Keep their contact info up to date? I have had a student in the clinic since 11:30, vomiting and no temp. All numbers for parents are not working, voice mail not set up for grandmother's contact # and auntie's phone" isn't taking calls at this time".
An hour after lying in clinic little guy says I think I feel better, can I try to make it the rest of the day. I'm thinking might as well since we can't get in touch with anyone, I call his teacher explain the situation and she agrees.
Teacher calls back within 15 minutes, little guy just vomited in the classroom trash can, sending him back.
Start interrogating little guy... where do your parents work, do you have any other numbers in your tracker, etc. Doesn't know the name of parent's employment. Mom's a "blood taker" somewhere and doesn't even know if dad has a "real job". In between the other 40 kids coming in and out of the clinic I find out that he is a car rider, but that he goes to Educare after school. I wait for the Educare director to arrive at 2:30 pm to check if she has different contact information. Yep! She has a different number for mom.... a working number that mom answers! Finally mom is on her way to get LD after more that 3 hours of the child being sick at school. There should be some kind of law or something to hold parents responsible for ensuring all people that have contact with their child have up to date info.
AND another thing.....
What is up with the "this # isn't accepting calls at this time"... so when do you accept calls, in the evening when your child is home with you? AND why don't people set up their voice mails? If they do have a VM set up.... try checking it when I leave a message instead of calling the front office saying "someone called from this # and I don't know who it was" there's over 600 extensions that are connected to the main #, check your message and you'll know who called!!
What is up with the "this # isn't accepting calls at this time"... so when do you accept calls, in the evening when your child is home with you? AND why don't people set up their voice mails? If they do have a VM set up.... try checking it when I leave a message instead of calling the front office saying "someone called from this # and I don't know who it was" there's over 600 extensions that are connected to the main #, check your message and you'll know who called!!
I agree 100% there is no excuse for this lackadaisical attitude toward parenting children.You have my good wishes.
What is up with the "this # isn't accepting calls at this time"... so when do you accept calls, in the evening when your child is home with you? AND why don't people set up their voice mails? If they do have a VM set up.... try checking it when I leave a message instead of calling the front office saying "someone called from this # and I don't know who it was" there's over 600 extensions that are connected to the main #, check your message and you'll know who called!!
OK rant over!
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YES! I also love when voicemail is full, even better when I mention it to the parent and they say, "I know." I cannot imagine being apart from my children for several hours a day and not being accessible to someone if they needed me!
This happens far too often. I try calling all contacts including what the teacher might have. Also we try messaging them through Class DoJo a app our teacher and parents use to communicate through. If we are still unable to reach them we will check if they have siblings or relatives and contact them. And if that doesn't work we will send a officer to the home but sometimes they don't even update their address. Sad. Its irritating but when I think about it especially if they are afebrile or not needing emergent care, I think about how obviously they are better here with me to take care of them. I may have 50 other students coming to my office filling up my beds but I would rather them be here with me because then I know they are getting the care they need. Just unfortunately I do not have medication for them. I hope your little guy gets better. Thanks for being a school nurse and caring for the kiddos!
Specializes in Case Management, Acute Care, Missions.
UGH - I provide case management for peds and often need to contact parents... once had a CPS level medical neglect case and trying to reach mom. Called the dad, who was listed on file, nothing on file to state he wasn't to be in contact with child, etc.
To say mom was LIVID at me for calling him is a huge understatement. Couldn't, wouldn't accept that unless we had court documents, we were calling him. (She didn't have any, she just wanted to keep child from him).
I've always assumed "this number isn't accepting calls" means someone didn't pay their phone bill.
I'm not so sure that's correct. If I'm thinking about the correct kiddo, mom's number tells me this when I call, but I can email a text message to her.
Leader25, ASN, BSN, RN
1,348 Posts
I agree 100% there is no excuse for this lackadaisical attitude toward parenting children.You have my good wishes.