Do you need an order for otc's

The schools where I sub will give both OTC's and prescription meds as long as a parent note accompanies the med in its original container.

The schools where I sub will give both OTC's and prescription meds as long as a parent note accompanies the med in its original container.

eric, is there a standing order somewhere from an md?

No standing orders... and there are no meds sitting on the shelf for any student that may need them. If it's not the student's own med and if the student's parent doesn't provide the note, they get no medication.

thanks... would anybody know if this would apply to kids in a "residential facility"? Like I said, we have a consent signed, but no order from any md.

it just doesnt seem right.

the school where I work requires consent from a parent for otc and from a physician for prescriptions. I hate it. Half the kids there have an order for tylenol/motrin and don't think they can get through the day-hit by a dodgeball, headache without otc. I think making it this easy for kids to get tylenol, etc is teaching them the wrong thing. I wish it was a little harder to get it ordered for them.

In our town we practice under the following state law. "Under Massachusetts General Laws, a licensed nurse must have a medication order from a physician, dentist, nurse practioner, or physician's assistant in order to administer any medicine, whether it is a prescription drug or over-the-counter medication" No room for confusion.

Our school district (in Nebraska) requires a physician's order and parental permission for OTC meds. If a child requests Tylenol, Motrin, etc. but does not have an order, the parent is called to bring it in and give it.

Our district does not employ FT nurses in any of the buildings, so most of the time, it is the secretary or a TA who administers approved medications.

New Jersey state law requires a written MD order and parent signature for all medications, including otc's. This order needs to be renewed every year, and parents are required to supply the student's medications in our district. To diagnose/prescribe medications is outside the standards of the nurse practice act.

The school physician has written standing orders for oxygen and epi-pen in an emergency situation, and Mantoux as required by the state law.

We are also not allowed to dispense otc's to staff. I do have a locked box with a stock supply of apap, asa, ibuprofen, antihistamines, tums, and mylanta that the staff have access to and may help themselves as needed. I'd rather have a locked, stock supply than have teachers keep their own in their desks.

I don't know how the law appllies to students in residential facilities though. I think that there are certain differences when your facility is considered the guardian/caretaker of the child. You need to search your state laws in that regard because you don't want to risk your license.

This is a state by state issue.

Even if your state allows it, your district may have a policy against it.

You should not be giving OTCs to adults in building either if state law prohibits it.

That's interesting, because we hand out Tylenol or ibuprofen to adults all day long...now I'm wondering if that's legal.

Check with your Board of Nursing. It is a state by state Nurse Practice Act and medical practice issue. Occ Health nurses I know have dispensers installed so the adults can buy their meds from a vending machine so the nurse is not administering outside of his/her license.