Do you have a blood glucose meter in your office?

[ohiobobcat]

Do you keep a stock blood glucose meter in your office? What brand? How do you stock test strips?

I had a non-diabetic student pass out the other day. By the time I got to the student he was awake and talking and vitals were stable, so I didn't call EMS. Parents were reached and student was taken directly to the ER via private vehicle.

I heard through the grapevine that doctor who ended up caring for this student was wondering why I didn't check a blood glucose. I have a bunch of glucose meters in my office from the previous school nurse. I'm guessing they were company samples, and all the testing strips have expired. Testing strips are expensive, and I don't think I can justify the cost of spending $50+ on a container of test strips that I MIGHT use 2x per year if I am lucky. Especially since I have to throw them away 30 days after I open them.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

to be honest, it's rare that i am rescuing anyone. i use it more often than not on those rare occasions that the meter acts up or when the student runs out of strips. The latter comes with a long lecture unless it happens on the same day as a multi check type of blood sugar event - then its a short lecture as they still need to watch their supplies.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

to be honest, it's rare that i am rescuing anyone. i use it more often than not on those rare occasions that the meter acts up or when the student runs out of strips. The latter comes with a long lecture unless it happens on the same day as a multi check type of blood sugar event - then its a short lecture as they still need to watch their supplies.

Ditto.

When my non-compliant student needed to use my meter more than the random occasional time, I reached out to mom because my meter isn't going to sync info with her. She sent me another meter specific for the student but to stay in my office that does, and I still chart everything (of course).

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I know in my State, California, we were told during a School Nurse Orientation that taking blood sugars is an invasive procedure and requires Dr. orders. Including staff. Staff can have their own without orders, but unless your District has Standing Orders through a Physician you cannot do perform a glucose check on any and every person.

[abrenrn]

Why on earth would anyone check BG on a non-diabetic student who passed out? Especially one who is sitting up and drinking by the time the nurse got there? Hypoglycemia would be on the bottom of any list of what could cause this. In most kids, it's a vaso-vagal response, occassionally a more ominous cause. But, unless the child was secretly injecting himself with insulin, it is not something I would worry too much about.

Also, it may be a tiny prick but it is invasive, poses a small risk of infection, so would not do without an order from a licensed provider.