Can someone explain to me....

100kids, BSN, RN · May 13, 2015

I am often shocked (and saddened) by what some people think is ok.

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 13, 2015

in my office that's called garbage! Meaning that i'll call the parent and tell them that i cannot give meds that are sent in - give my whole thing about policy and good practice and let them know they are more than welcome to pick up those medications and/or medicate their child themselves at whatever time but that i (reiterate) will not be administering those pills in that baggie. 9/10 times that baggie sits on my desk for a week or so until i get tired of seeing them and drop them in the trash.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 13, 2015

Ugh. Baggie of meds does not fly! How hard is it to send in the medication in the bottle (which I will send back home with the student if antibiotics needed at home) and a copy of the doctor's report they got from the visit in which the child was given the antibiotics!

In my state, I can administer short-term antibiotics (> or equal to 10 days dosing) using the prescription label as the order. I tell parents this. And yet, plastic baggies.

I feel your pain. rant>

kidzcare · May 13, 2015

Ug, I feel your pain.

I generally call the parents and tell them that (by state law) I cannot administer any medication without a signed order and that students CANNOT transport medications (as is clearly stated in our handbook and the several emails I sent out throughout the year). They are generally NOT HAPPY to have to come pick up the meds.... Tough tooties.

I've had a family that (more than once) has been talked to about not sending bottles of pills (including controlled ADHD meds) to school with their child on Fridays since that is the day the kids switch between their parents' homes. So mom got wise that her son's backpack might be looked in (meds were found when a teacher was helping him locate a homework assignment) so she sent the meds in her KINDERGARTNER'S backpack instead. So a five year old was carrying a baggie of focalin, abilify, and celexa into a classroom of other five year olds. Best part? Mom's a nurse, too.

SassyTachyRN · May 13, 2015

I've had a family that (more than once) has been talked to about not sending bottles of pills (including controlled ADHD meds) to school with their child on Fridays since that is the day the kids switch between their parents' homes. So mom got wise that her son's backpack might be looked in (meds were found when a teacher was helping him locate a homework assignment) so she sent the meds in her KINDERGARTNER'S backpack instead. So a five year old was carrying a baggie of focalin, abilify, and celexa into a classroom of other five year olds. Best part? Mom's a nurse, too.

:wideyed:

SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN · May 13, 2015

Ug, I feel your pain.
I generally call the parents and tell them that (by state law) I cannot administer any medication without a signed order and that students CANNOT transport medications (as is clearly stated in our handbook and the several emails I sent out throughout the year). They are generally NOT HAPPY to have to come pick up the meds.... Tough tooties.
I've had a family that (more than once) has been talked to about not sending bottles of pills (including controlled ADHD meds) to school with their child on Fridays since that is the day the kids switch between their parents' homes. So mom got wise that her son's backpack might be looked in (meds were found when a teacher was helping him locate a homework assignment) so she sent the meds in her KINDERGARTNER'S backpack instead. So a five year old was carrying a baggie of focalin, abilify, and celexa into a classroom of other five year olds. Best part? Mom's a nurse, too.

WOWZER! Did you confiscate them? Seems like that borders child endangerment - Worse because she knew better.

MegGusta · May 13, 2015

I hope it is okay to participate on this thread; I am a CNA with the title of health assistant, but I am also the one stuck confiscating baggies of various pills, like you all. I simply work under the supervision of an RN that rotates to the charter schools under her jurisdiction. One time I was contacted by a very nervous IT directer for finding crumpled up foil with Adderall in it in the computer lab! Talk about steam coming from the ears.

The worst is when parents want to get angry and yell at you for simply stating the county regulations - that you don't make up - and make your week a living inferno.

nyy2 · May 13, 2015

So a five year old was carrying a baggie of focalin, abilify, and celexa into a classroom of other five year olds. Best part? Mom's a nurse, too.

That's insane! :nailbiting:

Knock on wood, the parents of my students with controlled substances haven't tried to send the meds in with the kids *yet*.

kidzcare · May 13, 2015

WOWZER! Did you confiscate them? Seems like that borders child endangerment - Worse because she knew better.

Yep. We confiscated when they were at my school with the student who takes the meds and mom was not happy about having to come pick them up. And then they confiscated again when they were found in little brother's backpack at another school. The nurse there called me to ask if it had happened before because she knew the student who the meds were prescribed for was at my school. I told her to be sure to let the administration know that mom had been talked to about this before. Who knows how she is handling it now....

The worst is when parents want to get angry and yell at you for simply stating the county regulations - that you don't make up - and make your week a living inferno.

RIGHT???

"Yes, Mr. and Mrs. X. I am so sorry for enforcing the laws in our state. My bad. I should totally put my license, my livelihood, my only way of feeding my kids on the line so that little Timmy can carry around a controlled substance through a sea of adolescents with no sense of personal boundries. When will you start paying my bills again??"

bell1962 · May 13, 2015

Just Wow!!

I generally call the parents and tell them that (by state law) I cannot administer any medication without a signed order and that students CANNOT transport medications (as is clearly stated in our handbook and the several emails I sent out throughout the year). They are generally NOT HAPPY to have to come pick up the meds.... Tough tooties.

I've had a family that (more than once) has been talked to about not sending bottles of pills (including controlled ADHD meds) to school with their child on Fridays since that is the day the kids switch between their parents' homes. So mom got wise that her son's backpack might be looked in (meds were found when a teacher was helping him locate a homework assignment) so she sent the meds in her KINDERGARTNER'S backpack instead. So a five year old was carrying a baggie of focalin, abilify, and celexa into a classroom of other five year olds. Best part? Mom's a nurse, too.

bell1962 · May 13, 2015

Sorry Kidzcare.. I didn't quote you in the above post and not sure how to fix it :/