Does anyone drive students home?

Specialties School

Published

There are times I haven't been able to reach a parent (which is usually for lice) and I've learned that some of the nurses in our district have taken kids home if needed. It's always cases where they know the parent is home (just out of minutes on their phone, asleep, etc). I don't feel comfortable with this. First of all, I don't want to take the chance of a louse getting in my car (the kids at my school enjoy picking them out!) . Secondly, I worry about the liability. What does everyone else think?

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Specializes in Emergency, Telemetry, Transplant.

I must begin by saying that I am not a school nurse, but I will comment on this. No, I would never take a student home. I would be less concerned about the lice and much more concerned about the liability. Not to mention, what if the student makes some sort of an unfounded allegation against you?

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Not a school nurse either, but like PP, I advise STRONGLY against driving students home. I believe it is NOT in your job description, so therefore you'd be on your own if something were to happen.

No workman's comp. Loss of wages.

On your own for auto insurance claims and your own carrier might refuse to cover.

Possible disciplinary action for overstepping your job description.

On your own if sued for any injuries if an accident happens.

Your prob won't cover.

Etc.

And just a thought, what if the parent just steps out for a moment and isn't home. Could you just leave a kiddo sitting out on the porch steps?

Even though OTHER nurses have driven kids home, not my choice!

Just as a point of interest, try asking your malpractice carrier its opinion.

Since you're already having some concerns about it, you prob DO know the answer.

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These are all very good points I will bring up if I'm asked. I will definitely not be doing this!!! I never even thought of a couple of these points. Now makes me wonder why others have done and continue to do it. Thank you for your advice!!

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No, never. Employees in my district are not permitted to transport students. If necessary, we would contact our school resource police officer & he could go to the home.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

You know, as nurses we all pretty much want to help out if someone gets stuck in a bind. We all don't EXPECT anything negative to occur, least of all when we're just trying to be helpful.

But when lawsuits and money become possible parts of the situation, people get crazy! That's freq the cause of 'bad blood' even in best of loving families.

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Specializes in Emergency.

I am always shocked at fact that in both school districts we've lived in, nurses, teachers, administrators, all seem to have no qualms about driving students home. Blows my mind.

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Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.

Never. It is a huge liability! It is not our responsibility to provide transportation. Period. If you start taking kids home then parents start expecting it. You take one kid home then sooner than later other parents will hear about it and assume you can take their kids home also. Bad, bad situation. Lice is not an emergency and does not warrant a staff member to drive a kid home. I'm glad to know you will follow in the footsteps of the other nurses.

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Specializes in School nursing.

I have put a HS student in a cab (with both verbal and written parental permission heading to place where parent was waiting), but would never drive a sick student home! Especially if I hadn't been able to reach a parent - that just seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen to me. If a kid has lice and I can't reach a parent/guardian, that kid just stays with me in the corner of my office doing classwork until the end of the school day.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

no, i would not drive a student home. Heck, i can barely leave for lunch, so leaving to drive a student home would be out of the question anyhow!

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Not a chance.....

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

At my District we have a person who can drive students home. He's also the truancy officer and uses the District van. The parent has to give verbal permission and someone has to be home in order for him to transport. The exception is if we cannot reach a parent and an emergency contact gives permission. I had a situation like that last week with a really sick student. The parent could not be reach at work for safety reasons and we got a hold of an emergency contact/family member who let us drop the student and their home.

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