Any school nurse, or Principal here, or anyone that knows?

Question

1. Every time a student goes for treatment in the school nurses office, the nurses have to make a written report of the injuries and what or who cause the injuries? If so, who gets that report?

2. If the injuries where caused by someone on purpose, do you have to inform the police(just like Doctors), or that responsibility goes to the Principal, or there is no need to inform the authorities?

Thank you.

Answer 1

When my eldest two children were in elementary school, I worked part time as the school nurse. Everytime a child came to the office, I had to make a report recording why the child came, and what was done. I had to make the report even if the children were coming to take a daily dose of prescribed medicine, record what was taken and when, and that I had observed it being taken. This was required by the insurance company, as well as state law. It is to protect the school in the event a child is treated incorrectly, or even not treated at all, and there is a suit involved. If the injury was due to a true accident, the events were simply recorded, along with statements from any witnesses to the accident. If the injury was due to a fight, the same type information was recorded. If the fight involved breaking the law- beyond the ordinary fist fight, then yes- we were required to call the police. This was the principals call, although if it were a case of child abuse, then I was required to notify the authorities myself. In the case of a fist fight, the parents had to come to the school to see their child and determine what they wanted to do. Most of the time, the parents decided it was just the usual childhood fight, and nothing was done. Only one time in my career did I ever know of parents filing a police report, and the child was charged with assault in juvenile court. The court took my record entry and I had to appear in court to answer questions about what I saw and did, as well as recorded. In that particular case, the court determined that verbal abuse on the part of the one child had caused the other to take a swing, both children were required to have anger management counseling and the parents who brought the charges were lectured about their responsibilities.
The requirements vary from state to state and school district to school district, so what is recorded may very well be different from my experience. But I believe some sort of record is always kept, as it is good basic medical practice anyway. As far as calling the police or not, I think it is required for cases of child abuse, but I could not say for anything else.

Answer 2

Most times when students go to a nurses station, there is no written report. If they just don't feel that well, or have a headache, or cut themselves.. there's no reason for a report.

However.. if a kid comes in with a broken nose, and there is suspicion that it was caused by someone else, the principal is to be notified, and matters are handled internally (principal, teacher, guidance counsellor, student) there is no need to involve the authorities UNLESS the offence is very serious (ie: involves a weapon of some sort, or the injuries were very bad). Most likely with suspensions and detentions. Parents are sometimes, yet not always notified.

Answer 3

Every school district makes their own policys on this, that is why you are getting a variety of answers. Some have zero tolerance now. All public school staff teachers and certified staff are required to take a class on mandatory child abuse reporting. Some schools do not use a licensed nurse or have one on staff 24/7. That would include abuse happening at school by another child if suspected by the teacher or nurse..

Answer 4

School nurses have a duty of care toward the students...just like a normal nurse, if a child is deliberately hurt, they need to pass the report on to whichever agency is appropriate to see that the appropriate action is taken, whether it be child services or the police or hospital, the report usually goes to the education board, regardless of whether the child is hurt seriously or not and this is then placed in the childs school folder..........

Answer 5

i'm assuming that the guidelines are distinctive everywhere, relying on the place you reside. yet whilst a pupil is going to the nurse's place of work the mothers and dads and significant could be notified in writing by the nurse. If the injuries are brought about on purpose that's going to point out that for the time of the document. The significant could take action on the offense. If the government could contacted, a parent or significant shouldn't hesitate to try this. Use your superb judgment and ask questions. wish this enables.

Answer 6

Nurses are obliged by legislation to record their interventions. Depending on the kind of injury (eg. suspected child abuse) she would also be obliged to inform the authorities. It really depends on where you live and what legislation is applicable, it varies from state to state and country to country. Generally the reasons to visit a nurse are much more compelling than to NOT visit a nurse. You should not have much to be worried about.

Answer 7

Some schools send home incident reports. Schools are required under certain circumstances to report things to the parents, police, or social services.

Answer 8

a licened nurse by law is requried to report any type of assult/abuse to the proper athorities.