Students lying about you

[Incognito-lpn]

Have you ever had a student lie about you? I am so frustrated! I don’t feel comfortable putting the ridiculous lies an elementary student has said on here. But what did you do? The mom either believes or makes excuses. My concern is what lie will they tell next? 
I know to document every interaction with this student and to have a witness. I will also now notify mom of every time this FF comes to the clinic. The 2 lies so far this year are outrageous and co workers thinks it’s funny. I do not!! I really am concerned about what lie they could say next. Any advice on anything else I should be doing?

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

Like you said - have a witness, keep meticulous notes.

Why is this kid lying?  Or is she? Or what?

[k1p1ssk, BSN, RN]

I don't think I've ever had a student lie about me specifically, other than to misrepresent what we did for treatment; A kid last year told his parents he was "forced" to take medicine (his parents had signed the consent and mom was contacted prior to administration), when in fact, he willingly took it but promptly spit it out when the flavor wasn't exactly what he was expecting. He then had a full on meltdown where he threw a chair and his classroom had to be evacuated (this child has some severe behavioral problems in school that are for whatever reason, not seen at home - I suspect its because he rules that roost). I suspect because a report went home about this, he told the lie as an excuse. I got a lecture about consent from his mother the next day. I just smiled and nodded during the lecture, and then told her what happened from my and teacher's perspective (who was there to play defense because, behaviors...) I've found that being confident in your practice and methods and standing your ground with a thick skin causes most parents to remember you are a medical professional and back down.

[Cattz, ADN]

On 9/19/2022 at 9:38 AM, k1p1ssk said:

" I've found that being confident in your practice and methods and standing your ground with a thick skin causes most parents to remember you are a medical professional and back down."

I love this! Well said!

Now, I understand this takes some years in the School Nurse business to gain this confidence and that is totally understandable. Glad we have this group to help each other with these tough spots.

Happy Tuesday Friends

[beachynurse, ASN, BSN]

Now, I haven't had kids outright lie about me or the clinic. Misrepresent, yes.. But the parents, that's another story. I have had them outright lie about what one of us had done on more than one occasion. I have seen a parent write that their child was sent back to class with a low grade fever, and a red sore throat, and wouldn't let the student call her. I pulled the student's documentation for that visit and used the data from that to respond. 

The student had a temp of 98.2- Throat was looked at and was WNL with No evidence of exudate, and that the student had not asked to call a parent, or had indicated that she had contacted a parent. I was furious that she did that trying to cause problems for us. I just don't understand people