International Boarding School

Specialties School

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I work as the school nurse at an international boarding school. I have come across the problem of the international students bringing lots of herbal medicines to take while on our campus. I ultimately have to decide what meds they can take and due to the lack of research and not knowing any potential drug interactions I have decided they will not be allowed to take herbal remedies while at school. These are not for religious beliefs. Most of the meds the students don't even know why they are taking them. Some of the medicines they have brought are for diet purposes only. Does anyone have experience in this matter? It is a constant battle and I feel that I cannot allow one student to have them and not another. They are allowed to have prescriptions from their home if they are in English. If you are a nurse at an international boarding school I would love to hear how you care for your students.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Not at an international boarding school but we have various unguents/oils/other things that parents ask us to dose. While I have absolutely zero problem with complementary medicine, my BON frowns upon me giving medications that do not have the weight of scientific study and our district policy is that we do not give anything other than an RX that is used on-label, or an OTC with parental permission (and within the dosing parameters).

What does your policy say? If it specifically allows you to do so, and your license is not in jeopardy, I guess it's OK.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

Of course we're not a boarding school but we don't administer any substance that is not FDA approved for the reason we are are being requested to administer it. The exception is if we have a MD order for something like that, the child will need to be placed under a 504 program. The parents can come to school and administer pretty much anything legal to possess to their own children.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Same as OldDude, it has to be FDA approved and have an MD order with parent signature. Of course, I am in a public school and not an international boarding school (how cool!?).

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Yes. It is a wonderful place to work and I have met so many wonderful students. But with this comes challenges (immunizations, American Medicine, Etc.)

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Specializes in kids.

You are bound by your Nurse Practice Act and you need admin support!

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Specializes in NCSN.
You are bound by your Nurse Practice Act and you need admin support!

^This.^

You cannot give treatments if you don't fully understand how they affect your students and what adverse reactions may occur because of them. Using evidence based practice is a nurse's responsibility and hopefully your admin can respect that.

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Admin supports me 100%.

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Specializes in kids.
Admin supports me 100%.

That is awesome! Good luck. Draw a line in the sand and stick to it!

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Interesting topic.. but since this is a boarding school,, a practice of not allowing these herbal treatments doesn't seem very cultural competent...

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

where is the boarding school located? You'd have to comply with the laws of where ever you are. This includes immunizations and physical mandates as well. If the school wants to make policies in excess of the laws then that is fine, but the policies can not take place of the law, meaning that if the law says no herbal medicines your school can't say they they are ok because you passed a policy.

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