Will I get in trouble with the State Board of Nursing

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Hi everyone. I am an LPN school nurse in the state of Florida. I started this position in July and it is my first position in the field of school health. Recently I made what I now see as a poor lapse in judgement involving applying triple antibiotic ointment on a child's lips (1st grader, autistic) whose lips were SEVERELY chapped and cracking. I figured since TAO is petroleum based and I didn't see any warning on the container against using it on the lips that it would be okay. Well the kid I put it on's parents are both RN's and called the school absolutely livid saying that if ingested tAO could cause all these adverse effects (which I did not consider that the amount was enough to be toxic or cause adverse effects) I was incompetent and that they would report me to the BON. I have already spoken to the director of my school and we decided to rid the use of TAO completely (at least until next year when I can get parent consent for it) and I admitted that I did not use the TAO for its indicated purpose (where I went wrong).

My question: Can this affect my license/can I get in trouble with the BON?

Technically I guess you shouldn't have done it; realistically, the parents are total jerks. Look at us, we're RN's, look how important we are. Rolleyes. And yeah, I'm an RN.

My thoughts exactly. I won't be making this mistake again. Lesson learned.

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Snowyj, thank you for saying that. Even if I do end up having problems I just needed to hear someone say that.

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The next thing you know, parents will complain that the child reacted to the soap! I feel soap can be just as much of an issue if a child has sensitive skin and the wrong soap is used. (My son is allergic to Dial soap.) We do the best we can..

I'm surprised about not being able to use vaseline. We used it for newborns at the hospital and never needed an order.

Seriously! Kind of along the lines of what my boss kept trying to get me to understand>>no matter what parents can always find a problem, stay within your limits, and do the best you can.

I would probably add, if you have to question it, don't do it.

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Absolutely! Certain people will always find something to complain about. Don't let it ruin your mojo. :cool:

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
We should work together unless it is truly a medical mistake that causes harm. I'm sure they've made their own share of mistakes.

THIS. And if they've worked in a hospital or SNF for any length of time, I'm SURE they've made med errors bigger than TAO on lips.

Really, did you feed the kid a whole tube of it? Did he have a documented allergy to one of the antibiotics? Did you use it in his eyes?

Really.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

wow - this sounds a little extreme to me. and to a bigger point, if the parents are such super nurses, why in the heck didn't THEY do anything or have the foresight to treat their own child's severely chapped lips??

I do carry a small tube of neosporin in my office. it's tucked away in a drawer next to the other "courtesy medications" that i keep on hands for the capable adults in the building to use on themselves. The student's have seen it and have asked for it, i tell them no because of possible allergy or sensitivity then either use Vaseline or A&D on them. for chapped lips I have packets of lip balm that i purchased from school health - they work out very well!

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Specializes in kids.
wow - this sounds a little extreme to me. and to a bigger point, if the parents are such super nurses, why in the heck didn't THEY do anything or have the foresight to treat their own child's severely chapped lips??

This!!!! this is most likely the reason for the #WAYOVERTHETOP overreaction....

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Again, this relates to a thread I started a few weeks ago. Nurses, quit being crazy makers with other nurses trying to care for your children at school. If you are that concerned, get the kid treated appropriately elsewhere. Don't send the kid to school with illnesses and injuries and expect your school nurse to ignore their needs. Sorry, you will be asked to come get your kid, receive a phone call, or the child will be treated in the health clinic as the nurse deems appropriate. Get over it. Welcome to parenthood.

This behavior is happening all too often and not just in school nursing.

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Specializes in LTC.

Yes, they acted a bit overboard. More helpful would have been a nice note asking you to use X product on his lips instead of the TAO.

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Great post QuetRiot! You are speaking my language! :singing:

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I am so sorry you have having to deal with this. That is the one the thing I hate about school nursing is always living in fear each day that a parent will sue over something silly. I know everything will work out for you.

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Specializes in nursing education.

Honestly I think you meant well for the patient. There was an antibiotic ointment co. that a couple years ago was even marketing itself as a tx for chapped lips ("tiny cuts" or some such rationale).

However I can see the parents' side. They have to advocate for their child and worry about all kinds of things, especially if non-verbal.

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