Field Trips

[RN4STUDENTS]

So it's that time of year again... So I am interested in what everyone else does with field trips. I do not get a sub when I am out sick so there's no way a nurse is going on a field trip. It's my choice I can either go on the trip or stay behind either way half the school is unattended with a nurse. I know to send epi pens with their delegates but heard mixed things about sending inhalers. What do other nurse's do with kids who have asthma who go on field trips and their parents don't go and they do have an order for an inhaler but not to self medicate??

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I trained the teachers. I have fake inhalers and Epi pens I used to train teachers when they go on field trips. Each class also gets a first aid fanny pack. Usually there's a head teacher during the trips and he/she gets the Epi pens. Also make sure you train them well on documentation. If they gave it or helped administered it then they document it even if they are not the student's teacher. Document in pen and document AFTER the student takes the medication.

[RNCourt]

In the state of MA we have to apply for field trip delegation. Once I have the certification I go over meds with one teacher/staff member who will be attending the trip. I would also be sure that the student's permission slip states that there will be no nurse on the trip and that any prescription medications will be administered by a delegated staff member when necessary.

[AdobeRN]

I have a few diabetics and a couple of kids that require cathing (elementary school) - if their parents do not attend the field trips I go. Teacher handles all the other kids that require Epipens, inhalers, meds etc. I just make sure the teacher knows what kid needs what before leaving.

I type up a list of the kids with Epipens, inhalers & daily scheduled meds and give that with the medication to the teachers along with a first aid kit. I go over the list with the teachers prior to the trip in case there are questions.

[Bookworm12314]

In New Jersey the following applies:

Only the following individuals are authorized to administer medication to pupils in schools:

• School staff holding a current medical or nursing license (e.g., the school physician or school nurse);
  
• Substitute school nurse employed by the district;
  
• Pupil’s parent or guardian;
  
• Pupil approved to self-administer per N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.3; and
  
• School staff designated and trained to administer epinephrine using an auto-injector per N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.5 and 12.6.
  

[fetch, BSN, RN]

In VA I train all the teachers on oral meds, inhalers, and EpiPens for field trips. If the parents go, all the better: the school meds can stay at school and the parents are responsible (I make that clear to them beforehand and if they request it I still send the school meds with the teacher).

I don't have diabetics so I don't know how that works, but I have two kids with DiaStat at school, and for them either I have to go or a sub nurse has to go or the student's parents have to go. (Twice I've sent a sub nurse, once the parents went, and once I got a sub nurse all lined up to go and a few days beforehand the child got in so much trouble he wasn't allowed to go on the field trip for behavior reasons.)

[bell1962]

In NYS all meds must be administered by a licensed school nurse, with the exception of epipens and glucagon which maybe administered by trained staff. Self-directed students may take their own meds under the supervision of a staff member but only if they are determined to be self directed before hand and the parent agrees. Another option is the parent can go or send a "parent designee" to administer the meds but that rarely happens. In the school I work at we need a nurse to go on most field trips because most of our students have special needs and can not be self directed. it gets to be a challenge at times finding coverage.