parents won't pick up sick kid!

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I have never had this happen before, and don't know what to do. The parents and both secondary contacts refuse to come get a sick child from school. They say that none of them can leave work. This child is 8 years old with a 103* fever. I told them they need to find someone to pick up the child, they say they have no one else to call. What else can I do?

No, I am not a school nurse. I do not think that is relevant.

It's relevant to know where your stance is coming from.

It's relevant to know where your stance is coming from.

I know why you and Cattz ask. I've asked that question in a very NOT SO NICE way many times here.:D

That being said, I would say her stance comes from common sense.

I don't like Wine but I like WineRN's post. Each child comes with their own set of circumstances. I will add, fever, in and of itself, is not a medical emergency.

I had a kid in here yesterday who came in at 9:30 AM with fever, laid in here all day, with fever, until I walked him out to his mother at dismissal with a temp of 98.7. I gave him no medicine during the day. Oh yea, I called several times to get the same message, "voice mail box is not set up," and I sent several text messages, I left messages on alternative phone numbers or listened to another contact number, "this phone does not accept incoming calls." The mother told me she received nothing from me on her phone. It's likely she is lying to me but it may be just as likely she isn't; you know - technology - reliably unreliable. So, she did heed my instruction, the student is not back today. I'll file this away. If it happens again with her it'll throw the circumstances into another category and we'll go from there.

Know what I mean?

I'm picking up what you're puttin' down.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
I know why you and Cattz ask. I've asked that question in a very NOT SO NICE way many times here.:D

That being said, I would say her stance comes from common sense.

Now Far, you know I love you like a sister...well maybe like a cousin since I'm in Texas:blink: but maybe LM NY is a he...

Now Far, you know I love you like a sister...well maybe like a cousin since I'm in Texas:blink: but maybe LM NY is a he...

Even better, Cuz.:cheeky:

I know why you and Cattz ask. I've asked that question in a very NOT SO NICE way many times here.:D

That being said, I would say her stance comes from common sense.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

My stance is coming from a mother and a nurse. The common sense is implied. I having nothing but respect and admiration for school nurses, so let's get that out of the way. I don't want or need anyone to agree with me. It is just kind of scary that parents can easily get on the ACS/CPS list for reasons such as this one. Fevers come and go all the time. Why would I pick my kid up just for that? I would hope you have exhausted all options while trying to inform me of the situation. What would happen if the fever went down by the time I got there? Not everyone has the luxury of getting up and being able to walk out of their job. However, as mentioned before, in the cases where there are repeat offenders then you can do what you need to do to make sure there is no actual neglect.

Now Far, you know I love you like a sister...well maybe like a cousin since I'm in Texas:blink: but maybe LM NY is a he...

Haha!! Sometimes I wish I was so I can use public restrooms more frequently. Far and I have history on AN, but it's been awhile since I have been active.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
Haha!! Sometimes I wish I was so I can use public restrooms more frequently. Far and I have history on AN, but it's been awhile since I have been active.

I figured the deck was stacked. I've never gotten one over on her.

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
You took the words right out of my mouth.

My stance is coming from a mother and a nurse. The common sense is implied. I having nothing but respect and admiration for school nurses, so let's get that out of the way. I don't want or need anyone to agree with me. It is just kind of scary that parents can easily get on the ACS/CPS list for reasons such as this one. Fevers come and go all the time. Why would I pick my kid up just for that? I would hope you have exhausted all options while trying to inform me of the situation. What would happen if the fever went down by the time I got there? Not everyone has the luxury of getting up and being able to walk out of their job. However, as mentioned before, in the cases where there are repeat offenders then you can do what you need to do to make sure there is no actual neglect.

I agreed with you up until "Fevers come and go all the time. Why would I pick my kid up just for that?" School policy states you cannot be in school with a fever, that is why you would need to pick your child up. Some policies even state that they cannot return until they have been fever free for 24 hours. Having a child sit in the health room because a parent doesn't want to leave work isn't a good reason. The parent is also putting their child as risk for catching some other contagious ailment that lingers in our germ hole. I understand if a parent CANNOT leave and there is no one else to pick up the student. But leaving a student with the nurse, just because you can and "it's the nurses job to take care of sick kids" isn't a logical/responsible answer. (There was no snark intended in my response)

That said, I wouldn't call CPS for that. I was once told that even if I did call CPS, they wouldn't do anything because the child is safe in our care and if feel they aren't EMS can be called.

Unless the child was severely lethargic, began having a febrile seizure, I wouldn't call EMS for a fever. We do not stock OTC meds, so when a child's temp hits 103 or above and parent still hasn't arrived, I give another call letting them know how high it has gotten.

I agreed with you up until "Fevers come and go all the time. Why would I pick my kid up just for that?" School policy states you cannot be in school with a fever, that is why you would need to pick your child up. Some policies even state that they cannot return until they have been fever free for 24 hours. Having a child sit in the health room because a parent doesn't want to leave work isn't a good reason. The parent is also putting their child as risk for catching some other contagious ailment that lingers in our germ hole. I understand if a parent CANNOT leave and there is no one else to pick up the student. But leaving a student with the nurse, just because you can and "it's the nurses job to take care of sick kids" isn't a logical/responsible answer. (There was no snark intended in my response)

That said, I wouldn't call CPS for that. I was once told that even if I did call CPS, they wouldn't do anything because the child is safe in our care and if feel they aren't EMS can be called.

Unless the child was severely lethargic, began having a febrile seizure, I wouldn't call EMS for a fever. We do not stock OTC meds, so when a child's temp hits 103 or above and parent still hasn't arrived, I give another call letting them know how high it has gotten.

This.

We call for fevers over 100.5

I think some schools are 100.

It is policy in most schools.

Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..
This.

We call for fevers over 100.5

I think some schools are 100.

It is policy in most schools.

We call for 100. SERIOUSLY. It drives me nuts. Local docs don't even consider it a fever until above 100.4, so this is kinda crazy to me. Not gonna lie, if a kid is sitting at 100 or 100.1, and their nosey teacher or assistant hasn't asked what the temp is) I have them lay down and recheck in 10 minutes. If it goes up, then I will call.

Our pre-k policy is 101. I feel like that is a little high. I think we should meet in the middle at 100.5.

Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
No, I am not a school nurse. I do not think that is relevant.

And that is the point. If you do not live and work in our shoes. You can't possibly understand our point. I don't want to sound short. I am merely stating simple truth. Is making a Hotline call the first thing any of us would do for a kid with a fever? Nope. Do we look at the whole situation, history, etc. Well Yes, We. Do. If our gut tells us this needs more intervention than we have at hand. A Hotline call could very well be in order. There is nothing "one size fits all" in our practice of School Nursing.

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