Medication Changes

Published

Hi everyone!

I work with special needs students who typically have co-morbidities requiring medication. When the parents register their student for the new year, they fill out an online registration form and make any necessary updates. I am finding that the parents glance over the medication section and don't make any changes so the information is becoming inaccurate. Do any of you have the same problem? What do you do to keep record of current medications, etc.?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

How are you discovering the inaccuracies? In my mind, it's the parent's responsibility ESPECIALLY for the kiddos with multiple medical problems! We are just starting to get onboard with online registrations so I haven't run across this yet. I have to trust that what I have in the system is current.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

My district tried online registration for the student health information last year. It was an utter disaster. It was confusing for the parents, "explanations" for conditions did not carry over, and if a parent checked the "ADD/ADHD" box it showed up in their health record as having Cystic Fibrosis. We scrambled back to paper and we started this school year with paper student health information sheets.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I ask parents for physical forms. If the doctor provides their own paperwork, that's fine too, as long as I have a signature from both him and the parent.

I make 1 copy, one for my med binder, and the original one to go in the file of student. I also scan them to my computer

I input the information on Skyward myself, so it can be accurate and I also attach the paperwork that says the diagnosis on the health condition of student on system.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I have never ever really known "current medications," only the medications that I am tasked to give. There's no requirement that the parent share this info in any district I've worked in or lived in. Now that I think of it, I did not update Ruby Jane Junior's form this year to reflect her new meds. But the meds are taken at home, she is fully compliant (mostly), and I can't think of a reason the school would "need" to know.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

hi! working with special needs students we come across a lot of instances where current medication information is needed. If I have to call EMS for an emergency (which has unfortunately happened several times) I have to be able to report their current medication list. Also, when students are having difficult times in school, are in crisis, etc it's important to know their medications so we can help the student get back to their baseline. I also work for a private school and don't follow typical DOE/BOE regulations and it is required information for our parents. Technically these parents are breaching their contract by not providing current information. I agree with many of you that it's ultimately the parents responsibility and i have to trust that the information i have is the most accurate, but admin is now getting involved so i have to start fixing parent problems. Because i'm a nurse for the students, staff, AND parents these days :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For a while we did paper forms, but it got to be so overwhelming with that much paperwork plus having to do my usual nurse duties. So we went to electronic records and still having issues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
hi! working with special needs students we come across a lot of instances where current medication information is needed. If I have to call EMS for an emergency (which has unfortunately happened several times) I have to be able to report their current medication list. Also, when students are having difficult times in school, are in crisis, etc it's important to know their medications so we can help the student get back to their baseline. I also work for a private school and don't follow typical DOE/BOE regulations and it is required information for our parents. Technically these parents are breaching their contract by not providing current information. I agree with many of you that it's ultimately the parents responsibility and i have to trust that the information i have is the most accurate, but admin is now getting involved so i have to start fixing parent problems. Because i'm a nurse for the students, staff, AND parents these days :)

Oh, I don't disagree with you one bit. I am just guilty as well!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree that it's the parent responsibility but unfortunately admin is getting involved and we hold everyone's hands around here.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

Parents complete a new paper copy for each school year. They still don't provide all the info. because they think I "remember" anything or everything they have ever written about a student in the 11 years I have had this job. But, it has worked pretty good so far.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

Maybe a mid-year email that is a friendly reminder to update daily non-school medications that may have been given with a blurb about how it's important in the event EMS is called?

Can be sent to everyone? That way you're touching base but not spending so much time hunting people down.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'd love to know all of the information, but realistically, I know I never will. I make a note if parents tell me about medication, but like Ruby Jane, parents are not required to tell me what their student takes at home.

Also, OD, I feel your pain, when we went to online registration, the information was a complete mess!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion