Members are discussing the role of non-nursing staff in giving medications in schools, with some expressing concerns about misrepresentation of titles and responsibilities. There is also a conversation about the importance of clarifying job titles and roles to ensure transparency and proper training for staff members providing medical care in educational settings. Additionally, there is a discussion about the challenges and responsibilities faced by school nurses, with some members expressing support for the OP and highlighting the need for clear distinctions in job roles within the healthcare field.
I am a Certified Medical Assistant who is currently being working as the school nurse at a charter school for 6th-12th grade. I just started this position a few months ago. The previous 'School nurse' was not at all experienced in the medical field and I feel a bit overwhelmed at times because I do not have prior training in this area. I was thrown to the lions. The kids are thankfully well behaved but it can still be frustrating some times. I would appreciate any pointers or tips on anything really.
OMG You guys way to down her profession half of these replies are related to her title and why she THINKS she is a nurse and not the issue. My school secretary gives meds when I am absent just takes a little training and also Certified medical Technician give meds all the time. I have a class of kindergartens that call me a doctor I wont dare waste my breath to correct them each an every time.
OMG You guys way to down her profession half of these replies are related to her title and why she THINKS she is a nurse and not the issue. My school secretary gives meds when I am absent just takes a little training and also Certified medical Technician give meds all the time. I have a class of kindergartens that call me a doctor I wont dare waste my breath to correct them each an every time.
Well, it is against the law to represent yourself as something you are not. The title of HER post indicated she was working as a nurse, her words, not ours.
I think overall we have been pretty clear about the title and who can or who cannot call themselves a nurse.
An RN is an RN with a certain scope of practice.
An LPN is an LPN with a certain scope of practice.
An MA is an MA with a certain scope of practice.
...and so on.
Please go back and read the whole thread and I believe the majority of the posts deal with scope.
Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
My state mandates DoE certified school nurses (RN/BSN plus graduate certification). Substitutes are RN with DoE cert (can be diploma,ASN, BSN or MSN. MA can do clerical. LPN can work as 1:1 or along school nurse as a second nurse within LPN scope. Medics can only work under the direction of an ED physician so anywhere else they are EMT-B and cannot work in schools.
You are careful make certain no one else misrepresents you
I think that the winds of change are coming, as far as medics go. Community Paramedicine is the next big thing coming around the bend. Keeping people out of the hospitals and being treated in their homes is one of the big cost savings measures. A medic, atleast in Pa. can now operate as long as they are under a Physicians license, almost as a physician extender. I personally worked at an MRI center giving Gadolinium injections to patients who needed an MRI with contrast. Basically I was there for any allergic reactions, but they wanted me to do the sticks since the MRI techs, while proficient, sometimes had issues.
To make sure I was covered I insisted that an attorney specializing in EMS and Medics reviewed everything and we had to have a formal contract saying that he was my Medical Director and I was covered under his liability coverage. Was actually a very sweet gig that paid well, until a radiologist wanted to have his office there, so i was out of a job .
OMG You guys way to down her profession half of these replies are related to her title and why she THINKS she is a nurse and not the issue. My school secretary gives meds when I am absent just takes a little training and also Certified medical Technician give meds all the time. I have a class of kindergartens that call me a doctor I wont dare waste my breath to correct them each an every time.
I am not seeing where anyone's profession is being attacked. What I do not like is any organization or person misrepresenting their title or who they are staffing (OP does NOT seem to be doing this). My child's pediatric clinic calls their MA's nurses-that I don't find ethical. Everyone should be proud of their profession, but just be honest about who is treating our children and what kind of training they have. Some kids call me a doctor and I correct them. Because I am the person that the kids/parents have the most contact with they mistakenly call me the school nurse. I am quick to correct that although I am a nurse in the school, I am not the school nurse.
If OP's school is calling her the school nurse, then they are not being honest with the parents. That is a big deal.
OMG You guys way to down her profession half of these replies are related to her title and why she THINKS she is a nurse and not the issue. My school secretary gives meds when I am absent just takes a little training and also Certified medical Technician give meds all the time. I have a class of kindergartens that call me a doctor I wont dare waste my breath to correct them each an every time.
I would. I didn't go to medical school and respect those that do. Even would tell the little ones as they might continue to call me doctor as they move along.
This thread points out liability that might occur, not necessarily the OP is calling herself a nurse. She appears to know that difference and remind people of it.
Does your secretary give prescription meds or OTC? While you can train 5 rights, you cannot train a person to assess and make a nursing judgement that isn't a nurse - it isn't their scope.
OMG You guys way to down her profession half of these replies are related to her title and why she THINKS she is a nurse and not the issue. My school secretary gives meds when I am absent just takes a little training and also Certified medical Technician give meds all the time. I have a class of kindergartens that call me a doctor I wont dare waste my breath to correct them each an every time.
You should correct them. They should know they have a School Nurse and not a School Doctor.
And your secretary may not be able to pass meds unless she took course or training signed off by a nurse.
I think we've been pretty supportive of OP, all things considered.
I mean how far do you go though. do you change the slips that say send to school nurse or everytime someone calls you the school nurse you remind them that your "just a Certified Medical Assistant" who wants to hear that all day. As long as she does not personally misrepresent herself.
I mean how far do you go though. do you change the slips that say send to school nurse or everytime someone calls you the school nurse you remind them that your "just a Certified Medical Assistant" who wants to hear that all day. As long as she dose not personally misrepresent herself.
No one is picking on the OP. She has been very clear about not misrepresenting herself, she says.
And yea, I would call myself a Health Aide or whatever if I was not a nurse working in a school.
and I have corrected them but stopped after week 9. "hi doctor, Hi doctor" I'm not a doctor im the nurse with a smiling face gets old pretty quick and I am sure they know that im a nurse And I don't know what your response to her was. My observation was that it became a discussion about titles instead of helping with her original issue. And are policy states that a willing staff member can give meds if they do and inservice and they have to do it ever so often
and I have corrected them but stopped after week 9. "hi doctor, Hi doctor" I'm not a doctor im the nurse with a smiling face gets old pretty quick and I am sure they know that im a nurse And I don't know what your response to her was. My observation was that it became a discussion about titles instead of helping with her original issue. And are policy states that a willing staff member can give meds if they do and inservice and they have to do it ever so often
We have directed her to the rest of the site, a vast treasure trove of information. It is what I did when I started as a school nurse. The OP is not being attacked by those who are school nurses, the real nasty statements were made from nurses outside of the school nurse specialty. Seems to be a hot button for nurses in general, and pulls them in from the general site.
Seems to be a hot button for nurses in general, and pulls them in from the general site.
Darn right this is a hot topic. At least for me it is. I get highly offended/annoyed when MAs get called nurses. Happens on a daily basis and it seems to be happening a lot from doctors!! I worked insanely hard to get my degree and would appreciate it if other people in the medical profession recognized that. I'm not saying I don't value my MAs. Would just be nice if the general public and others would notice the difference. One of the hospitals here have gone to color coding the staff so that the patient could be able to tell the nurse from the housekeeper and so on.
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tonih79, LPN
42 Posts
OMG You guys way to down her profession half of these replies are related to her title and why she THINKS she is a nurse and not the issue. My school secretary gives meds when I am absent just takes a little training and also Certified medical Technician give meds all the time. I have a class of kindergartens that call me a doctor I wont dare waste my breath to correct them each an every time.