So, I am working as a PT school nurse right now, and I will be sending letters home next week about meds going home in June. I have a form letter left by the previous nurse (I am a permanent job sharing sub- NOT a CSN) and I am comfortable sending things like inhalers, Epi Pens, Ibuprofen, Celexa, etc., home with Bobby on the last day - not that any of them will show up to get them.
Here's my question: While I will not, under any circumstance send little Bobby home on the bus with 20 IR Ritalin/Adderal tabs (for him to sell, get stolen, crush and snort himself, whatever,) is it ok to send XR Ritalin home on the bus? I read that even if opened and crushed the beads in the XR capsules will not get one high. IDK if this is true (never tried it, ha!) but would you feel comfortable sending this med home with a kiddo? It is still a class 2 controlled substance, right?
Obviously if the kiddo/parent does not come in to claim it, I'm just going to throw it out with a witness anyway, but if he or she does stop in and want to take a controlled substance home on the last day, what should I do?
BTW, I cannot find a facility policy on this, even after asking the secretary (who legit knows EVERYTHING) or the principal.
As a mom, I expect medication to be returned to me at the end of the school year. My daughters' medication is $10. per pill and I would raise a big fuss if my money was just thrown into the trash.
Simple enough then...pick it up, if that's what the school's policy is!
Just thought I'd share an update. Today was the last day of school :-) and while a couple of kiddos let their meds run out, not ONE SINGLE PARENT came to pick up OTC or controlled meds. Which made Oranges very happy that she had put safeguards in place to get rid of them safely and legally.
I had the principal and security count with me and SIGN for all of the sedatives, anxiolitics, narcotics and stimulants and dropped them at the local police drop box. The OTC meds I combined in labeled bottles for staff use (no reason to throw out perfectly good Ibuprofen) and left the Epi Pens in the OTC cabinet - they were not expired, and who knows when they might be of use?
Thanks for all of your guidance and wisdom...going to enjoy the next 2 weeks off before summer school!
As a mom, I expect medication to be returned to me at the end of the school year. My daughters' medication is $10. per pill and I would raise a big fuss if my money was just thrown into the trash.
As a nurse, I only take 5 pills to the school, to be used if my daughter forgets to take her medication before leaving the house. The school is not meant to be a catch-all for medicating kids!
Our school nurse sends a form at the end of the year, asking if we want the med sent home with the child, or if we will be picking up.
As a school nurse, who knows you signed the form at the begining of the year stating you read and understand the school handbook policies, I expect that you will pick it up. The potential for it to be lost or stolen is huge. If it is then taken by someone who shouldn't, the risk is huge (I'm in HS). Kids will take a pill just because it is there, on a dare or for any number of unknown reasons.
I totally get having a backup med at school for those days when kid misses at home. Unless you come and get it, it is being dumped.
my update is that I was advised that I could send out my mass mailings for things like vaccines and incomplete registrations but that things like medications were seen as unnecessary and would be sent out electronically. The superintendent then help me send out a mass notification. I won't actually be here the last day of school when people are supposed to come to pick up, but I prepped the sub nurse. My bet is that she won't see a whole lot of traffic for that
chasinRT
199 Posts
Simple enough then...pick it up, if that's what the school's policy is!