Would you call social services for a child OD'ing?

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If a 14 y/o came to the ER because of overdosing on pills and they turn out to be medically stable, does that still need to be reported to child welfare? The kid was referred to a mental health hospital, went their by wheelchair ambulance and then was referred to out pt treatment. Should I have to call child welfare because they actually came to the ER because of an OD?

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We have sw in our er and I am sure they would have filed a report.

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I would make sure it was reported.

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Were the parents resistant to getting help for the kid? Did they shove the pills down the kid?

Or were they concerned and cooperating with getting their kid help and going to the referrals with the kid?

Why involve another agency if the kid is getting help? If the kid needed further intervention and the parents were resisting, yes then call. Since the kid was getting help, why report the parents?

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Specializes in ICU.
Were the parents resistant to getting help for the kid? Did they shove the pills down the kid?

Or were they concerned and cooperating with getting their kid help and going to the referrals with the kid?

Why involve another agency if the kid is getting help? If the kid needed further intervention and the parents were resisting, yes then call. Since the kid was getting help, why report the parents?

Yes, not sure why they would need to get involved unless THEIR actions have put the (teenage) pt in danger. If the pt had decided to OD, there's often not much a parent can do to stop it- short of having the teenager live in a bubble.

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I would get SW involved for support. Not necessarily CPS.

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Specializes in Pedi.

If it doesn't involve child abuse then no. If a 4 year old swallows a bunch of pills that mommy didn't keep out of his reach then yes. A fourteen year old attempting to hurt himself? No.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Do NOT expose yourself to unnecessary liability by acting outside the bounds of your scope of licensure/practice. Nurses who work in jobs that serve as 'first contact' (E.D., admitting, etc.) need to have a very clear understanding of their state & local laws as well as the employer's policy for these situations. These 'rules' need to be followed to the letter. If there is any uncertainty, the issue needs to be handed off to through the appropriate chain of command.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

what you are really saying if you DO NOT report is: Well, I assessed the situation and decided it was ok.

Really?

Better to make a report then wish you had. Next trip could be fatal.

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not a nurse... but how would CPS stop a teenager from ODing again?

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.

Yikes. I don't even want to know what would have happened had my parents been reported for every time I ended up in the ED after ODing

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Not to give legal advice, but nurses are mandated reporters. Would discuss with your NM get SW involved, but it is a responsibility of licensing to report.

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