Come down and take your meds!

[jess11RN]

I have 2 middle school students that forget on a regular basis to come down to take their meds after lunch (1 is genuinely forgetting, the other seems to "forget" on purpose so they miss class).

I am getting tired of having to call them down Every. Single. Day. and sometimes I get busy too so they're getting their meds later than they should. What do you do to help remind them? I have tried to involve the teachers, who also seem to forget. This has been my worst year yet with this issue and I'm at a loss!

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

The irony is that the teachers will end up "paying for it" if these kiddos don't get their meds. You'd think the resulting unmedicated behaviors would have them reminding them on a regular basis.

I also have a teacher that sets a reminder on his phone...

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

With the olders (HS) I was more OK with them forgetting. And I had policy to back me up - it was the student's responsibility.

Here in elementary it's a missed dose, which is a med error, so as others have stated, I walk my happy butt to class. And call the teacher. Because it's EVERYONE'S responsibility, not just mine. Good luck!!!

[AdobeRN]

Here in elementary it's a missed dose, which is a med error, so as others have stated, I walk my happy butt to class. And call the teacher. Because it's EVERYONE'S responsibility, not just mine. Good luck!!!

Me too! If able to, I do try to set up administration times that will be easy for the kid, teacher etc to remember to come see me for the medication - before/after lunch or recess, before/after changing of classes etc - that way there is not much interruption to the class or lesson.

[Amethya]

I usually set up a routine. It's like training a kid going potty. You do it at a time and keep doing it until it becomes a routine.

You do it at a time and call the teacher to send so-so to the nurse's office. And after a while, it becomes routine and they remember themselves. "Okay, I have 3rd period with Ms. Scott, so right when it's 9:50, I'll go down and do my medication." I also have an alarm and I call for them, because I have 3 ADHD students and they (as for me) with that, we tend to forget, so I do call them to remind them.

[TinyDancer01]

Middle school kids HATE to be embarrassed so showing up to see him and maybe even offering to put a sticker chart in the classroom for him (and all his buddies to see) may help him remember.

I'd be careful to make sure you keep why you are there confidential from other kids though but I'm sure you would.

[nickysdestiny]

Wow, the elementary school I am a one to one nurse in, the teachers give all meds. Not really sure what the nurse here does

[mslove717]

I don't. I am at a high school of 1400 students. I tell all parents and students, I do NOT (and cannot) interrupt classes to call for meds. I do the first couple days when they student first starts taking it, but after that, no. I see about 10-12 kids an hour - I do not have time to watch the clock and call out for all the scheduled meds here.

If they go 5 days without coming, I call the parent and tell them to remind their kid. I also suggest the student set a reminder on their phone (they are to come during passing time).