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. Edited Mar 3, 2020 by ohiobobcat 2 Likes
MHDNURSE, BSN, MSN, RN, NP Specializes in Pediatrics, Community, and School Health. Has 21 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 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. 5 Likes
SaltineQueen Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge. Mar 3, 2020 I do nothing...unless my boss gets word and insists on me checking. But he pretty much trusts my judgement. 5 Likes
AdobeRN Mar 3, 2020 I too do nothing. I thank them for the info and move on with my day. Edited Mar 3, 2020 by AdobeRN 8 Likes
ihavealltheice Mar 3, 2020 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. 10 Likes
k1p1ssk, BSN, RN Specializes in pediatrics. Has 10 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 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. 4 Likes
ohiobobcat Specializes in ED, School Nurse. Mar 3, 2020 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. 3 Likes
ruby_jane, BSN, RN Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing. Has 12 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 If the teacher doesn't have student X, how was the teacher thisclose to see all the bugs? Enquiring minds.... 4 Likes
k1p1ssk, BSN, RN Specializes in pediatrics. Has 10 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 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.... 1 Likes
AdobeRN Mar 3, 2020 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. 1 Likes
ohiobobcat Specializes in ED, School Nurse. Mar 3, 2020 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. Edited Mar 3, 2020 by ohiobobcat 2 Likes
ruby_jane, BSN, RN Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing. Has 12 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 1 minute ago, ohiobobcat said: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.Sweet Baby Moses. So...I would have been tempted to give my side-eye and say "I don't truck in rumors or HIPAA violations" but my temper is short these days. You prolly have better self-control. 4 Likes
KeeperOfTheIceRN, ADN Has 4 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 2 hours ago, AdobeRN said:I too do nothing. I thank them for the info and move on with my day.Samesies!! 3 Likes
EnoughWithTheIce Mar 3, 2020 Not going on a hunt / wild goose chase among 950 middle school students based on rumors about something that is a nuisance.I feel like I could have actually written this post as I have dealt with the same thing the last few weeks. 3 moms and their daughters (who had no symptoms of lice/nits at all) complaining about a terrible outbreak............. 3 Likes
NutmeggeRN, BSN Specializes in kids. Has 25 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 #bigfootliceIf I don't see them...they don't exist! 13 Likes
AutumnDraidean Specializes in School health, Maternal-Newborn. Has 20 years experience. Mar 3, 2020 As a sub I only check students who are brought to me. I will NOT call a student down to be checked. I've found life lice once, and a couple incomplete treatments where I still found nits. They had their parents with them and we had a nice little education/commiseration section as my girls have had lice twice. 1 Likes
amoLucia Specializes in LTC. Mar 3, 2020 You know, just when I think I've heard/seen about it all ... along come you SNs with a new dilemma to have to handle (and you do so adeptly and seem to have been doing so cool, calm & collected-ly for a long time).You all have my greatest respect. I take my hat off to y'all. And no, I won't share my hat with anyone else, or their hats! Makes me think about all those hat depts in the fancy mall stores where I loved to try on all the displayed hats!Any chance those self-appointed 'mandated' student reporters are just 'mean girls, out to harass a not-popular "IN" student? They would just think it funny as all h*ll for the SN to do a lice head-check. Ya' think? 13 Likes