First off, I am not a nurse. I am a caregiver for a diabetic relative who has mobility issues due to a stroke. I am also a teacher assistant for a first grade class in a school that has a large population of health-challenged students (mentally and physically).
There is a student in my classroom who has been just diagnosed with asthma. Her mother brought an asthma inhaler to the school nurse without the proper letter from the physician/documentation. The school nurse where I work (an RN) accepted the asthma inhaler from the mother because, as the nurse said, she would rather we have the inhaler there and explain it later than for it not to be there and the child have an attack and need it. The nurse one day called me to the door of my room and told me the child would be carrying it in her backpack (backpacks are kept in lockers during school hours). She said she had discussed it with the child's mother, and they had agreed to keep it in the child's backpack, but not let the child know that it was in there because she would be tempted to take it out and play with it (that was the red flag right there that she wasn't responsible enough to have it in her backpack). The nurse told me that if she needed the inhaler, to let the office know. The child has never been observed having any asthma symptoms at school.
It sounded like a bad idea to me, but I have only been in education for about 7 months (most of that time as a substitute teacher). However this RN is the one that approves how meds are handled in the school, so I didn't argue with her.
Well, the crap hits the fan yesterday! I find out the child is carrying the inhaler around in her pocket. I take it from her and remind her that she is not supposed to have it. Too late! While on the playground during an activity that where neither the teacher nor I was present, this child has let about 8 children take puff from the inhaler!! All of those parents had to be called, and there are parents that are still upset today.
I am not a nurse, and I am not trying to act like I am, but I think it was a bad idea to accept the inhaler from the parent without the proper documentation in the first place. If this had of been a different kind of medication, then this could have been much more serious. I mean, I am sorry if a child does not get the meds they need because their parents do not bring the proper documentation, but that is the parent(s) fault and not the school's. The other kids have to be protected too. If it is a medication a child really needs, and the parent goes through the right process to have it at the school, I can't see a school not working with that parent.
Just thought you all might find this helpful or interesting.
