medication on busses

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I was wondering what other schools did in regards to students bringing medication to school on the bus? I have sent letters home and even went into every classroom telling students that their parents had to bring in their medication to me and I still get students coming to me off the bus with their meds even after I tell the parents they have to bring it in, so frustrating.. Oh and these are 2nd-5th graders.

Thank You!

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I hope someone has an answer to this. At least 2 times a year I send out a reminder email (in addition to my beginning of the year announcement and our handbook) that students can ONLY transport emergency medications (epi pens and inhalers) and parents must bring in any other medication with proper documentation. I still have students come in with antibiotics or a couple pills in a bag with a note to "Please give at noon" So frustrating.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

My answer is I can only control medication going "out" of the school and have no control over what comes 'in" to the school. So I don't worry about it; the parents are responsible for what their children bring onto school property so I can only request their cooperation - I can't force their cooperation. But, once the medicine gets into my hands it's not leaving this school unless a parents picks it up.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i have made the exact same statement. I have no control over what comes in the building. It's aggravating to get the ziplock with the unmarked pill in it and post it stating "please give at 10 am thanks, mom" to which I make the "are you kidding me" phone call.

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I'd like a system where I send any medication brought in by students to the district office and parents can pick it up there. Maybe if I make it that inconvenient, a lesson will be learned.... Although, realistically, I'm sure kids are bringing in medicine every day. I just won't look in the lockers.

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Specializes in School nursing.
My answer is I can only control medication going "out" of the school and have no control over what comes 'in" to the school. So I don't worry about it; the parents are responsible for what their children bring onto school property so I can only request their cooperation - I can't force their cooperation. But, once the medicine gets into my hands it's not leaving this school unless a parents picks it up.

Yep. The teachers here are pretty good, they see a kid with med that hasn't gone through me, they flag it and send the kid my way. Of course, I deal with the older kids that get themselves to and from school. If the kid didn't bring the bottle, I'd never get it! But I still only accept it in original bottle with signed doctor's order, permission from parent. And if it is a new order and the parent/guardian and I have never connected about its arrival prior to it showing it, even with all paperwork in hand, I call the parent before giving it.

I still get baggies with pills in them from time to time, of course. :banghead:

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Ok, I guess I wont stress over it to much, we just had an incident on the bus where a student gave another student a Sudafed type pill and I just worry about all the ADD/ADHD medicine that is a controlled substance getting in the wrong hands. Thank you for your input!!

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Specializes in Community Health/School Nursing.

Our school has a no tolerance policy with medications being brought in by the students. Now, we all know that it is mostly the parents when it comes to elementary school kids and they are doing what the parents are asking BUT if I know a parent has intentionally defied me I will take the student and med to the principals office and let them call the parent and threaten suspension. This always does the trick. In fact, one child did get suspended due to the parent sending the medication regardless of our policy and out right knowing she was told NOT to send it through the child. The teacher found the medication (not me) and I told her to take it to the Principal that I was over it.

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Specializes in kids.
Our school has a no tolerance policy with medications being brought in by the students. Now, we all know that it is mostly the parents when it comes to elementary school kids and they are doing what the parents are asking BUT if I know a parent has intentionally defied me I will take the student and med to the principals office and let them call the parent and threaten suspension. This always does the trick. In fact, one child did get suspended due to the parent sending the medication regardless of our policy and out right knowing she was told NOT to send it through the child. The teacher found the medication (not me) and I told her to take it to the Principal that I was over it.

Some folks just don't get it...I try to frame it like this...."so if your child drops his meds and someone else takes them and dies from an allergic reaction, how will you respond to that?"

THAT usually gets their attention, especially when I remind them how HS kids are great risk takers. and that MS kids (they share the same busses) are easily coerced into "trying" something by other kids....

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My answer is I can only control medication going "out" of the school and have no control over what comes 'in" to the school. So I don't worry about it; the parents are responsible for what their children bring onto school property so I can only request their cooperation - I can't force their cooperation. But, once the medicine gets into my hands it's not leaving this school unless a parents picks it up.

Yes to this ^^^^. I am at an elementary school so kids don't get into trouble when this happens but when it happens at the high school level = zero tolerance. Those kids get into trouble.

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