Field trip inquiry

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Nov 14, 2016

Under our nursing license are we responsible for staff to student ratio? And I correct to assume that in CORI Checked individuals would not apply to this equation?

I am not responsible for any part of any field trip unless it directly relates to a medical issue for something which I has delegated; and if a sub nurse is on the trip, the sub handles medical responsibilities.

I do not assign chaperones - that does not fall under my license or my job.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Nov 14, 2016

Agree with Jenn. When I go on a field trip I am only there as a medical liaison. Meaning I may be with my diabetic kiddo's group of kids, but I do not factor in the "chaperone" count.

The only time this would happen would be if I went as a parent, and even then I'm not sure I would be the nurse and the chaperone. Because what would happen if another child needed my medical attention, I would then have to leave the group unattended. Too much liability.

BeckyESRN · Nov 14, 2016

The teachers got read the riot act from my superior the one time that they assigned my field trip nurse to a group of students at the zoo. Not only was she in charge of 6 kids, every group goes a different direction, no one gave her any contact info and no one knew how to get ahold of her in case of emergency. She had 12 kids with PRN meds on this particular trip. Try explaining to an angry parent why their child didn't get their inhaler...

If I'm on a trip, I'm there for kids with medical needs, not there to babysit! :cheeky:

JennyBSNRN · Nov 17, 2016

The post ment to say un cori checked individuals. Correct me if I am wrong, but from what I understood at the DESE training nurses are also responsibly for student safety. Do you have a contract or policy that states exactly what you are and are not responsible for?

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Nov 17, 2016

The post ment to say un cori checked individuals. Correct me if I am wrong, but from what I understood at the DESE training nurses are also responsibly for student safety. Do you have a contract or policy that states exactly what you are and are not responsible for?

Student safety outside the school? School safety outside the medical world? Um, nope. If two students get into a fight, which one may argue has to do with safety, my dean of students is involved. I am only involved if there are injuries I need to attend to/check.

I don't arrange field trips. Our school has safety guidelines for number of chaperones needed but I do not manage that. I do have a contract that lists my job responsibilities that I sign each year. I manage and delegate medical responsibilities on a field trip and any training that goes with it (i.e. for diabetic students, Epi-pen training, etc if myself or a sub nurse is not going on said field trip), but managing the trip itself and the chaperones are not part of my job. (Plus, everyone that works at my school has been Cori checked.)

OP, since you mentioned DESE - are you in MA? I've been to those trainings and they are both very awesome and very overwhelming.

(PS - If that is you in your picture, I would suggest changing it. It is a small world out there.)

BeckyESRN · Nov 17, 2016

For my district, the nurse's responsibility as far as field trips are concerned, is to provide the same level of nursing care that is available at school. Ensuring that there are enough volunteers to cover the trip is on the teachers/admin.

mom to many · Nov 17, 2016

In my district, the nurses are only responsible for getting daily and PRN meds along with a first aide kit to the teachers before they leave campus. The only time I am allowed to go on a field trip is if a child that needs a "nursing skill" (like insulin or to be cathed) and their parent or grandparent is unable to go on the field trip, then I get to go.