End Of Year Medications

Specialties School

Updated:   Published

Specializes in 8 years as a school nurse.

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Just wondering what other school nurses do with student medications at the end of the year? Some will be prescription meds, inhalers, some OTC meds that have been kept in the nurse's office. In the past I send a reminder that medications must be picked up by a parent, but so many just don't. I end up disposing of then when they expire. There has to be a better way!

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Specializes in School Health.

I send a medication pick up letter home, and also put a reminder in our weekly newsletter.  Thankfully, I would say about 98% of my parents pick up the students medication.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I send an e-mail reminder to pick them up and a hard-copy reminder (with blank medication form for next year with my email and fax on it). 

In the email I write something along the lines of "Please let me know the time and date that you will be picking up your student's medication.  If you are unable to, please let me know so that I can best organize disposal at the end of the year.   All medications left after (date) will be disposed of unless arrangements have been made."

I like having the heads-up of those who prefer disposal, that way I'm not left wondering if they saw my communications.   And for those who I don't hear from; I communicated in 2 different ways and can't possibly call everyone. 

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I don't think there is a better way......I hate that there is so much wasted at end of the school year and from someone who didn't always have great health insurance, its bothersome for me to throw out the inhalers and Epipens knowing how much they can cost. 

I send out an email to the parents of kids that have I have medication for. I also put the notice in our weekly school newsletter a few weeks before school is out. The notice states the medication pickup policy and a date/time of disposal if not picked up.  Any meds not picked up by the deadline are bagged up and the Risk Management department comes around and picks up the meds to be disposed.  

We always have at least 1 parent upset that meds were thrown out - but there is no excuse of not knowing the policy and disposal deadline - it is written in our medication consent forms they sign, its in our student handbooks that they sign, my medication pickup email reminder along with the weekly newsletter has the same info. 

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Specializes in Occupational Health.

ever wondered why the school nurses seem so happy at the end of the school year?....now you know ?

LOL...jk!

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Specializes in School LPN.

It will take more than a few shots of albuterol to relieve my end of the year stress ?

 

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Well, now that I'm retired I can admit it. If we had epi-pens and inhalers left they got locked in my drawer and kept till the next school year. When mom came in with a new order the next school year, I'd give them back to her. I couldn't bring myself to dispose of them. There were situations that parent couldn't drive, couldn't get there, etc. 

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Specializes in pediatrics, School LVN.

We send reminders home to pick up medication. If the parent is unable to pick up inhalers or epi-pens we notify the parents the student will bring the medication home. We put it in a sealed envelope and give it to the student at dismissal. Most of our students are picked up after school, so they don't have the medication in their possession for long. For controlled meds. We will send out notifications and call, I call 3 times and leave messages, plus a couple of written notices. If nobody can pick it up or I am not able to reach the family. I take it to the police station to dispose of it. 

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Specializes in kids.
On 5/18/2022 at 10:05 PM, grammy1 said:

Well, now that I'm retired I can admit it. If we had epi-pens and inhalers left they got locked in my drawer and kept till the next school year. When mom came in with a new order the next school year, I'd give them back to her. I couldn't bring myself to dispose of them. There were situations that parent couldn't drive, couldn't get there, etc. 

I may or may not do that now....

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Specializes in Pediatric Nursing.

After doing this for many years I can tell you that nothing beats the old fashioned phone call to say, "Pick up your student's inhaler/Epipen/Glucagon!" Notes and emails are simply not read and often do not reach the intended audience. It's the same principal as meeting health requirements. 

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