High school trips and medications

[lauriee]

I am writing in hopes of getting feedback on the issue of off-campus overnight camps with high school students and medication administration. I would like to hear from school nurses as to what medications the students are allowed to keep with them and self-med and what meds are required to be dispensed by the nurse. Currently, what has been done in the past at our private school is allowing self-med of allergy drugs(OTC and prescription), antibiotics for acne, and inhalers on a case by case basis. When it comes to antidepressants and meds such as Adderral, some parents want us to handle it and some want the student to self-med d/t embarrassment and the fact that they feel comfortable with the student handling it. Can this be on a case by case basis or should it be one way for all? I realize that Adderral is a controlled substance. Would having the parent sign a self-medicate and release form along with single dose packaging be an option?

Also, how do other nurses handle the situation of not being able to get health form info or medical treatment authorization forms from parents before leaving on a trip? Are the students allowed to go?

Also, we have situations where parents check off that their student may have need for access to an Epi-Pen but consistently "forget" to bring one in.

Thanks for all opinions and the need to vent!

[bergren]

Legally, if you have a field trip, all must be allowed to go, or no one goes. You can handle this a number of different ways, none of which are as good as you going. The teacher or parent supervising can be trained to give the meds. You must get permission form the child's parents to share the child's medication information with a volunteer. I do not see a problem with letting some children self medicate and others not based on the seriousness of the medication, and the child's maturity, of course with parental permission .

s