Stocking OTC meds at elementary school level

[nursetlm]

Taking a poll here- How many of you do NOT keep a stock of OTC meds for students? I ASSumed all schools did, but I'm noticing some do not- they have the parents bring in a supply if needed.

We have always provided them and it seems to be getting out of hand with certain kids/ parents who will not provide an OTC med at home before school telling them "just go see the nurse she has plenty to give."

Just looking for some pros/ cons I guess.

Thank you!

I'm in MS and HS and do carry stock meds, but they are limited to ibuprofen, acetaminophen, benadryl, tums and a couple of topicals (neosporin, hydrocortisone). Benadryl is really limited to mild allergic reaction as well. I also have stock Epi, which took forever to obtain and I am so grateful for it.

Unfortunately in my district I have a lot of families that can't afford some OTCs at home and I am glad I have them for cramps, for example. But they are a double edged-sword.

But when I worked at the elementary level, I kinda hated them. I would call home before dispensing them, even with standing orders. I still do this when debating dispensing a med for the first time to new-to-me 7th grader.

I do the same at my school (but only have K-2). I also always call home because a kid may have a bad headache or fever and has already gotten something at home and they never remember that so I always call and ask if parents would like me to give something while child waits to be picked up (in cases of fever) or headache, etc.

[ohiobobcat]

I'm in MS and HS and do carry stock meds, but they are limited to ibuprofen, acetaminophen, benadryl, tums and a couple of topicals (neosporin, hydrocortisone). Benadryl is really limited to mild allergic reaction as well. I also have stock Epi, which took forever to obtain and I am so grateful for it.

Unfortunately in my district I have a lot of families that can't afford some OTCs at home and I am glad I have them for cramps, for example. But they are a double edged-sword.

Same.

Once upon a time, when I was busy with a flu vaccine clinic and only seeing students for emergencies. I had a student stop me in the hall and ask me for ibuprofen for a headache. I told her I couldn't right at that moment, but she could come see me in an hour or so when I would be back in my office and ready to see students. I walked by her 20 minutes later and she was on the phone with her mom asking to be picked up for her headache. Put aside the cell phone use in school and the student calling mom for pick up, there is the potential that if I had medicated this student when she asked, she might have been able to stay in school that day. That is why I do not mind having stock meds and using them reasonably for my high school student.

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

Not only do we provide no stock meds in our schools period but we require a doctor's order for ALL meds (OTC and prescription) at the elementary level. Our secondary students may self carry a few types of medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen and TUMs.

[SaltineQueen]

I am K-3 and we do stock some meds. I have acetaminophen, ibuprofen, tums, benadryl, cough drops, orajel, and some topicals. Parents sign off on OTC meds they are OK with when they update registration info at the beginning of the year. Older levels stock decongestants & pepto. We all have Epi & albuterol with orders from a local doctor. Our HS and MS have narcan.

Even though I have them, I almost always try other interventions first before jumping to medicate a kiddo.

[OhioBPH]

We do not stock anything, and nothing is given withut an order from the parent. Cough drops, motrin, lactaid. This is in every school the hospital i work for manages, all grades. From charter schools, to upper middle class districts.

[AdobeRN]

No stock medication. Parents must supply all meds. I like it - office visits dropped drastically after this was implemented - cough drop requests would drive me bonkers.

I do encourage parents - especially those that work and can't easily get away - to bring in their kids own supply of Tylenol/Motrin, maybe a few cough drops for me to keep thru the year.

Each of our campus do keep EpiPens and Albuterol nebs stock for emergencies.

[Supernrse01, BSN]

I do not! Any OTC meds must be supplied by the parent, with a signed medication form. Even with the form, I call the parent before dosing.

[ABRN2012]

I'm at an elementary school and we do not have stock OTC meds, not even cough drops, and I have to say I prefer it this way. Our mindset is that we are here to manage unexpected health issues that come up during the school day, NOT to be a health "clinic" seeing students for issues for which they should have stayed home. To have Tylenol, ibuprofen, Tums, etc. on hand I do think implies that we are happy to manage any and all discomforts at school which could cause parents to send when they should have kept home. Also we have a school of almost 1000 so if we opened those floodgates I would probably actually drown

We do however have stock EpiPens. I think it would be good to have stock albuterol as well. I can see the argument for Tylenol in the case of fever management but I don't think that's quite as immediately emergent, and I can already imagine all the parents who would decline to pick up their students for fevers if they thought they could take Tylenol and hang out here.

