Epipens and field trips

[chasinRT]

I have a kindergarten student with a severe peanut allergy who has an epipen. His teacher is trained but will not necessarily be with his group. Mom can't chaperone. What do you do in a circumstance such as this? Do you end up going on the field trip? I realize at this point I should have addressed this in his 504 meeting. Live and learn.

[OldDude]

I'm with you chasin...the school is responsible for the child; not some person, not employed by the school, designated by a parent who is not employed by the school.. Plus I think there could be an alleged FERPA violation regarding a parent being informed, with the school's conscious approval, about health information regarding a child who isn't their's. Plus - I'm not sure I understand the teacher's objection.

[schooldistrictnurse]

It is not the parent's responsibility to "assign" a responsible adult, during the school day the school is "in loco parentis" (loosely: in the place of the parent) and it is the school's responsibility to assure the safety of the child. Either the child is with or nearby to the teacher or train additional persons who will attend. I can't believe one teacher is the sole school employee attending.

[chasinRT]

Agreed. It absolutely is our responsibility to make sure the child is safe. There are four teachers going, and parent volunteers. I feel like the teacher needs to be in reasonable proximity to the child; she says she can't be. And therein lies the issue. I don't feel that I get much respect from the teaching staff, and will probably end up letting the principle decide what I feel are the two choices: either a trained school employee is with the child all day, or I go. I brought up sending a sub nurse but it went nowhere, and at this point it's probably too late to get one anyway. Incidentally, I found out about this field trip by overhearing staff talk about it. Even though I discussed with the principle early in the year that it is imperative that I know as soon as a date is decided.

[chasinRT]

I might add that this teacher is already miffed at me over an incident earlier in the week wherein I refused to let a kindergarten student put his antibiotic in his packpack (where it would sit in the hall unattended during an entire class period) so that she wouldn't have to remember to get it to the aftercare program.

[AdobeRN]

Yes to what everyone else stated - kid stays with the teacher at all times - with 4 teachers going surely one of them can be near him at all times if needed. Bring it up to the teacher again if she is still not wanting to do it - get your principal involved.

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

I'm with you chasin...the school is responsible for the child; not some person, not employed by the school, designated by a parent who is not employed by the school.. Plus I think there could be an alleged FERPA violation regarding a parent being informed, with the school's conscious approval, about health information regarding a child who isn't their's. Plus - I'm not sure I understand the teacher's objection.

That is a great point! In the unlikely event something were to happen to the child, the school would be held responsible. In turn the school might attach blame to the nurse as it is her/his responsibility for making sure that there is a trained staff member available in the event of an emergency.

[Farawyn]

How passive aggressive of this teacher. That's BS.

[SnugglePuggle, MSN, RN]

I might add that this teacher is already miffed at me over an incident earlier in the week wherein I refused to let a kindergarten student put his antibiotic in his packpack (where it would sit in the hall unattended during an entire class period) so that she wouldn't have to remember to get it to the aftercare program.

That is ridiculous! Kindergarten students are not permitted to carry, transport, or possess medication....period. Thanking my lucky starts I do not have any teachers as difficult. Furthermore, it is irresponsible of the teacher to have not informed you of this field trip in advance. I actually have that written into my Emergency Action Plans which the teachers are required to review at the beginning of the year.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

This teacher is just asking for a lawsuit. I think your best bet is to (as previously suggested) get the administration on the same page as you and ensure that this teacher is going to be with this student the entire time. If this is an impossibility, and the parent is unable to go then the district is going to have to figure out a sub nurse. Is it standard procedure that teachers don't take a group on field trips? Any field trip i've been on the teacher has had a group of children as their own. Field trip day is not a kid free- float day for them.

[Tina, RN]

I might add that this teacher is already miffed at me over an incident earlier in the week wherein I refused to let a kindergarten student put his antibiotic in his packpack (where it would sit in the hall unattended during an entire class period) so that she wouldn't have to remember to get it to the aftercare program.

I think the teacher is giving you a hard time because of this. Plus, he/she doesn't want the responsibility of that child on the trip.

[kidzcare]

Have the parents signed a waiver? A zoo seems like the kind of place that would have roasted nuts for sale and subsequently on the ground. I think I'd keep my kid home.

[SnowyJ, RN]

We actually have a policy that a parent may designate another parent to give epi pen. They do have to sign a consent. As long as it is an able/willing/trained adult.

The other parent would be covered by "Good Samaritan" laws.

As for FERPA, I think severe food allergies are something that should be known. We don't broadcast names, but I guarantee that the other students (and therefore the parents) know who is who by this point.