Epipen for classroom teaching?

[pedi_nurse]

I've been asked to provide once a week education to the 8th PAL class at my school until the end of the year. These are relatively responsible kids (about to move to high school) who specifically signed up/applied for this leadership class to do various things such as mentor elementary students and work with special needs kids.

The teacher is really wanting me to implement lots of hands-on learning (make sense)... is it a bad call to teach them about epipen administration? I have a TON of trainers just sitting in my clinic. Obviously, I'd make it clear that they are NOT to administer the medication at school, but rather help assist a patient in finding their Epipen or assisting a teacher in doing so.

In my opinion, I equate it with the CPR instruction that all students are required to receive in Texas. Obviously, kids aren't going around practicing CPR on each other. I have some other hands-on activities to do with them but wasn't sure about this one.

[GmaPearl BSN RN]

Seems like this is a valuable, potentially life saving skill worth teaching.

[CampyCamp, RN]

I teach every counselor, even the teens, to do it at camp so, with a job like that, your students would have a little more confidence. Chances are, they have a friend or sibling with one.

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

I think that is awesome!!!

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

I love how you're thinking. Because you never know what may happen. RJJunior had EpiPen training for one of the kids she babysat. Two years later her friend had an anaphylactic episode. Friend could use her own EpiPen but RJJ directed the call to EMS and stood by....waiting to use the second one because I'd told her Epi has about 20 minutes of power and then we're in trouble. Turns out "the second one" was actually the trainer!!! EMS got there with no trouble.

Moral of the story: knowledge is power!!

[jess11RN]

Our 8th grade health classes receive epi pen training along with CPR and first aid, so I think that's a great idea!

[OldDude]

I think it's a good idea but I'd recommend getting the OK from your campus administrator just in case there is some fringe complaint or objection by someone somewhere.

But...I would make a "canned" presentation available and not attach your name or licenses to anything associated with the training.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

4 hours ago, OldDude said:

But...I would make a "canned" presentation available and not attach your name or licenses to anything associated with the training.

You are among the wisest of us all, OD.

[NurseInTheHall, ADN, RN]

I think it is a great idea!! I recently added this in when teaching some 7th and 8th graders CPR. My philosophy is to have as many people trained as possible.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I teach my 9th graders basic first aid (like what to do in emergency) and how to give an Epi-pen. I them them all try using the tester.

We also talk about using an AED - I'm not certified to teach CPR, but I talk about it and have previously set up the outside trainer that trains my sports coaches to also train upper level HS students.