What medicines are kept in the clinic and other questions

Specialties School

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Hi to all,

I just started school nursing last Oct 2013 for pre-K and Elementary International School in China and will probably move to another International school this Aug 2014 for a Nurse coordinator position in a K-12. I would like to do more and learn more as I intend to stay in school nursing.

So my questions are: what medicines do you keep in the clinic? Do you give OTC meds to students such as allergy meds and paracetamol? As of now, we have tylenol, chinese cold medicines, eye wash, mouth sore spray, and lonsenges but they are limited only for the Faculty and staff and nothing for the students unless sent by parents.

Also, do students carry their medicines? In my school, students do carry meds from home and back. I tried changing this but since I am a newbie(I have another local nurse I work with) I have less voice in the clinic.

Also, when do you send kids home? Here, with 38.0C fever without other symptoms we send them home per school policy. However, there are times that I dont follow it if I see that the child is ok to stay at school.

I find it challenging to be a school nurse. Being there alone without anybody(with similar background) to consult with is tough. This forum is of big help!

Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I have a few otc products (mostly topicals) that I use as part of my day to day - bactine for scrapes, vaseline for uses too numerous to count, mild lotion for c/o dry skin, packets of lip balm (because explaining the process of putting vaseline on an applicator to use on chapped lips can be surprisingly time consuming when you're doing it a dozen times a day!)calamine lotion, and mouth wash.

Beyond that, if a parent wants a student to have another medication, OTC such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen or RX I need an order from a healthcare provider and the parent needs to supply the medication. This also includes cough drops as it stands right now in my district, although some districts do collaborate with the school MD and get standing orders for certain medications like Tylenol, Advil, cough drops, antacids, etc and have parents sign off on the ones that the children are permitted to take.

The only OTC I'm allowed is Vaseline, unless parents bring it in themselves, then they have to sign a form okaying it. If it's to be taken daily, then I need a doctor's order.

Another staff member keeps OTC meds for staff, I have no part in that.

Students can carry their emergency meds (inhaler, Epi) if their doctors and parents consent, otherwise no.

Students must go home if temp is 100F or higher, vomit, diarrhea; everything else is a judgment call.

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I'm new to school nursing this year, too, and yes, it's hard being the only "medical" person. I really love it though, and the more I read this forum, the more I realize just how much impact a school nurse truly makes. I love it!

I am allowed to administer Tylenol, motrin, benadryl, cough drops & tums if the parent supplies them and signs a consent form. Any thing else must have a doctors note or prescription. The only meds a student can carry are inhalers, epi pen or if they are diabetic they can keep supplies on them with a doctors note. Students are not allowed to bring me meds either - all meds must be dropped off/picked up by parents.

Kids get sent home with temps over 100, diarrhea, vomiting, pink eye & questionable rashes.

I have bactine/antiseptic wash, vaseline, lotion, saline eye drops, calamine lotion, benadryl cream, hydrocortisone cream to use on kids if needed. We are not allowed to keep anything for teacher use - tylenol, motrin etc.

Specializes in ED, School Nurse.
I am allowed to administer Tylenol, motrin, benadryl, cough drops & tums if the parent supplies them and signs a consent form. Any thing else must have a doctors note or prescription. The only meds a student can carry are inhalers, epi pen or if they are diabetic they can keep supplies on them with a doctors note. Students are not allowed to bring me meds either - all meds must be dropped off/picked up by parents.

Kids get sent home with temps over 100, diarrhea, vomiting, pink eye & questionable rashes.

I have bactine/antiseptic wash, vaseline, lotion, saline eye drops, calamine lotion, benadryl cream, hydrocortisone cream to use on kids if needed. We are not allowed to keep anything for teacher use - tylenol, motrin etc.

This. :)

I work in a high school, though. Other nurses in my school district at the elementary level don't stock acetominophen/ibuprofen. So many of my kids would be going home with headaches and menstrual cramps if I didn't stock those meds though.

Specializes in School nursing.

I have a supply of OTC acetaminophen, ibuprofen, benadryl, TUMs, and basic cough syrup/cough drops with a standing order from a physician. Part of the health form parents fill out includes OTC medication permission. I also stock topicals: hydro-cortisone, vaseline, saline eye drops, calamine lotion, oral gel. Parents sign off on whether or not I can use those on their child as well.

Anything else - I need an order, including prescription medication, inhalers, and Epi-pens. Only exception in my state is I can administer prescription medication prescribed for less than ten days (i.e. antibiotic for strep throat) if it is brought in in the original prescription bottle - basically the bottle in that case is my order. Those kids that have prescription stuff (pretty much ADD and ADHD medications) bring in their order and bring me their refill of no more than a 30 days supply in the original prescription bottle. Of course, I deal with kids in grades 7-12, when I worked with the smaller kids, prescriptions and refills were delivered directly by the parent.

Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.

I would LOVE to stock OTCs but I only have triple antibiotic ointment, Bactine, hydrogen peroxide, etc. I actually just found out that in my State we technically can't give out the ointments and Bactine without Standing Orders from a Physician. I'm not sure what to do now, but I would check the local laws on what you can legal have without Standing Orders from a Physician aligned with the school. I have high school so being able to stock pain meds would be a Godsend.

Thanks much for all the answers! It's good to know what other school nurses has and do in their clinic. It's a big help.

Quick question since this thread is about OTC meds in school health. Was wondering how some of you feel about using triple antibiotic ointment for dry chapped lips in case Vaseline was not readily available?

Quick question since this thread is about OTC meds in school health. Was wondering how some of you feel about using triple antibiotic ointment for dry chapped lips in case Vaseline was not readily available?

I wouldn't, just because I wouldn't want a student to accidentally ingest it and it probably doesn't taste very good. Not that Vaseline should be ingested or would taste any better! :yuck:

Specializes in kids.
Quick question since this thread is about OTC meds in school health. Was wondering how some of you feel about using triple antibiotic ointment for dry chapped lips in case Vaseline was not readily available?

Not me. Feels like off label dosing (in a most likely very benign way)

Okay gotcha

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