How would you handle this med request?

Specialties School

Published

Thanks in advance; you guys are the best!

A parent came in today wanting me to give her child Dimetapp just one time today (no school next week) because her child has been out sick. I have mom's written consent but will never get MD order back on time. Curious as to what you would all do?

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Specializes in School health, pediatrics.

Is it over the counter?

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I would not do it without a doctors order. Why cant the mom just give it to her or come back and give it to her? We dont have standing orders for otc meds, so unless I have an MD order, its a no go for me..

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Nope. Cannot administer without an order. Mom can come in at the time that the medication is due and give it to the child herself.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

No doctors order, no medicine. I would let mom know that someone can come give the medicine or she can give a dose before she leaves (isn't is good for 6-8 hours?)

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

We don't require MD order for OTC so I'd give it. But if that's your stated policy I would decline and let her arrange for someone else to come give it.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i can't give a medication - even OTC without dr order. Not even once. Parents gripe. They plead. I tell them sorry, but that I can't and that it's not my choosing, but rather state law. They can feel free to lobby the state to get the laws changed, but I will not risk my license over one dose of OTC meds.

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i can't give a medication - even OTC without dr order. Not even once. Parents gripe. They plead. I tell them sorry, but that I can't and that it's not my choosing, but rather state law. They can feel free to lobby the state to get the laws changed, but I will not risk my license over one dose of OTC meds.

The best is when they send 2 pills in a ziplock with a post-it that says "Please give these to Snowflake at 11am"

:sarcastic:

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Like everyone else says. Mom can come in and give the kid the medicine.

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Specializes in School nursing.

I wouldn't give it.

Random side note: my previous standing orders including Robitussin DM. New doc on board and first thing they did was strike it - it isn't recommended for kids under 12 (which all my student are over 12) and felt that was a medication that should not be given at school and they didn't recommend its usage in their pediatric practice. So away it went. But, to be honest, I didn't give it when it was still part of the orders. And the stupid bottle just leaked everywhere so I had stopped ordering it!

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I can't give OTC without doctors note/Rx either, even if it just a one time thing. I have learned thru the years that if you go against policy "just one time" these same people keep coming back for more and more then it becomes a problem or it bites you in the a$$ - so I stick to our school health policies. I tell parents they can administer it or designate an adult friend to but I will not and can not. I also use the excuse of not my choosing but district policy - they are welcome to send their concerns/request to change policy to the district nurse supervisor :)

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I have never ever regretted following our administration of medication policy to the letter (even when parents do not like the policy).

Happy Thanksgiving! Four more hours!

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