Recording Conversations with Parents

[seedanurse]

Hello, my admin and our SRO have suggested I start recording conversations with parents, to provide documentation in the event things get heated. Where I live only 1 person needs to be aware that the conversation is being recorded (it would be me) for it to be legal. 

Do any of you record conversations? How do you store them? Do you use a personal cell phone and download or a separate voice recorder? Admin suggested I buy my own voice recorder, but I am trying to cut down my work-expenses this year. My concern is opening up my personal cell phone to a subpoena, if I use it to record work conversations. 

These types of things are so frustrating and take up time I don't have.  

Thank you for any input!

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

Nope I would not do it at all.  It may not even be legal to record without knowledge or consent. Also, If they want you to record conversations, which I wouldn't do, then they need to provide you with the phone to do it. Absolutely do not use your own personal phone or buy anything.

Also, if things get heated with a parent then I would stop the conversation and get an admin to step in with you.  

And, how many heated arguments are you getting into with parents that it has come to this? Just wondering. 

[seedanurse]

scuba nurse said:

Nope I would not do it at all.  It may not even be legal to record without knowledge or consent. Also, If they want you to record conversations, which I wouldn't do, then they need to provide you with the phone to do it. Absolutely do not use your own personal phone or buy anything.

Also, if things get heated with a parent then I would stop the conversation and get an admin to step in with you.  

And, how many heated arguments are you getting into with parents that it has come to this? Just wondering. 

I am in a One Party state; it is definitely legal here. 

Heated might have been the wrong word. I can't recall ever arguing with a parent ever, but I have had them turn around and tell admin or the district office and lie about what I said.  

Example: Yesterday a student came in reporting scant lady partsl spotting, telling me it was from a severe GI bleed, we talked about basic anatomy (historically she has been cleared by a doctor multiple times with regards to GI bleed concerns, but is convinced she is internally bleeding to death), she left my office and went directly to the counselor to report that she told me she has heart failure and I refused to help her.  The mom frequently talks to our district office to report that we are not adequately caring for her child.  

My current practice is to document all conversations and health office visits in the district's online records system, and hope that if my word is questioned, that will suffice.  It made me nervous that my admin does not think that is sufficient practice.

 

 

 

[Cattz, ADN]

I wouldn't use your personal cell phone for anything- ever. Good, consistent documentation is what we as nurses have been doing for years. If the school wants to provide a way to record it- they can go for it.

Our phone systems have a button on the phone that records. Thankfully, I have never used that feature, but apparently it's there.

Please update us.

[toomuchbaloney]

Do not use your personal phone to record work conversations.  If your employer requires a recording to provide you with support in the event of a disagreement, they should supply the device and the guidelines for use.  

[DeeAngel]

Under no circumstances should you ever use your personal phone for this, Admin will say it's okay to do this, it is not, they are lying to you.  Use a burner and tell not a single soul you record anything.  Just do it and store the recordings

If you use a hospital phone, the phone and info on it are theirs, not yours, which means they can just take your information from you at any time and there's nothing you can do about it.

[londonflo]

seedanurse said:

a student came in reporting scant lady partsl spotting, telling me it was from a severe GI bleed, we talked about basic anatomy (historically she has been cleared by a doctor multiple times with regards to GI bleed concerns, but is convinced she is internally bleeding to death), she left my office and went directly to the counselor to report that she told me she has heart failure

 Could she have ovarian cysts?

Is there any role for a school counselor, psychiatrist to help?  If she cannot differ fact from imagination (in her mind) she's headed to a rough road after high school, Does Mom agree her bleeding is from other sites than menstrual bleeding?

[vintagegal, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Do not do this. Instead, when conversations get heated, stay professional. All you need to do is state, "it seems as if you are very upset right now, it may be better to converse at another time". If they yell or cuss you say " respectfully, if you continue to be inappropriate with me I am ending this conversation". Diffuse, distract, eliminate.