Diaper changes on special needs students

MassED, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2009

???? I don't understand the question.

tsansom · Oct 29, 2009

The Special Ed class the child belongs to. If the teacher's assistant is out for the day, they call me to change the female student because the teacher is male. If I had to do that everyday I would be miserable. They are hard to change.

LovebugLPN · Oct 29, 2009

In the school district I worked at if the teacher's aide was out for the day the school district was required to replace that person with a substitute. That substitute would then be responsible for Depends being changed. The male teacher was not allowed to change Depends on female students.

schoolnurse09 · Oct 29, 2009

I don't think my schools actually have any hard and fast rules. The Special Ed para-professionals are primarily responsible, but the Health para and I do provide back up. Interesting that at one of my schools the Special Ed para refuses to change the student, it "makes her sick" so the teacher does it. This year, he is too big for one person to handle, and now the teacher needs help. That falls to the Health para. It also has to happen in the Health Office, ties up the office for 20 minutes .... and takes another (at least) 20 minutes before the room is habitable again.

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Oct 29, 2009

In my district it is the special ed assistant. One of my spec ed kids gets cathed BID, so I often end up cleaning her up if she has a BM, but that is just part of the job! If she did not get cathed the special ed asst would handle it.

missfixit · Oct 29, 2009

At my school, the special ed department handles diaper changes.

SchoolNurseBSN · Oct 29, 2009

Looks like the special ed department has the responsibility in most districts! Why is it sooooo hard to get it into these people's heads that you do not need a nursing license to change a depends????

Now, myself or my paraprofessional have been back ups when the special ed TA is out and I have no problem with that. It gives me a chance to check for skin breakdown, etc. I am on campus 2 days week and my para is there the other 3. I have been requesting 1 more person to be as an emergency back up in case the TA and one of us are both out. Lo and behold, I got paged last week because both the TA and Clinic para were out. I skipped lunch 2 days (i am pregnant) to travel back to change student.

Now, I am riding my principal hard for that back up. Her answer.....we will just call the emergency network nurse to do it next time or when you are on maternity leave. Now, I am in the dog house because I told her that is unacceptable to call a nurse away from her building for a non-urgent, non-nursing task!!! And it has turned into big hoopla that the front office may have to take a temp or two while i am on maternity leave. Please, I have a very small, very low needs school and I am only there 2 days as it is. I typically see 3-7 kids a day (mostly peepee pants, papercuts, lost baby teeth).

Keepstanding, ASN, RN · Oct 30, 2009

looks like the special ed department has the responsibility in most districts! why is it sooooo hard to get it into these people's heads that you do not need a nursing license to change a depends????
now, myself or my paraprofessional have been back ups when the special ed ta is out and i have no problem with that. it gives me a chance to check for skin breakdown, etc. i am on campus 2 days week and my para is there the other 3. i have been requesting 1 more person to be as an emergency back up in case the ta and one of us are both out. lo and behold, i got paged last week because both the ta and clinic para were out. i skipped lunch 2 days (i am pregnant) to travel back to change student.
now, i am riding my principal hard for that back up. her answer.....we will just call the emergency network nurse to do it next time or when you are on maternity leave. now, i am in the dog house because i told her that is unacceptable to call a nurse away from her building for a non-urgent, non-nursing task!!! and it has turned into big hoopla that the front office may have to take a temp or two while i am on maternity leave. please, i have a very small, very low needs school and i am only there 2 days as it is. i typically see 3-7 kids a day (mostly peepee pants, papercuts, lost baby teeth).

hey, welcome to the "dog house" ! come on in and make yourself at home !

there is always room here for good friends !

:lghmky::lghmky::lghmky::lghmky::lghmky:

praiser :heartbeat

SchoolNurseBSN · Oct 30, 2009

Praiser-

I do not mind being in the dog house because I am with good company!!!

Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2009

Woof! I am there with y'all (perpetually, it seems :) )

Needsmorechocolate, ASN · Oct 30, 2009

Make some room for me, seems I am there too!!