When parents are not upfront on medical forms

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.

Just had an experience that I am still trying to wrap my head around. Kindergarten student brought down to my office by teacher, shivering. Temp 99.5. I have student remain in my office for observation as I am fairly certain temp is on its way up and want to re-check temp in 15 minutes. Re-check in 15 minutes and he is 102. Medical history unremarkable, and I do not have permission to administer anything for fever. I call mom who does not answer and leave her a message to call me as soon as she gets the message. As soon as I hang up the phone, student has a full blown seizure in my office. Lasts for a full two minutes. I am finally able to reach Dad and he meets ambulance at the hospital. Find out from the staff member who accompanied the student that when Dad arrived, he told them this was his FOURTH seizure!!!! Staff also indicated there were some other red flags that doctors seemed to be taking note of based on answers to medical questions. They are Jehovah Witnesses, which several of our students are, but usually that is indicated somewhere by the parents because they list all the do's and don'ts for us. His medical form and school file looks like any other typical student's. I just do not get why they would not be honest on the medical form. Interestingly, he is UTD on all vaccines and does not have seizures listed on there either, so I am wondering if they do not take him to be seen when he has a seizure so no one knows (until now). I pray this little guy gets the medical care he needs and the doctors are able to get Social Work involved.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

One of the great mysteries of life is when people withhold serious medical information from caregivers.

Kudos to you for getting the kiddo transported somewhere that will hopefully get follow-ups in gear!

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Agree, it doesn't make sense and it happens all the time. I'm glad he had you to take care of him! Good job!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I always say that we can only work with what we are given. The information is as good as what is provided. Hopefully this was a wake up call that full disclosure is important

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School nurses- doing precision guess work based on unreliable data provided by those of questionable knowledge.

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

There is a huge misconception that disclosing medical history creates a permanent record that will follow the child through life. My written cards get shredded when the student leaves the school, my documentation gets saved in some cloud. Dealing with this now as one of our students has some issues and is going on a school trip in 2 months. No history at all despite me observing issues at outdoor school in October which I chapperroned. No matter how many times I tell them we can provide better care to their child when we know what we are dealing with, it just doesn't matter.

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14 minutes ago, MrNurse(x2) said:

There is a huge misconception that disclosing medical history creates a permanent record that will follow the child through life. My written cards get shredded when the student leaves the school, my documentation gets saved in some cloud. Dealing with this now as one of our students has some issues and is going on a school trip in 2 months. No history at all despite me observing issues at outdoor school in October which I chapperroned. No matter how many times I tell them we can provide better care to their child when we know what we are dealing with, it just doesn't matter.

We have the opposite. Once it's in our system it's there until we remove it. Families think if they don't list the illness each year, it goes away. Every year, we have to chase down kids listed as asthmatic, allergic, or having a seizure disorder that has been cleared by the doctor since the year before.

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57 minutes ago, MrNurse(x2) said:

There is a huge misconception that disclosing medical history creates a permanent record that will follow the child through life. My written cards get shredded when the student leaves the school, my documentation gets saved in some cloud. Dealing with this now as one of our students has some issues and is going on a school trip in 2 months. No history at all despite me observing issues at outdoor school in October which I chapperroned. No matter how many times I tell them we can provide better care to their child when we know what we are dealing with, it just doesn't matter.

Our parents seem to think that medical information will be displayed for all to see. I have parents that would rather cut off their own arm than tell me that their kid takes vyvanse? . Or the opposite, they give me a med name, but deny the diagnosis.

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Specializes in NCSN.
15 minutes ago, BeckyESRN said:

Our parents seem to think that medical information will be displayed for all to see. I have parents that would rather cut off their own arm than tell me that their kid takes vyvanse? . Or the opposite, they give me a med name, but deny the diagnosis.

This is how it is in my district. I think because they all are so chatty with things like head lice and influenza, they assume we are too.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

First off good job! I have been there and it is crazy how fast it happens!

Second: this is my BIGGEST pet peeve! I do not know why parents do not tell us this info, especially when we ASK for it! They send back blank medical forms and incomplete info! Then they get mad at us if something goes wrong with their child! I don't know the answer or how to fix it, or if it will ever be solved.

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Specializes in CPN.

Thaaaaaat sucks. Febrile seizure at school age? Man.

As far as the whole "not sharing pertinent medical info" stuff goes. I had a parent once not put down that their kid was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. SMH

It surprises me every time, but is pretty common.

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On 1/25/2019 at 2:35 PM, pedi_nurse said:

I had a parent once not put down that their kid was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Now THAT is terrifying!

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