Seems parents aren't parenting

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2016

I don't have any diabetics this year- but I have similar issues with parents for other issues. Especially kids that are frequent peers/poopers/behavior. Parents routinely forget to send changes of clothing for the bathroom accident kiddos (and I've given away all mine- many to these same kids).. and those who don't give ADHD meds and kids are bouncing around the room... parents are rarely anywhere to be found. I have had parents block the school number from their phones!

My registrar is more hard-lined than I, and has actually called and on voicemail threatened to call police and CPS since parent's have been called for 2+ hours with no response. It's amazing how fast we get call backs after that message gets left.

It is a pet peeve of mine when a parent is unreachable... I understand that you may not be able to answer right away- but damn it, within 30 minutes you should return phone calls about your kids or answering after 3 missed calls. Unacceptable.

SnowyJ, RN · Apr 17, 2016

Well, the failure to provide adequate insulin is considered medical neglect, especially since you can't reach the parent. Has it happened more than once?

The McGriddle issue....I guess if it comes down to that or the child refuses to eat, you have to go with it. I would contact the endo with the info on the high BG readings due to the fact insulin is not being given appropriately. I have faxed BG logs to an endo before so they can see the trend.

As for the unavailable parents, I feel you pain. I have been known to go into full on investigative mode if I have a very sick child, and no parent who answers. One was an MD who was mad I interrupted her work day. "How did you get my work number?" (Conveniently missing from the contact info.) Love Google. Haha! I have called neighbors, friends, grandparents, whatever it takes. It can be ridiculously time consuming, but often works. A sick child trumps all, IMO.

Feral.Cat.Herder, RN · Apr 17, 2016

The McGriddle child's endo was included in 504 as well as CPS, stated for the nurses not to worry if child eats or not all bets where off with CPS! I guess a 2nd grader should be more responsible for their own care, in their opinion. When parents heard the endo's response they pretty much told the school not to call them with this situation any more and "just take care of him".

SnowyJ, RN · Apr 17, 2016

I assume there are orders for BG parameters? Make sure you have those. This is a tough situation if the endo won't back you.

Lucky for the child that he or she has someone who cares at least during school hours.

Feral.Cat.Herder, RN · Apr 17, 2016

Yes there are perimeters.

Kitiger, RN · Apr 18, 2016

Yes there are perimeters.

Inside the school zone?

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2016

Not being home and not reachable by cell phone when the school nurse calls is not a failure of parenting. It's life.

No parent should be threatened with the police for not returning a call for 2 hours. That is ******* outrageous.

Not everyone has the job/lifestyle to be able to receive and return phone calls within 30 minutes.

And CPS should never, ever be used as a threat. If you suspect abuse or neglect, you call. If you use the threat of a call to get someone to do what you want, there should be consequences for you.

If my school nurse treated me in this manner I would take whatever action I could against her.

If you think it's your job to make enemies of parents, well. Good luck.

bsyrn, ASN, RN · Apr 18, 2016

Not being home and not reachable by cell phone when the school nurse calls is not a failure of parenting. It's life.
No parent should be threatened with the police for not returning a call for 2 hours. That is ******* outrageous.
Not everyone has the job/lifestyle to be able to receive and return phone calls within 30 minutes.
And CPS should never, ever be used as a threat. If you suspect abuse or neglect, you call. If you use the threat of a call to get someone to do what you want, there should be consequences for you.
If my school nurse treated me in this manner I would take whatever action I could against her.
If you think it's your job to make enemies of parents, well. Good luck.

I am thinking you are not a school nurse? Unless you have been in these situations, you truly don't know how you would respond!

OldDude · Apr 18, 2016

This post has two parts. A parent's lack of diabetes management and inability to contact them in that regard in a timely manner. Since diabetes, if uncontrolled, or partially controlled, can be a slow, insidious, fatal disease, some people, parents and patients alike, don't appreciate the danger of diabetes; unlike looking down the barrel of a loaded gun - then you can realized the possibility of imminent death. As with many chronic conditions, like asthma, the information and educational apparatus is available. Some engage and some don't. Diabetes is so prevalent in children now, especially in my neck of the woods, that we are seeing people in their 40s loosing body parts due lack of diabetes management. I wish I knew the answer. A principal's child here in my district fell into the category we are discussing here about not managing diabetes. Sad.

Of course I never have trouble contacting a parent... :roflmao:

SchlNrsKrn · Apr 18, 2016

Invitale-

Schools are a place for kids to LEARN, not for them to be taken care of when they are sick.

2 hours is a very long time when you have a student with 104 degree temp.

2 hours is a very long time when you have a student vomiting every 15 minutes.

2 hours is a long time when a student has a bleeding laceration or a fracture.

Talk to me once you have been in these situations. Until you have sat with a child who is vomiting, crying and begging for their mom for hours, you will never get it. I understand things happen and you may not be able to get here right away-but at least answer your phone and give me an idea of when you can.

Schools are here to educate children, not to take care of them. When circumstances arise during the school day where a student is ill or injured and not able to learn, then the parents need to take the responsibility for their child back. If you are out and not reachable by cell, or if you have a job where you can't take calls, make sure we have phone numbers of other people who can either get a message to you or come to get the child.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Apr 18, 2016

Invitale-
Schools are a place for kids to LEARN, not for them to be taken care of when they are sick.
2 hours is a very long time when you have a student with 104 degree temp.
2 hours is a very long time when you have a student vomiting every 15 minutes.
2 hours is a long time when a student has a bleeding laceration or a fracture.
Talk to me once you have been in these situations. Until you have sat with a child who is vomiting, crying and begging for their mom for hours, you will never get it. I understand things happen and you may not be able to get here right away-but at least answer your phone and give me an idea of when you can.
Schools are here to educate children, not to take care of them. When circumstances arise during the school day where a student is ill or injured and not able to learn, then the parents need to take the responsibility for their child back. If you are out and not reachable by cell, or if you have a job where you can't take calls, make sure we have phone numbers of other people who can either get a message to you or come to get the child.

100% agree, and our district cannot give OTC antipyretics. So the 103 temp I tried calling you about 2 hours ago, is likely creeping up well past 104 now. I completely understand that you cannot keep your phone on you while at work in most places. In that case you could check it periodically or provide a work number to school for them to contact in the event of your child being sick/injured.