End of year meds?

mamahuff · May 15, 2015

I have really appreciated this thread. Most of my schools send unused medications home with students at the end of the year. But, I have never really felt comfortable with it. I had already decided that next year, we will not be doing this. I have already changed the med. permission portion of my health enrollment form to reflect this change. We are almost to make it through another year!! :)

chasinRT · May 15, 2015

By putting meds into a student's hand you are making those meds more accessible to all the other students, creating a potentially unsafe environment.

Not to mention little siblings, the kiddos mommy babysits etc.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 15, 2015

If I didn't send home medication with a couple of high school students at the end of the year (with parent permission) I get backlash from the parents. :banghead:

I typically send home letters the week before the end of the school year asking parents if they would like to pick up their student's medication or have me dispose of it. Some kids have summer school, so the parent asks me to pass the medication on to the summer school coordinator. I think I am going to add a check box for that option in writing this year.

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 15, 2015

i won't send them home - maybe just the epis and inhalers that can self carry - but not the schedule 2 meds. Most of the kids walk in big groups. And while i would like to think that most of my med taking children have sense and would not do something silly with the few left over pills they have at the end of the year - i'm not going to take any chances just to save their parents a trip to the school. It's a small town and i know that their friends don't possess the same level of good sense.

lvnforschool · May 15, 2015

When I first started the health aid had a bunch of leftover meds in the cabinet. She told me the year before someone tried breaking into the health office and get into the med cabinet. So I was thinking, BECAUSE she left them there all summer long:banghead:

I tossed all leftover meds last year, and some kid was calling to pickup his inhaler a week after school finished. Sorry, I sent out notices and its gone baby gone...LOL

The new school RN, is trying to keep the meds a week or so after school lets out. That's ON her :no:

kidzcare · May 15, 2015

When I first started the health aid had a bunch of leftover meds in the cabinet. She told me the year before someone tried breaking into the health office and get into the med cabinet. So I was thinking, BECAUSE she left them there all summer long:banghead:
I tossed all leftover meds last year, and some kid was calling to pickup his inhaler a week after school finished. Sorry, I sent out notices and its gone baby gone...LOL
The new school RN, is trying to keep the meds a week or so after school lets out. That's ON her

I'm not even in my office a week after school is out.... I am done the same day as the kids. I'll be outta here so fast you will see a cloud of dust in my image and a KidzCare shaped hole in the wall.

lvnforschool · May 15, 2015

Me TOO!

I am supposed to work the next day after schools out a (Friday), but I make sure I finish everything the day before, so when the kids are out im OUT!

chasinRT · May 15, 2015

I'm not even in my office a week after school is out.... I am done the same day as the kids. I'll be outta here so fast you will see a cloud of dust in my image and a KidzCare shaped hole in the wall.

Haha!!! Me too! Leaving a cloud of dust that says SEE YA IN AUGUST!!!

Jolie, BSN · May 15, 2015

I agree with those who voice concern about sending meds home with kids, regardless of parental permission, for 2 reasons. First of all, if it was safe for children to be in possession of their meds, then that would be the "normal" arrangement, as it is with those authorized to self-carry. If we choose to "loosen" those standards one time per year for nurse and parent convenience, we lose credibility to require that meds be kept under adult supervision every other school day.

Second, this is a bit of an apples to oranges comparison, but in today's society, I think it is relevant. There is a thread on AN about a parent who went ballistic and reported a HIPAA violation of a physician's office because her teenager was handed the summary of her own office visit, which she placed in her back pack (while the parent was in the restroom). It doesn't seem that the summary was seen by anyone other than the teenage daughter, but the mother was livid that "What if someone else opened her backpack and read her medical information?!?!" I don't think it would be a stretch for a similarly-minded parent to go nuts if a child indicated in the carpool that s/he had his/her medication from the school nurse.

Not worth it. Make the parents come into the building and retrieve unused medication or bear the cost of replacing it.

AdobeRN · May 16, 2015

Our district policy is that parents must pick up medications unless the student has consent to carry inhalers or epipens.

I send a notice home 2 weeks before school is out reminding parents to pick up meds or they will be disposed at 3:30 on the last day. I do not keep anything over the summer. What ever is not picked up gets bagged for disposal - maintenance comes around after school is out & picks the stuff up.

kidzcare · May 17, 2015

I agree with those who voice concern about sending meds home with kids, regardless of parental permission, for 2 reasons. First of all, if it was safe for children to be in possession of their meds, then that would be the "normal" arrangement, as it is with those authorized to self-carry. If we choose to "loosen" those standards one time per year for nurse and parent convenience, we lose credibility to require that meds be kept under adult supervision every other school day.

Yes! Great point here--in addition to the safety concern!

LMTCBnurse · May 17, 2015

I work at a Pre-K and Kindergarten school and there is no way I am sending meds home with them.