When parents are not upfront on medical forms

mombat1 · Jan 28, 2019

I once found out a new student was Type 1 when I went searching thru their cume folder for immunization information. The way I discovered it was by seeing it listed on their Parent-Teacher conference form as part of the conference conversation!

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2019

Denial is not a river in Egypt.

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 29, 2019

Years ago, I started as a sub at a teensy little county school that had never had a nurse. Midway into the year, health forms were implemented and sent home. Prior to this, we had a 3X5 index card for each child, handwritten by the parent.

These forms started coming back in and I thought I was going to have heart failure or possibly an apoplexy. Allergies that required epi with no epi brought to the school, diabetes (that they 'handled at home'), SHUNTS IN FREAKING HEADS, all that NOBODY KNEW ABOUT.

Of course, this was also the school that I was hired for because of a newly-diagnosed seizure disorder in a kiddo. Only to discover after a panicked radio call that he was seizing, and a trip to his classroom that revealed he was perfectly fine, that there was ANOTHER child in the school with a seizure disorder that they just FORGOT to tell me about. Because, you know, that's not pertinent at all.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2019

On 1/25/2019 at 10:21 AM, MHDNURSE said:
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.

WOW. That's a lot. Now you have a great entry into getting all this info on the medical history and contacting the doc to find out any additional recommendations/potential accommodations, right?

Aaannd because they chose not to disclose, the kid got a parent-expenses-paid trip to the ER. Because you're a prudent nurse. Had you been aware, a 2-minute seizure might not have been worth transport. C'est la vie.

School nursing has taught me that you can't care more than the parents. I always assume there is much I do not know.

Amethya · Jan 30, 2019

My issue is different. It's not that they don't fill out the medical form, is they fill it out wrong. I had one year parents putting food allergies, labeling as severe and I would ask for epi pens and they would say, "Oh, he's not that allergic, he just needs benadryl." and will NEVER bring me doctor's notes that say this. Or it was "He's not allergic we just don't eat pork. No we are not vegetarians or religious, we just don't eat pork."

This year thankfully we are doing online registrations, so I don't need to worry about having paper forms again and the front office helps them out, but god save me if I see one more food allergy that isn't a food allergy.

AngelfireRN, MSN, RN, APRN · Jan 30, 2019

13 minutes ago, Amethya said:
My issue is different. It's not that they don't fill out the medical form, is they fill it out wrong. I had one year parents putting food allergies, labeling as severe and I would ask for epi pens and they would say, "Oh, he's not that allergic, he just needs benadryl." and will NEVER bring me doctor's notes that say this. Or it was "He's not allergic we just don't eat pork. No we are not vegetarians or religious, we just don't eat pork."
This year thankfully we are doing online registrations, so I don't need to worry about having paper forms again and the front office helps them out, but god save me if I see one more food allergy that isn't a food allergy.

I no joke had one parent call and rip me a new one because her LD was 'allergic to cheese and tomatoes' and had eaten some the previous day at lunch and 'gotten a little sick'. You know, because I'm supposed to know this even though it's written absolutely NOWHERE and even the teacher didn't know. I went to check on the kid, just to satisfy my own curiosity, and was completely flabbergasted to find that the child in question was a 5th grader with all her faculties intact, who ate pizza because she wanted pizza.

I called Mom back and told her that not only was this not a matter for the nurse, but that I flat out refused, as did every adult in that school, to follow her child to the cafeteria and slap things she 'wasn't supposed to have' out of her hand. This kid was 11, this was not an allergy in the sense that she had reactions, she just 'sometimes got an upset stomach'.

C'mon now!

Amethya · Jan 30, 2019

1 hour ago, AngelfireRN said:
I no joke had one parent call and rip me a new one because her LD was 'allergic to cheese and tomatoes' and had eaten some the previous day at lunch and 'gotten a little sick'. You know, because I'm supposed to know this even though it's written absolutely NOWHERE and even the teacher didn't know. I went to check on the kid, just to satisfy my own curiosity, and was completely flabbergasted to find that the child in question was a 5th grader with all her faculties intact, who ate pizza because she wanted pizza.
I called Mom back and told her that not only was this not a matter for the nurse, but that I flat out refused, as did every adult in that school, to follow her child to the cafeteria and slap things she 'wasn't supposed to have' out of her hand. This kid was 11, this was not an allergy in the sense that she had reactions, she just 'sometimes got an upset stomach'.
C'mon now!

Same here. One parent told me their kid is severely allergic to cheese and no, he just has some lactose intolerance.

EnoughWithTheIce · Jan 30, 2019

There is a certain joy in showing a parent the health form stating "no known health issues" when they try tearing me a new one for something I knew nothing about.

And, the allergy thing has gotten out of hand!! My kid licked a tomato 3 years ago and had a tummy ache after is not a severe food allergy. Some weeks, I feel like I just can't...................

Amethya · Jan 30, 2019

1 minute ago, EnoughWithTheIce said:
There is a certain joy in showing a parent the health form stating "no known health issues" when they try tearing me a new one for something I knew nothing about.
And, the allergy thing has gotten out of hand!! My kid licked a tomato 3 years ago and had a tummy ache after is not a severe food allergy. Some weeks, I feel like I just can't...................

"Huh? I can't hear you over this paper you signed that said THEY HAVE NO KNOWN HEALTH ISSUES!"

Guests · Jan 31, 2019

On 1/30/2019 at 9:51 AM, Amethya said:
"He's not allergic we just don't eat pork.

THIS one drives me bonkers too! I have five kids listed as "Pork Allergy". All five of them are Muslim and when I called to tell the parents we do not serve any pork products at school, they still would not change it on the forms. They told me they do not have allergies but won't change it on the forms. SMH

Amethya · Jan 31, 2019

1 hour ago, MHDNURSE said:
THIS one drives me bonkers too! I have five kids listed as "Pork Allergy". All five of them are Muslim and when I called to tell the parents we do not serve any pork products at school, they still would not change it on the forms. They told me they do not have allergies but won't change it on the forms. SMH

The funny thing is that the family that put that aren't anything religious in any way, they just don't eat pork. And I explain then I'm not putting it as an allergy since he's not allergic, but they told my old AP I was forced to put in the system. ?

Cas1in72 · Feb 4, 2019

On 1/25/2019 at 12:54 PM, scuba nurse said:
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.

If anyone ever comes up with a way to solve this issue, they will be the ultimate school nurse hero! This is one of the issues, that if I let myself think about it too much, keeps me up at night. We can only do the best we can with what we have. Unfortunately, too many times we are lacking all around. I fight to keep my tongue with parents. Im forever shocked by what goes on. I keep telling myself, just because its not something I would ever do as a parent , doesnt mean it wont happen all the time!!!!