Special Needs Child Being Bullied: How can I keep my patient safe?

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After 4 yrs of staff nursing, I switched to agency nursing. My latest assignment is caring for a special needs child in a public school. I've had this child since the last school yr.

I had to report an aide for slapping a child the first month I was there. The teacher witnessed the event and we discussed it. After realizing the teacher hadn't reported it, I did.

Subsequently, the teacher denied seeing anything and the aide was returned to full duty. The special needs student was slapped for attacking another student. I have witnessed this other child choke, kick, push, hit the smallest children in the class repeatedly.

My supervisor told me not to get involved because it was none of my business.

After witnessing a 3 yr old choked until he turned blue, I went to the principal. She gave me her cell number and told me to call if I witnessed future attacks. I did as she asked twice and she did nothing.

During this school year, numerous events have taken place with potential to harm my child. I can no longer take her out of her wheelchair and allow her to sit on the rug with the other students. The new aide in the class has told other parents of incidents. The principal thinks I divulged the information and asked that I be replaced.

I'm tired of watching children be abused and looking into the faces of their parents and knowing what I know. I don't mind being replaced, but I hate that these children will continue to be abused if nothing is done.

Is there anything I can do without losing my license?

Can I tell the parents their children are being hurt if I don't give the aggressor's name?

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i think sometimes the special ed students get the pass for being violent because they are special needs. Not saying it's right by any means, but i think it does happen frequently. I've had long discussions with the teacher of our autistic inclusion class after one student has repeatedly assaulted her, as i fear he'll lash out against his classmates. This student's parents won't accept the fact that their child can be violent. Ive since advised the teacher to document every little thing and take pictures of her injuries. As for the adults and the people running the class - there is no excuse for any type of violence - a call to CPS is in order and remember, you can make it anonymously.

I have no idea who the next person on the ladder would be. Do any of you know who the principal reports to? I thought about the media but I'm sure that really would land me in a world of trouble. That's why I asked if I could tell my student's mother of the attempted attacks on her. With having 2 children facing similar situations, she would definitely do something like that. She's a protective mama bear like me & would take any steps necessary to protect her children. If it were my child, I'd have to call my attorney to be on standby with bail money after finding out my 3 yr old had been choked & nothing done about it. I'd be a crazy woman. I don't tolerate abuse at all especially abuse of children & the elderly. I've already told my husband that my license means nothing if I can't protect those I care for. I am willing to do whatever I have to do to put an end to these babies being abused even if it means losing my license. One day I will have to answer to God & I don't want to have to try to explain how my nursing license meant more to me than protecting one of His special children. I just want to make sure I handle this the right way. Because once I'm gone on Friday, I will have no way of knowing what happens to those children.

In my locale, it would be 'superintendent of schools" I think. The school board tends to be political, I think. Getting down and dirty, what you are witnessing is a crime, how about the police? Even if it is to just talk to one, perhaps they have ' been there, done that', and can tell you the next step up the ladder?

I have no idea who the next person on the ladder would be. Do any of you know who the principal reports to? I thought about the media but I'm sure that really would land me in a world of trouble. That's why I asked if I could tell my student's mother of the attempted attacks on her. With having 2 children facing similar situations, she would definitely do something like that. She's a protective mama bear like me & would take any steps necessary to protect her children. If it were my child, I'd have to call my attorney to be on standby with bail money after finding out my 3 yr old had been choked & nothing done about it. I'd be a crazy woman. I don't tolerate abuse at all especially abuse of children & the elderly. I've already told my husband that my license means nothing if I can't protect those I care for. I am willing to do whatever I have to do to put an end to these babies being abused even if it means losing my license. One day I will have to answer to God & I don't want to have to try to explain how my nursing license meant more to me than protecting one of His special children. I just want to make sure I handle this the right way. Because once I'm gone on Friday, I will have no way of knowing what happens to those children.

That's similar the the aggressor's situation. He curses like a sailor & they say he repeats what he hears. Uh hello! We don't use foul language in the classroom! When he's asked where he heard that language, he replies that his older brother called him that name or his brother says that. When told about him hitting other children. Their reply is that he says they're hitting him. Uh no! He's the only one doing the hitting. The other children are terrified of him. It's obvious that his family is the source of his behavior but they're in denial. I can't fix that & I feel very sorry for him. I have offered him incentives not to hit. I've tried every positive reinforcement psych approach I can think of to no avail. Nothing has worked.

I think that this situation is being swept under the rug because these are special needs children. It's unfortunate that the aide feels as if she has a right to slap someone's child. Are we allowed to slap pyche/mentally unstable patients? I don't think so. Same goes to the teaching staff. Special needs children can be violent, but if the teaching staff can't handle it, or learn to take the appropriate steps to make their classrooms a safe environment, then it's time for them to seek employment elsewhere. There are too many unemployed teachers who are more than willing to get the job done right.

No, you are reporting abuse. Your state may have a mandatory reporting law, as mine does. I wouldn't worry about HIPAA when a 3-year old is choked until she turns blue and the principal doesn't care. They don't have anyone who protects them, let alone advocate for them. I'll send up an extra prayer for you. Even when we know what the right thing to do is, it's awful to be placed there.

ITA. Abuse must be addressed, period. It's ethically and legally mandatory.

I feel the same way. This is a huge district & from what I've seen on tv, they have a lot unfortunate events going on in their schools. I see the parents crying, school district issues some generic PR excuse, & then we never hear of it again. I have a close friend that moved back to LA because her special needs teaching position had been eliminated due to budget cuts. The teacher in our classroom is more concerned with getting through her lesson plan than what's going on with the kids. I am not exaggerating when I say they're standing on top of tables and in the seat of chairs, running with scissors and other dangerous objects, throwing things across the room, putting things in their mouth, & etc. Sometimes I feel like I'm at a circus instead of an elementary school. No one is learning anything because of the distractions. I'm not a teacher, but I would think that test scores would be higher if there was some kind of order in the classroom. Just the opinion of a nurse.

Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Our school district recently fired a tenured special ed support aid d/t abuse. The person is fighting for her job back and I pray she won't get it. This person worked with my special needs son a few years back and I had an incident with her and refused to let her work with my child after that.

Students reported seeing her hit a student and yet nothing happened until parents got involved. The school was sticking to the story that many kids don't like a teacher and will make these accusations. Really!?

My daughter came home last year and reported another aid was extremely rough with another special ed student. I reported it pronto but the person is still there.

I want to thank you for reporting what you witnessed. I only wish you could talk with the parents of the children being abused by other students. If that was my child, I wouldn't rest until all was right, period. Tell the school board and the local paper if necessary!

I am so ******* upset right now! I hate corporate American policies! My agency returned my call & asked that I write a formal statement for their Compliance Officer because the reason stated for my termination was reporting. They said they need it in case something comes back as a result of what has transpired at the school. Also, I was told that I had reported the incident to the principal & that I didn't need to take any further action. I explained what the laws are regarding abuse & once again informed that I had already done my part. WTH is wrong with people? Has their greed clouded their judgement & their sense of right & wrong? I am livid & not sure if I want to cry or scream at this moment.

I promise that wasn't a curse word! I guess the moderator thought it was close enough. Sorry if anyone though it was.

Specializes in kids.

You are a mandated reporter and thus should be protected under whistleblower laws. Good luck

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

As for telling the parent, you could always say something like, "I saw that was by , so you might want to be on the lookout for s/s of pain, contusion, swelling, etc.

That is you relaying medical information that is relevant to your charge, rather than "tattling" about abuse. ;)

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