3rd Party Lice Reports

Specialties School

Published

Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

The following situations have happened to me over the years (I work in a high school):

I have had student A (along with friends student B, C and D) come in to my office and tell me they are positive student E has lice.

I have had student L's parent call me telling me that student L saw lice on student M and they just thought I would like to know so I can check student M. (Yep-for real)

Today I had a teacher email me about student Q, R, S, and T concerned about student X's head lice that they all saw crawling in her hair. Teacher does not have student X as a student, but thought I might like to know.

What do you do when you get a 3rd party report of head lice? Do you call the "affected" student down for a check? What do you tell the student? Sometimes it feels a bit like a witch hunt to me, but I am curious what other nurses do.

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I only accept third party reports if it comes from a teacher and even then 95% of the time it is not enough "evidence" for me to do anything about it. I do not do whole class head check, and I will only check a kid if he has been actively scratching, c/o itching and other signs of lice.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

I do nothing...unless my boss gets word and insists on me checking. But he pretty much trusts my judgement.

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I too do nothing. I thank them for the info and move on with my day.

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I will only check if a teacher who has the student reports it to me. Not the gaggle of dramatic girls, parents, or just the random teacher who "thinks" they saw "something" in a student's hair.

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.
1 hour ago, ihavealltheice said:

I will only check if a teacher who has the student reports it to me. Not the gaggle of dramatic girls, parents, or just the random teacher who "thinks" they saw "something" in a student's hair.

Samesies.

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

OK, thank you for this. I, too, typically say thanks for the information, and move on with my day. But I started second-guessing myself for some reason today after that teacher emailed me.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

If the teacher doesn't have student X, how was the teacher thisclose to see all the bugs? Enquiring minds....

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.
7 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

If the teacher doesn't have student X, how was the teacher thisclose to see all the bugs? Enquiring minds....

If they saw a kid scratch their head while on lunch/recess duty, for example (at least in elementary school). I have a couple of paras who like to report on all the goings on in the cafeteria....

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24 minutes ago, ohiobobcat said:

OK, thank you for this. I, too, typically say thanks for the information, and move on with my day. But I started second-guessing myself for some reason today after that teacher emailed me.

It has taken me several years to learn this. A whole lot easier than going round and round with reasons why I am not checking heads of random kids.

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.
19 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

If the teacher doesn't have student X, how was the teacher thisclose to see all the bugs? Enquiring minds....

In this particular case, it was a group of "concerned citizens (read: other students)" who reported it to the teacher, and the teacher passed the information on to me. Teacher made it clear in her email.that she has not seen Student X.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

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