Is this correct??????

Specialties School

Published

I'm pretty sure it is, but now I am second guessing myself! Student has peanut allergy. Student has doctor's note for epipen benadryl, etc for PEANUT allergy. student presents with seasonal allergy symptoms........... tells me to give her the benadryl, the previous nurse had always done so. so i look at the orders I have and it specifically says on it "if the student somes in contact with peanuts, do x,y,z...." no order for benadryl for seasonal allergies. student gets very angry and insists i give it to her. uhmmm, nope. student calls mom and mom says same thing.... again NOPE! did not give and mom ended up getting a separate order for benadryl for seasonal allergies. was I toooo picky? or is this correct? thx for your input.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Ambulatory Care, etc..

Stick to your guns! You are right on the spot with this one. You can not, nor should you even consider, risk your licence because somebody throws a fit. You, as a nurse, can not give meds without a doctor's order - and you don't have one for SEASONAL allgy. If mom wants the child to have the med, she can come give it (and then take her kiddo home cuz she's gonna sleep all day anyway!).

Have a great day!

sara

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Specializes in Med Office, Home Health, School Nurse.

I'm with you on this one. You have to have an order that states SEASONAL allergy. You can't give a med for something that you don't have an order for.

It's like the 3rd grader that came to take his ADHD med yesterday and told me "My doctor said I'm supposed to take a whole pill instead of a half from now on" and I told him "When your doctor tells ME that, then we will switch. Until then, I have to give you the dose that I have an order for". He didn't like that too much, but I'm not going to risk my license and my job over something a third grader tells me!

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Specializes in school RN, CNA Instructor, M/S.

you absolutely did the RIGHT THING!!!!!!!

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thanks all, think I just needed verification! the previous nurse here had a BSN so I thought maybe she knew better that I ! :clown:

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Specializes in School Nursing.

You are correct. Your order was very specific as to when and why to give the med and any deviation from that would amount to you practicing outside your scope of practice. I am concerned that the previous nurse did this, yikes!

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for five years no less!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

No order, no meds. It's that simple. I suppose if it were a dire emergency (used to have a child that would get hives on his eyeballs from seasonal allergies - but i had an order for him) i have a standing order for benedryl from the district md.

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the only standing orders i have are for epipen and bacitracin. makes life much less complicated. :)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I have no standing orders. I live in fear of someone developing anaphylaxis and all I can do is call 911. I also have a PK with KNOWN insect sting anaphylaxis and despite numerous calls, letters, and pleads, his mother has yet to send me his epi pen. I love spring, but I am dreading it a little this year.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I wouldn't have given. Besides, like Sara said, the kid would probably fall asleep. Benadryl isn't my first choice for seasonal allergies. You think the doc would order something like Claritin or Zyrtec for that that is non-drowsy.

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call the doc and have order faxed to you.that will eliminate one step for mom. then she only has to provide the pen........

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