Parents, parents, parents.

Specialties School

Published

Hi guys.

Quick question!

What do you guys do when the parent of LD refuses to come in and pick up the child?

Do you have any magic vernacular you use?

Help your fellow school nurse out!

Thanks all.

P.s.- and just like that, Thanksgiving break is over. :(

Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

usually the words "CPS" and "medical neglect" work. I don't like to use those unless it's desperate. I have found "I will need to call EMS and you can meet them at the hospital" works pretty well.

Specializes in School Nursing.

In addition to the above comment, if it's due to exclusion symptoms, I've sometimes said, "I'll have to discuss with (principal name) if not picked up due to the building policy on exclusion." So far I have only had to chat once and the principal called and requested pick up and something to arranged pretty quick.

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

While I love Bunny's tough tactics, I'm siding more with LTDS.

AdobeRN

1,294 Posts

I have the principal or AP call - the few times I have had to this it was amazing how fast someone was here to pick them up.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN

3,142 Posts

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I need clarification - is the parent declining to pick up a kid who has an excludable condition?

Or is the parent declining to pick up a kid who's spiraling down, who has an intractable headache or terrible menstrual cramps, but who doesn't meet exclusion conditions?

If it's the former, get the principal involved, and previous posters have given you beautiful language to use.

If it's the latter - they can refuse and there's not much you can do. Invoke CPS only in matters of abuse or neglect.

Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.
I need clarification - is the parent declining to pick up a kid who has an excludable condition?

Or is the parent declining to pick up a kid who's spiraling down, who has an intractable headache or terrible menstrual cramps, but who doesn't meet exclusion conditions?

If it's the former, get the principal involved, and previous posters have given you beautiful language to use.

If it's the latter - they can refuse and there's not much you can do. Invoke CPS only in matters of abuse or neglect.

Also for the latter (especially if I suspect school avoidance), I let the parent know that the student is stating they are too ill to stay at school and would they like to talk to LD about this, because they can't stay in my office all day. I then hand the phone over to the kid and while they usually do their best to "sound sick", the parent usually ends up agreeing (pushovers) or the kid hangs up and says they'll go back to class...

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

What do you mean by "refuses?" Do they flat out tell you they are not coming to pick them up or say they don't have a way to come pick them up, or do they say they are and not show up?

grammy1

420 Posts

I found that if I would tell them that I'll contact the social worker and see if she can make any arrangements, they usually manage to get there. They automatically associate social worker with cps, so that gets them moving. If a parent truly does not have transportation, has an illness, etc., our social worker will really try to transport the child home. She knows the families pretty well and knows who is capable and who is slacking.

Specializes in Nicu, Currently School Nursing.

They flat out say they are not coming to pick up the child.

A smaller amount of background would be the high schooler coming in for the same symptoms 3 days out of a short 4 day week. Parent has not taken them to the doctor but is aware. Can never get a hold of the parent and when you do, well they aren't happy.

SaltineQueen

913 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.
They flat out say they are not coming to pick up the child.

A smaller amount of background would be the high schooler coming in for the same symptoms 3 days out of a short 4 day week. Parent has not taken them to the doctor but is aware. Can never get a hold of the parent and when you do, well they aren't happy.

Are their symptoms excludable or do you just feel the student would benefit from being home to rest or needs to go to the doctor?

ruby_jane, BSN, RN

3,142 Posts

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
They flat out say they are not coming to pick up the child.

A smaller amount of background would be the high schooler coming in for the same symptoms 3 days out of a short 4 day week. Parent has not taken them to the doctor but is aware. Can never get a hold of the parent and when you do, well they aren't happy.

If it's not an excludable condition, I don't see there's much you can do. We cannot care more than that parent. It's tough - especially since we know when a kid probably needs more of an assessment than we can provide. Have you gotten your administration involved?

+ Add a Comment