IV Medication at School

Wave Watcher · Sep 2, 2015

I have only given antibiotic through a picc line (my initial post said port, sorry) using a salem pump at school. The home health nurse came and gave me a quick run down on how to use it. Although, I had used one before. Really easy. Otherwise, I have not given IV medications.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Sep 2, 2015

Can the district contract with a home health nursing/infusion nursing agency to come administer the drug? They may already have a contract with a pediatric PDN agency such as Bayada, Maxim, Epic, NBN, etc for other student needs. Some of these pedi PDN agencies have qualified infusion nurses on staff

kidzcare · Sep 2, 2015

What medication is being given? Is there a central line, PICC, midline? I guess it depends on the medication and the side effects. If the student has to be observed very closely for side effects after giving medication, then there is no point to giving it at school since they would be in the nursing office under observation as opposed to in class and learning. Is it an infusion or push?

OldDude · Sep 2, 2015

What medication is being given? Is there a central line, PICC, midline? I guess it depends on the medication and the side effects. If the student has to be observed very closely for side effects after giving medication, then there is no point to giving it at school since they would be in the nursing office under observation as opposed to in class and learning. Is it an infusion or push?

Yea, really need more info.....

childcare1 · Sep 2, 2015

Its a Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), its for factor replacement therapy (clotting factor IX) child has Hemophilia B

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2015

How often does the child need clotting factor administered?

SassyTachyRN · Sep 3, 2015

Our district policy is no, that we do not do anything iv's as we are not able to provide a sterile environment and do not want to be liable for the risk of infection, complications, etc. I had a student last year with a port and that child's home health nurse came often to do lab draws from the port, and to give iv meds. Doing it that way, puts the liabilities on them. Plus the meds and supplies come from the home health agency anyway, so they should be working with one. Could I, as a former oncology nurse with TONS of experience with ports, do it? Absolutely. I even wanted to, that stuff excites me. We just can't and don't. I don't know anything about the particular drug your child needs, but if they need to be monitored during the infusion, that's something you can't do on your own when you have a clinic to run. My kiddo got IVIG infusions also and stayed home on those days because they were long infusions and had to be monitored for reactions.

kidzcare · Sep 3, 2015

Its a Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), its for factor replacement therapy (clotting factor IX) child has Hemophilia B

How often is the medication ordered? What is the reason it needs to be done during school hours? How long does it take to infuse? I'm curious about this!

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2015

Our district policy is no, that we do not do anything iv's as we are not able to provide a sterile environment and do not want to be liable for the risk of infection, complications, etc. I had a student last year with a port and that child's home health nurse came often to do lab draws from the port, and to give iv meds. Doing it that way, puts the liabilities on them. Plus the meds and supplies come from the home health agency anyway, so they should be working with one. Could I, as a former oncology nurse with TONS of experience with ports, do it? Absolutely. I even wanted to, that stuff excites me. We just can't and don't. I don't know anything about the particular drug your child needs, but if they need to be monitored during the infusion, that's something you can't do on your own when you have a clinic to run. My kiddo got IVIG infusions also and stayed home on those days because they were long infusions and had to be monitored for reactions.

This. I had a kiddo last year receive IV antibiotics daily related to a bone infection in his hand. Home care nurse came and did the infusions after school at his house. I just checked on the PICC line at school as needed.

SnowyJ, RN · Sep 3, 2015

I had one student with a PICC for antibiotics. I wonder about the factor infusions though. IMO those should be done in a hospital or clinic, not school.

AdobeRN · Sep 3, 2015

I had one student with a PICC line for 4 weeks due to a bone infection. I did not do anything with it. A home health nurse came to school daily for about 45 minutes to administer the IV antibiotics. They came to my office - the child brought whatever work they were doing in class and he sat at a desk working on the classwork while the antibx infused.