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Discussion

Teacher Issue...

School Nurse: Teacher Puts Parent Into Panic Mode

I'm mainly just venting, but I'm also wondering what others would do in this situation. I had a teacher send in a student complaining of arm pain. The student was pointing to a small area in the crease of his elbow saying that it was hurting him. He was acting like he was in a lot of pain for it for a minute or so, but then was acting normal and not complaining about it. I assessed him and sent him back to class. There was nothing significant to note. Not even redness. About an hour or so later, the teacher comes back in with the student and says that his arm is getting worse and is swelling so he called his mom and his mom is on the way to pick him up. There was nothing...and I mean, nothing on his arm. It was not swollen. No pain. No red. His mom arrived within a few minutes before I was able to call her because I was dealing with another situation. I hear the mom call the front office that she was here because "the teacher said my son may be having an allergic reaction." I was furious. I went straight outside to the mom and apologized and told her not to panic. She said she had seen an ambulance and was scared her son was in it. The student walked out to the mom and I explained the situation. She took her son home anyway because she thought maybe he was having a bad day and didn't want to be there, but was just as confused as I was about why she was notified that she needs to pick him up.  How would you go about talking to this teacher? Do I just let it go? My two main issues is that 1. He went over my authority as the health professional in the school. and 2. He "diagnosed" a student, leading a parent into complete panic mode. 

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    What Members Are Saying
    Members are discussing the professional friction caused by teachers overstepping medical boundaries, such as sending students home for minor issues or acting out without nursing assessments. Arguments center on the liability risks of staff practicing medicine and the erosion of nursing authority when teachers or cell-phone-using students bypass the clinic. While some advocate for administrative intervention and strict health policies to ensure documentation accuracy, others suggest a low-key approach to avoid ego-driven conflict. What remains unresolved is how to effectively change teacher behavior when administration remains passive.

    I had a teacher do this earlier this month. I had assessed student for being extremely tired, felt warm with hoodie on, and a headache. No temp, was very alert, maybe the dark room made it look like there’s were dark circles under eyes, but no such circles when assessed., sent student back to class and had them hydrate with 8 ounces H2O and out head down for 15 minutes, notified parent of said assessment and parent was fine with student returning. Spoke to teacher and told her, her concerns were expressed to parent. (Wasn’t acting their self, usually very active). She called parent, parent arrived to school, front office called me looking for student “who is with nurse... “?‍

    I spoke to teacher, and expressed concern with actions and that when I see and assess a student, what I do/recommend is in me. I document all if it including convo wit parent. But now the documentation doesn’t match the reality. 
    If you question my call, instead call me first. I actually had already told both parent and Teacher that if student continued to complain, I would call parent to pick up. Due to COVID sending kids home with minor symptoms sometimes means an up to 10 day quarantine. So I an hesitant to do this unless my nursing judgement/intuition says to. I also notfied my admin. 

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    Perfect example of stay in your own lane moment. Always go to admin first.

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    I work in a very rural area with a low demographic and my teachers want me to send kids home for things I just can't do.  If a kiddo is acting out, they wnt me to send them home (they must not feel good because they are misbehaving) or if they have a flea on them (yes, this happens frequently) or if they are just tired.  

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