constantly. My old school, I did have 2 phones which was nice for students to use. However, switching to the school I have now, I am okay with just having one phone in my office so that I can make sure that people on the student's pick up list is actually called and not someone who is not supposed to pick up the student.

[pedi_nurse]

Respecting the privacy of a patient is critical in healthcare. As is respecting a parent's rights regarding their child. There is no reason that the nurse should have denied your request for a private conversation with your daughter.

The other things, like the multiple students in the clinic, is simply something unavoidable. If there is a matter that requires more privacy, I will request the other students, sickness and all, to step outside the clinic for a moment. Alternatively, I will step into the empty hallway with the student seeking to speak more privately.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I always let parents talk to their child; actually often I ask the parent if they would like to speak to their child directly.

If it is a circumstance where it is check-in and my assessment doesn't warrant dismissal, I'll tell the parent that before I pass the phone to their child. I have Clorox wipes. Germs happen and a phone can be wiped easily!

If a student needs privacy - to speak to me or parent or both and I have other non-urgent students, I, like others on this thread, have asked them to sit outside my office for a few minutes (I set up a few chairs there). My office is small - one room and a connected bathroom. I cannot guarantee one child/staff won't see another child there, but I try my best for privacy when it is needed. My office is located in the basement of my school so that does offer it some protection from the typical hustle and bustle of our main office.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

I would venture to say her response was the exception rather than the rule. Hope your daughter heals quickly!

[Amethya]

Uh no. It's a private matter. I only do speaker phone if we want to talk to the student together about coming to my office for no reason and we tell them together that it's a no-no, or if the student can't move from the chair to the phone (Phone is on my desk).