What NOT to do for scabies

Specialties School

Published

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/lawsuit-va-beach-teacher-stripsearched-scabies

A Bayside High teacher was forced to strip while a school nurse checked for scabies in December 2012, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court Monday.

This story started getting reported right when I had a scabies case appear at my school. I forwarded it to my principal and said "things could always be worse!"

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

What are people thinking?! but i am a bit confused by the complaint - in one section the Nurse is referred to as Alpana Dave then later on as Nurse Day?? different nurse or error in the complaint??

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

That is so bizarre,.............I'm speechless.

Flare: Error in the complaint, the nurse's last name is Dave.

Here's the TV station's report on the incident: Teacher’s lawsuit alleges illegal strip search | WAVY

Specializes in kids.

What a cluster! In no way would I ever consent to a search or be a part of one!

How did the parent make the conclusion the teacher had spread the scabies???? SMH

If there was every any concern, the most I would do would be suggest they see their MD and bring a note that clears them and even that I am not sure about.....and I would make sure that someone else (HR or administration) make the request.

WOW! I'm wary about even asking a student to lift their shirt so I can see their back or abdomen!

:bugeyes:

Specializes in School nursing.

Wow. Um, wow.

What I want to know if why the administration immediately listened to the student thinking "of course this teacher must have spread it", instead of asking more questions or, you know, having any probable cause. And why didn't the health coordinator or school nurse ask more questions / educate the administrator? If my principle brought a teacher down to my office and asked me an exam that involved the teaching "stripping" like described (and really any exam to be honest), I'd just shake my head and state that is something to be handled by the teacher's doctor. Luckily, I don't have administration that would ask me to do such a thing...

Wow. Um, wow.

What I want to know if why the administration immediately listened to the student thinking "of course this teacher must have spread it", instead of asking more questions or, you know, having any probable cause. And why didn't the health coordinator or school nurse ask more questions / educate the administrator? If my principle brought a teacher down to my office and asked me an exam that involved the teaching "stripping" like described (and really any exam to be honest), I'd just shake my head and state that is something to be handled by the teacher's doctor. Luckily, I don't have administration that would ask me to do such a thing...

Definitely! Like, if it was just the administrator, or just the nurse, that's one thing -- very poor judgement on someone's part. But the admin thought it was a good idea, the nurse double checked with her health coordinator, and all THREE decided this was an okay plan of action?

I was thinking the same thing JenElizabethRN! I wouldn't even look at all, because I can't diagnose anything and even if I did have reason to believe she had scabies, she would have to go to her doctor for treatment anyway. So, just by pass the nurse and have her doctor check.

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

After thinking about this for a couple of days.....from any angle you examine it there isn't a positive outcome.....I'm still speechless.

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i am in full agreement with all of you! Since when does the word of a student trump the word of a teacher. If the admims were that concerned that the student's word was gospel, then the employee should have been removed from the classroom, sent to the MD for medical clearance and had it handled that way. Not sent to the school nurse to make a medical diagnosis which she is NOT able to do! Oy!

And I am in full agreement - i am not even comfortable asking a child to lift their shirt to see their back should they be injured and forget about it if the injury id below the belt. The child can go in the lav and self assess. i'll quote the child's description of any injury in my report. if there is any injury that needs treating, i'll have the child do that they can, if i need to intervene, you can bet your bottom dollar, i'm pulling an same gendered adult in the room with me and calling the parent to advise to the injury and interventions.

I suppose an adult would have the ability to give consent to treat, but this "strip search" does not sound consensual from what i am reading.

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