In January, a school nurse from South-Western City Schools was placed on administrative leave after the school district became aware of possible improper conduct with a 5-year-old student. According to allegations, the unnamed school nurse performed a medical examination of a student without the consent of the student's parents.  

No criminal or administrative charges have yet been filed against the school nurse, although the Grove City Division of Police notified the Ohio Board of Nursing about the incident. 

It's unclear if the school nurse will suffer any professional disciplinary action, but the potential clearly exists. If your professional license is in jeopardy, call the Professional License Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 today or use the online contact form. 

The School District Acted Quickly 

Not much is known about exactly what happened because the incident involved a student who is a minor. The limited information available indicates that sometime in November 2023, a school nurse conducted a visual medical examination of the student. The examination occurred with the principal present, but the student's parents apparently did not give permission for the examination and did not learn about it until it was over. 

The school board placed the school nurse and principal on administrative leave on November 14, 2023, just hours after learning of the incident. In January 2024, the board of education voted 4-1 to continue an investigation into what happened.  

What Did the School Nurse Do Wrong? 

It's speculation at this point, but it appears the medical examination was improper because it may have violated a specific code of conduct relating to parental notification or consent (or both).  

What Happens Next? 

School nurses have special training to handle medical issues within the classroom setting. According to at least one news report, the school nurse in the Ohio case has a school nurse license. Whether the school nurse will lose this license is unknown, but the nurse has already resigned. 

Why You Should Pay Attention to This Case 

Having your professional license taken away, even temporarily, can be devastating. It can be even worse when you act with the best of intentions. 

Imagine a school nurse observes evidence of physical abuse and decides to examine the student to check their suspicions. Or perhaps a student has a medical emergency but can't communicate what's wrong. 

There are so many possible scenarios where a school nurse may wish to examine a student without prior parental consent. These extenuating circumstances could show what a school nurse did was proper. However, suspensions and other administrative actions can come quickly before all the facts come to light.  

The Lento Law Firm Can Help 

The Ohio school nurse was placed on administrative leave within hours of school authorities learning of the incident. Swift action like this is not an exception and illustrates why it's important to obtain professional license defense help as soon as possible.  

Your nursing license is too important for you to wait until a disciplinary board decides to take action. The sooner you contact the Lento Law Firm's Professional License Defense Team, the sooner we can help you mount a strong defense. This will minimize the damage to not just your professional credentials, but your reputation as well. You can go online and set up a consultation or call us at 888-535-3686.