Yes! I need to copy your post and let my admin read. I am not a physician and we do not have standing orders. The admin can not believe that I can not give a Tylenol even with parent approval. The office has some OTC meds. But I make it clear I do not give those. The teachers can but I can only give meds with a pharmacy label. And I am a school nurse. I am not here to diagnose, treat, or cure anything. I have said this more times these last few weeks than I can count.

[ABRN2012]

While we are on this topic... I personally feel that kids should not be getting Tylenol and Ibuprofen at school all the time. I do understand that there can be severe headaches or really high fevers but that is very rare here and in those instances the child needs to go home anyway. And parents (and teachers) expect me to give their LD one everytime their "toe hurts." Kids dont need tylenol for every ache and pain. Like someone else said just because mom gives ibuprofen for a stomachache does mean its needed at school. I guess my point is that I did not get medicated for any and every little thing when I was a child and Ive survived 36 years. Gosh we didnt have a school nurse but I would have just died rather than ask to go to the office lady for a tylenol cause she was mean! I do not give my own children medication unless running a fever or for severe pains and they also go to the dr.

Are we aiding in these kids growing up to be whiners and complaining about every small thing and also thinking that someone else has the answer for every small problem. I feel like their teachers are aiding in this (at my school anyway). You dont need a bandaid for a 3 days old scab, sit down and do your work. Oh you ate 2 chili dogs and 4 cookies at lunch, no you arent going to the nurse for a stomachache. Sometimes our head hurts a little and we just have to get thru the work day. Sometimes my stomach hurts so bad I want to cry but I havent thrown up and I manage it. Most of the time without any medication. If the student can not function in class due to a headache or a pain then they need to go home anyway. Mom can medicate there.

Sorry for the soapbox rant but this hits too close to home for me and we have to revise OTC policy in our district this year!

[BeckyESRN]

While we are on this topic... I personally feel that kids should not be getting Tylenol and Ibuprofen at school all the time. I do understand that there can be severe headaches or really high fevers but that is very rare here and in those instances the child needs to go home anyway. And parents (and teachers) expect me to give their LD one everytime their "toe hurts." Kids dont need tylenol for every ache and pain. Like someone else said just because mom gives ibuprofen for a stomachache does mean its needed at school. I guess my point is that I did not get medicated for any and every little thing when I was a child and Ive survived 36 years. Gosh we didnt have a school nurse but I would have just died rather than ask to go to the office lady for a tylenol cause she was mean! I do not give my own children medication unless running a fever or for severe pains and they also go to the dr.

Are we aiding in these kids growing up to be whiners and complaining about every small thing and also thinking that someone else has the answer for every small problem. I feel like their teachers are aiding in this (at my school anyway). You dont need a bandaid for a 3 days old scab, sit down and do your work. Oh you ate 2 chili dogs and 4 cookies at lunch, no you arent going to the nurse for a stomachache. Sometimes our head hurts a little and we just have to get thru the work day. Sometimes my stomach hurts so bad I want to cry but I havent thrown up and I manage it. Most of the time without any medication. If the student can not function in class due to a headache or a pain then they need to go home anyway. Mom can medicate there.

Sorry for the soapbox rant but this hits too close to home for me and we have to revise OTC policy in our district this year!

Preach, sister!

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

Kids dont need tylenol for every ache and pain!

I love this comment. And often (with high schoolers anyway) they've already taken something at home and it either hasn't had time to work or it's not going to....I try to ask how much medication was taken at home and when before I give whatever the parent brought me to dose their kid with. The total recommended no more than 3 grams of Tylenol daily isn't that much, especially since most of my parents bring me the XS version and say the kid can have two at a time.

[mainecoonRN92, BSN, RN]

I do not have any stock meds.

We only stock meds if there is a provider order. Basically if there is an active ingredient - we dont give it (even though I miss giving vaseline for chapped lips and hands).