Medication refills

iggywench, BSN, RN · Mar 7, 2016

I try to call parents when there are about 5 pills left, and again when there is 1. I also let the students know daily how many pills are left when they are getting low. If the parents let the medication run out, I'll have the student call home when they come in to take it and there are none left. I also email the teachers if a student runs out of medication, so they are aware why behavior might be different that day.

Windchaser22 · Mar 7, 2016

Document every call. Is it the same students each time? Maybe it's an insurance issue ($$) or that they need to be seen before a renewal is authorized. Some Pharma, as you probably know, will discount or offer coupons for low income.

abc123RN · Mar 7, 2016

I try to call when I have a week's worth of meds. Some parents bring the meds right in, others get daily calls until I get what the student needs. And I always document the calls for meds, parents response to the call or lack of response.

nursetlm, ADN · Mar 7, 2016

We can only keep a 10 day supply at a time for our kiddos. (KG and 1st grade) So, I have a med refill form I send home in their backpacks about 2-3 days prior. It works pretty good so far.

kidzcare · Mar 8, 2016

We can only keep a 10 day supply at a time for our kiddos. (KG and 1st grade) So, I have a med refill form I send home in their backpacks about 2-3 days prior. It works pretty good so far.

Yikes! You must be calling every week for different kids! Depending on how many daily meds you have. I have 15+

I call at 4-5 pills left. I posted before how I am getting a backlash from some parents since the last nurse apparently did not enforce the "a parent has to bring in the medication" law.

Eleven011 · Mar 8, 2016

Yes, I document every call right in the medication log, I have 23 daily medications, and its usually the same group of students. I don't think its an insurance issue, more laziness or poor planning or apathy. I don't have a limit on the number of doses I can keep - loving the parents that bring me in a full 30 day supply straight from the pharmacy (they don't medicate on non school days). And I have thought about drafting a note/letter, but I'm not sure they would get seen on time, as many parents don't look through backpacks every night

nursetlm, ADN · Mar 8, 2016

I'm really lucky as I only have 6 daily meds kiddos. The rest are all PRN epis, zyrtec, inhalers, nebs, and seizure meds.

DEgalRN · Mar 8, 2016

I send a letter when I have a week left of meds. That way they have the refill paperwork that needs to be filled out, too.

txbootsy · Mar 8, 2016

You can't do anything but call and tell the student. The parents know that their kids are on a scheduled med.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Mar 8, 2016

I only have 2 meds, one of which is my kid. I text the mom or grab her while she is volunteering.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Mar 9, 2016

i try to call when i get down to about 5 doses. if it's an older child, i tell them too to relay a message. When the bottle goes empty, i send it home as the "final notice". I am really lucky this year to have some really on the ball parents with that! :up: