DCK With Open Wound - WWYD?

[Stepping]

Long post - sorry!

So I had my first conflict today with a mom that I really like and it's left me feeling a little unsure about whether I handled the situation well.

dck (14 months) has had some kind of infected abcess on his neck for several weeks. It went undiagnosed and untreated for a long time (docs said it would go away on its own) and gradually grew larger and more infected.

dck had missed 1 afternoon of dc a few weeks ago when I called dcd to let him know this lump had appeared and maybe they should check it out.

dck had to be admitted to hospital this week to have it surgically removed. He missed another two days while in hospital and then was back in dc the day after being discharged. They have a drs note saying he is well enough to return.

Yesterday I admitted him. He had a bandage wrapped around the wound and it looked scabby and seemed to be healing well. Today, he kept tugging on the bandage, managed to pull off the scab and has an open wound about 1" long.

So, I called dad and asked that he be taken home as he seemed uncomfortable and is walking round with a seeping, open wound. Mom came to pick him up over 3 hours after I called and was visibly mad at me.

She said she is in danger of losing her job if she takes more time off and that its unreasonable to send a child home just because he is tugging on his bandage. I stood my ground and said he has also been unable to sleep or eat (very unlike dck) and that I wasn't comfortable having a non verbal child walking around with an open wound. She took him home but was clearly not happy to do so.

Would you have done the same thing? Are there any rules about open wounds in daycare situations? I hate conflict and always come out thinking I did the wrong thing

Thank you for 'listening'

[JoseyJo]

I absolutely would have sent him home. It is unsafe and unsanitary to have an open seeping wound in a group setting. Period.

[preschoolteacher]

Absolutely you should have sent him home. That is so unsanitary and so dangerous--for the other kids AND for him. His parents need to realize that walking around with a gaping open wound could easily get infected and he could get very sick. You should follow up with the mom and say that in order to be admitted back into your care, he needs to have to have the wound bandaged in a way so that he can't remove it.

[butterfly]

I feel you definitely had the right to send him home. I personally probably would have just rebandaged the wound.

[Stepping]

I feel you definitely had the right to send him home. I personally probably would have just rebandaged the wound.

I had initially offered to redress any wounds when she mentioned he was returning after surgery but dcm specifically asked me not to do this as the doc said it would heal quicker if left exposed. Kind of felt like a no win situation

[daycare]

I would have sent home as well. No open wounds of any kind. Especially if they are oozing.

Don't feel bad. It's not your fault that DCM has issues with her work. Her problem not yours. I would have told DCM then you need to arrange back up care, because what would you do if that wound got infected and he ended up in the hospital? Is she not going to go because she has no more time off?

Of course not. I believe it is against the law for her employer to let her go because She needs to care for a sick child.

I would send her a text later tonight checking on dcb...

[daycare]

I had initially offered to redress any wounds when she mentioned he was returning after surgery but dcm specifically asked me not to do this as the doc said it would heal quicker if left exposed. Kind of felt like a no win situation

Where do they go to the doctors? Lol

[Maria2013]

I feel you definitely had the right to send him home. I personally probably would have just rebandaged the wound.

that's what I would have done if the child had a dr's note

[Maria2013]

I had initially offered to redress any wounds when she mentioned he was returning after surgery but dcm specifically asked me not to do this as the doc said it would heal quicker if left exposed. Kind of felt like a no win situation

in that case I would have sent him home, what kind of dr gives ok to take back to daycare under those conditions?

[Familycare71]

If I was told it couldn't be recovered (tho I wonder why it could be covered originally and not re-covered:confused: ) I would have sent him home. That isn't safe for anyone. I would text or call dcm and see how he is doing and ask if she would agree to a covering while in care. I would then ask that she supply back ups. I would make sure she understood it must be covered in daycare.

[daycare]

I would not offer to re wrap it. I don't have a medical background so I would not be comfortable in doing so. I tell parents. If its more than soap, water and a standard size bandaid I send home.

This parent send her kid back a day after surgery ? Ugh poor kid

[Stepping]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It really helps to hear other's input. He is a lovely little guy and I hated to send him home but it felt like the right thing to do at the time. I plan on messaging mom later to check up on him and discuss the bandage situation.

They are sending mixed messages as dad said the infection is still present (he's on antibiotics) but mom said it isn't. The wound had a covering but it was very loose and not taped, when I offered to tape it , that's when mom said it was to be kept loose. I think I will just make it clear that he can come back as long as the bandage is secure and I can redress it if it does come loose again.

Thanks again

[itlw8]

Did they say what it was ? it sounds like MRSA but I would assume the dr would have said that. but privacy maybe he couldn't but yes an oozing wound needs to be lightly covered and possibly seen by the dr if it is oozing

[Brooksie]

I absolutely would have sent him home. It is unsafe and unsanitary to have an open seeping wound in a group setting. Period.

[Stepping]

Did they say what it was ? it sounds like MRSA but I would assume the dr would have said that. but privacy maybe he couldn't but yes an oozing wound needs to be lightly covered and possibly seen by the dr if it is oozing

They said it was an 'atypical mycobacterial infection'. Mom initially said it had to be just loosely covered as you say, but then said she would bring him with a secure dressing if that's necessary. If its meant to be exposed will it do him harm to have it completely covered?

I did message mom and dad but haven't heard back from them