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Original poster

Feeling absolutely shit thanks to a nurse

41 replies

ChunkyMonkeysMummy · 15/03/2015 19:46

DD is 12months, quite happily cruising now and trying to take her first steps. Wednesday evening she fell and banged her head, cried straight away, fine after a few minutes and the bruise came out straight away. Wasn't at all worried about her as she was Back up on her feet, not a care in the world.
Took her to the local out of hours clinic today as I expected that she had another ear infection. Saw a nurse and straight away was quizzing me about the bruise; how she done it, how she reacted etc.
She then asked if I took her down to a&e. I told her no, this wasn't the first time it had happened probably wont be the last either , I've had her checked out several times before, I was given a laminated sheet with symptoms of concussion and when to see a doctor at my last visit. She was horrified by this, saying that every head injury needs to be checked out. I pointed out to her that if I done that, I would be down a&e nearly every day with DD and as her mother I know if she's reacting normal or not. The bruise does look horrendous. Nurse then told me she was noting it down on DD file that I failed to get her seen.
Now I feel absolutely shit. I'm doubting whether or not I do know best for her, I've had a good cry over it, and I don't know whether it was an overreaction on the nurses part, or should I be getting her checked out every single time

OP posts:
Koalafications · 15/03/2015 19:49

It was probably that the bruise looked more severe than the accident was, IYKWIM.

sosix · 15/03/2015 19:49

Total bollocks on nurse's part. Sorry she made you feel shit. I had a similar experience about something else. I logged a complain through pals.

DeffoJeffo · 15/03/2015 19:50

Oh goodness! I would also be down at A and E every day!!! Obviously if they got their head and are still upset after a few minutes/trying to distract with cebeebies/biscuit or drowsy etc I'd probably get him checked out but otherwise it'd be ridiculous!

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munchkinmaster · 15/03/2015 19:50

I wouldn't be having 'failed to get her seen' in my file. I would be puting my version in writing. If it has been me I'd have complained there and the asked to speak to the registrar at least and asked the more senior to write what they saw in the notes.

rockybalboa · 15/03/2015 19:51

Whaaaaat? After DS3 learnt to walk he had massive bruises on his head 24/7 as he would trip over thin air. In the absence of any other head injury related symptoms it would be madness to go to A&E every time.

sosix · 15/03/2015 19:51

I think you should log a complaint so its on file.

Justusemyname · 15/03/2015 19:52

Ime you are told to get them checked with head injuries and when you do, and it is ages after so the child is fine, they make you feel less than this big.

Ages as A&E is always packed.

pictish · 15/03/2015 19:53

I'd have been down at A&E every day then, especially seeing as ds2 was a headbanger.
Silly trollop. And noting you down as failing to get her seen? I'd be complaining about that.

Floggingmolly · 15/03/2015 19:53

If the bruise "looks horrendous" it must have been a fair old knock...

Original poster
ChunkyMonkeysMummy · 15/03/2015 19:54

The bruise does look awful Sad but she's such a happy baby, so I know when something is bothering her.
The noting it down on DD file that I didn't get her seen is the thing that has upset me, i know that the nurse has a duty of care and all that, she seems to be a bit extreme in her way of going about it. (sorry poorly articulated but you get my gist)

OP posts:
KittyandTeal · 15/03/2015 19:54

That's a little bit over the top of her.

My dd has had tumbles that haven't been that bad but the bruise has looked like we've slammed her up against a wall.

She's also had tumbles (like falling off pil sofa onto the corner of the coffee table onto the bridge of her nose) that I've thought would be a&e jobs but she's been fine with no bruise.

Don't feel bad, like you said, you'd spend half you life there if you went every time she bumped her head. Talk about drain to the nhs!

tribpot · 15/03/2015 19:54

I would check in with your health visitor to get a second opinion but certainly I didn't take ds to get every bump on the head checked out. I did call NHS Direct a number of times to be on the safe side and was always given the same advice: you're the best judge as you're with him. If he seems fine in himself, don't worry about it, keep an eye out for any changes but that's all.

ds had a HORRIFIC bruise on his face recently, by the way - which happened at school. Nothing very serious had happened but he'd hit his cheek on the floor and the bruise covered a large part of one half of his face (the week before school photos, fabulous). The look of the bruise isn't a great indication of the severity of the injury.

