I'm a couple of weeks into working at a private school and I noticed the previous nurse gave OTC medications if the parents signed a form giving permission to administer. The form has Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Benadryl (topical and oral) Tums, Hydrocortisone, Antibiotic ointment, cough drops.
New form created before the previous nurse left includes the same meds but adds a line for the physicians sig and that the nurse would follow the dosage instructions on the box.
My previous school nurse position preferred that OTC medications be given outside of school hours unless there was a specific need. We also needed a medication administration form filled out with a PRN order, MD signature and the medication provided with pharmacy label.
I do want to help the kids feel better, and I want to avoid parent uproar, however the thought of following this current school's OTC form makes me nervous. (litigation:unsure:)
Am I being a nervous nelly or do you feel more schools should implement a process like this?
Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.
We don't need Dr. order for OTC's but do need parents signature and they need to supply the medication. I think the reason we don't have standing orders is because then the school would have to pay to keep stock meds on hand! Not going to happen here.
Check your local public schools, they may be able to help you develop a protocol so OTC can be given with just parental approval. I developed my position and reached out to the neighboring county for a copy of their protocols and the nurse I spoke to was so amazing, she got me in touch with her director and next thing I know, not only do I have a copy of their protocols, I have permission to use them with a physician's order. The health department oversees the school nurses, both public and private in my state and their director (whose children happened to be enrolled) signed off. He would sign off even if his children didn't go here, it's what he does. I now only need consent from the parent, and I have a written protocol to back up my decision. I will let parents know if their child's use is excessive and request they buy the meds, I pay for meds out of my own pocket, I work in a small private which requires students to pay x amount yearly towards fundraising and such. I might as well use that money for my own budget.
I work in elementary schools and our policy is every medication (including OTC) must have the Dr and the parent sign administration forms. However I know our middle school will allow OTC with only the parent signing off on it.
Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.
Check your local public schools, they may be able to help you develop a protocol so OTC can be given with just parental approval. I developed my position and reached out to the neighboring county for a copy of their protocols and the nurse I spoke to was so amazing, she got me in touch with her director and next thing I know, not only do I have a copy of their protocols, I have permission to use them with a physician's order. The health department oversees the school nurses, both public and private in my state and their director (whose children happened to be enrolled) signed off. He would sign off even if his children didn't go here, it's what he does. I now only need consent from the parent, and I have a written protocol to back up my decision. I will let parents know if their child's use is excessive and request they buy the meds, I pay for meds out of my own pocket, I work in a small private which requires students to pay x amount yearly towards fundraising and such. I might as well use that money for my own budget.
Woooooow! Thats awesome! Thank you for the suggestions.
Good idea to reach out to another nurse! I did but I didnt understand that the counties sometimes have different protocols and so I had to be mindful of that going forward.
Would it be ok to ask you some questions regarding creating protocols for your school? I think going the route you took would be benficial for my site as well.
Woooooow! Thats awesome! Thank you for the suggestions.
Good idea to reach out to another nurse! I did but I didnt understand that the counties sometimes have different protocols and so I had to be mindful of that going forward.
Would it be ok to ask you some questions regarding creating protocols for your school? I think going the route you took would be benficial for my site as well.
Feel free. PM me any questions you have. I may take a day or a few as I split time here with my wife and only check AN when I am here.
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
I'm not a school nurse, but wanted to let you know that at my children's high school parents sign a medication consent form at the beginning of the year expressly giving or declining consent for OTC tylenol, ibuprofen, maalox provided by the school RN prn for headache, stomach ache or menstrual cramps only, and given a maximum of 2x in 48 hours. Dosages are listed. The parameters are to ensure that nurses aren't being expected to take care of kids who really should be home or see a doc.
As far as otc's provided by parents and more long term, I think a script is needed. My son had one for ibuprofen when he broke his ankle.
Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.
I like this plan as well. The part about nurses being expected to take care of kids who should probably be at home crossed my mind as well. Its great that this was thought about at your school. Thank you for this suggestion.
Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.
I'm not a school nurse, but wanted to let you know that at my children's high school parents sign a medication consent form at the beginning of the year expressly giving or declining consent for OTC tylenol, ibuprofen, maalox provided by the school RN prn for headache, stomach ache or menstrual cramps only, and given a maximum of 2x in 48 hours. Dosages are listed. The parameters are to ensure that nurses aren't being expected to take care of kids who really should be home or see a doc.
As far as otc's provided by parents and more long term, I think a script is needed. My son had one for ibuprofen when he broke his ankle.
I might check your school disctrict medication policy and or the nurse practice act there. In my disctrict we cant give anything OTC, MOtrin, Tylenol, anything, without an MD order.. So I would check..
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RNTadaaaa
98 Posts
LOL! soo true