Student with scoliosis?

[Pleasetelltruth01]

If a student has scoliosis and is experiencing pains, do I give student the ability to call home or tell them to go back to class? Also what about gym class with this type of student, of they experience pain that makes it hard for them to breathe?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to school nursing

[OldDude]

Like I tell my wife, Sweet Petunia, when she sends me to the grocery store with a list that has "meat" on it. "Sweet Petunia," you're gonna have to be a little more specific on that. Your post is too ambiguous to form an opinion.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

Get a release from the parent to speak with the MD and find out the severetiy, what restrictions etc. Go from there.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

Agree with OD. How bad is the scoliosis? Are they under medical treatment? I had a student that had surgery to correct her scoliosis and if she got hit in the back or on certain days she would just hurt. The first time I called mom and got the information I needed for future visits. I asked mom what she would do at home if this happened (heat-I can do that) and in what instance she would want me to call her.

What you don't want to happen is for the student to make this a habit. I would simply give the parent a call when the student isn't in the room and discuss it. If the student was complaining of SOA then I would assess (lung sounds, O2) and call the parent right then and ask if this is the norm. It could be that you are being played. If vitals are okay and parent says they are okay to stay then you need to ask when you should be concerned. If the parent picks them up, you need to ask what they would like you to do in the future, letting them know that if it is something severe enough to miss school they might want to provide a note from the doctor.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I am guessing that this student has been seen by their doc to at least give a preliminary dx of scoliosis and a referral to an ortho to come up with a plan for treatment. Is there anything specific that has been turned over to you regarding care? Over the years i've had several students with scoliosis that have needed surgical intervention. None of them needed to be out of PE until after their surgeries for an expected healing period. However, every case is different. The only time i ever needed to send one of my kiddos home was right before her surgery after she had gone for some sort of diagnostic and told me she had been in an uncomfortable position.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Is the student braced? If not, what's the specific degree of curve? I had a kid with eight degrees of curve which was being monitored (because that is how we treat eight degrees) who insisted she needed an elevator pass.

I have scoliosis and it never hurt in my teens. Even a decade after surgery I still don't need an elevator pass. My kid has scoliosis, and was braced - never hurt while she was braced but three years later (now) she's having back pain.

So, you'll need a more detailed assessment. If the side opposite the curve hurts -- that's probably legit. How often is this happening? Is the pain relieved by heat/medication? If it's happening a lot, sweet pea needs to go back to the doc.