I think the nurse was not helpful at all, but given she's putting a marker down on dd's file (not sure which file she has in mind, perhaps the GP record) I would follow up with someone who can also make a note on the file giving the details you've provided above.

I'd also take her to A&E next time and see what reaction you get there when you tell them Out of Hours advised you every single bump on the head had to be checked out.

pictish · 15/03/2015 19:54

My HV cheerfully described my tots at their check ups as having "bruises in all the right places".

I guess it just depends who you get eh?

FeijoaSundae · 15/03/2015 19:54

I would log a complaint and/or write your own version of events and ensure it is also captured on file. You don't need to take these things lying down, and lets you wrest back some control of the situation.

Koalafications · 15/03/2015 19:55

Agree with making a complaint so that it's on file.

PaleoRules · 15/03/2015 19:55

Total nonsense. DS2 gets almost DAILY bumps to his head - if I went to A&E every time I'd spend my life there.

I'm smart enough to keep an eye on him and know when to get help.

It's no bloody wonder the NHS is falling apart at the seams!

Original poster
ChunkyMonkeysMummy · 15/03/2015 19:55

Flogging she fell on the kitchen tiles. Made me feel sick.

OP posts:
fairyfuckwings · 15/03/2015 19:57

You should have asked for her name so that you could make a complaint against her. Then she can have that "noted on file" too?

trilbydoll · 15/03/2015 19:58

Does she bruise easily? Some people do, I've seen DD really wallop herself and there's no sign, but one of my friends only has to look at a door and she's black and blue. It seems a bit ott for the nurse to judge one bruise when everyone reacts differently.

Koalafications · 15/03/2015 19:58

I was a very accident prone child and bruised like a peach, there isn't a picture of me before I was 10 without a black eye or bruise, and most of them were whoppers! Some children just bruise easily.

swazza · 15/03/2015 19:58

This is the otherside of the new law they want to bring in where professionals dealing with children will be held personally liable if clues of abuse go unreported.

The law isnt in yet but it could be implemented and maybe this nurse is covering herself for the future in case it is.

However, as a parent I totally agree with you. We would all be down A&E several times a week if we took our DC everytime they bruised themselves!

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 15/03/2015 19:58

No of course you don't need to get her checked if she cries immediately, is comforted, and goes back to normal without getting sleepy or vomiting. .. That nurse was being a jobsworth. Sadly in your position I would complain officially, just to get the comment struck from her medical notes (wouldn't do it to get a well meaning but misguided professional into trouble, but Hmm at the "I'm putting your failure in your child's notes)

I know people who seem to take pride in how often they take their kids to A&E for absolutely no good reasonand seem to think it proves their average to cautious child is a dare devil and they are parent of the year, but really it would be so much better for all parties (including the kids sitting in A&E waiting rooms at 1pm on a Friday night unnecessarily)if the parents used a bit of common sense.

saintlyjimjams · 15/03/2015 20:00

She may just be covering her arse from a child protection pov. Utterly ridiculous of course. Was she experienced or an over zealous newly qualified nurse?

Original poster
ChunkyMonkeysMummy · 15/03/2015 20:01

I've got a HV appointment tomorrow anyway to get DD weighed, it may be worthwhile getting her to check on DD then and making a note on her file about the accident.

Sorry lovely mns, your replies made me tear up feel like a silly cowGlad to hear I'm not the only one to have some common sense regarding accidents.

OP posts:
saintlyjimjams · 15/03/2015 20:02

Oh and ds2 aged 2 tripped in front of the paediatrician & walloped his head on the side of his desk. The most enormous egg type bruise appeared before our eyes. He barely looked up from writing to note he only worries if the head goes in rather than out