3rd Party Lice Reports

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

[MHDNURSE, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

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.

[SaltineQueen]

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

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

Edited Mar 3, 2020 by AdobeRN

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.

[k1p1ssk, BSN, RN]

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.

[ohiobobcat]

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.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

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

[k1p1ssk, BSN, RN]

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....

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.

[ohiobobcat]

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

[tining, BSN, RN]

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

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.

2 hours ago, AdobeRN said:

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

Samesies!!

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.............

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

#bigfootlice

If I don't see them...they don't exist!

[AutumnDraidean]

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.

[amoLucia]

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?