New School Nurse Diastat Training and so much more

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Hello I am a new nurse and a new school nurse. I am supposed to be providing the teaching staff with Diastat training and do not have a training kit. I have training manuals and everything else but I don't have a practice Diastat pen. I went to the epilepsy site and they told me they were on back order but I have several schools who have already made appointments to train the entire staff. Help!!!!!!!

I walked into this job with no guidance and have been working extra hard to try to figure things out. Any advice on anything would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

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Be sure that teachers are allowed to administer Diastat in your school. It is a controlled substance.

In most schools, no one "lesser" than an RN may administer.

Medication Administration in the School Setting (Amended January 2

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Thank you so much for the link and advice. I am in Wisconsin and with the proper training teachers are able to administer this medication. I only feel so nervous because I don't have everything I need for the training and this will be my first time.

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There are multiple youtube videos instructing on diastat use. One is actually from Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction. We always have our teachers/aides view the video along with our instruction.

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

I don't know what state you're in but here is the Texas BON statement.

RN Delegation to Unlicensed PersonnelDue to the growing number of students entering the school system with special health care needs, the BON recognizes that not all health-related services can be provided by a RN or LVN. Therefore, the RN may delegate tasks in the school setting in compliance with the BON's Delegation Rules located in Chapters 224 and 225. School is considered an independent living environment as defined in Chapter 2253; however, acute or emergency situations in the school setting may be delegated in accordance with the rules in both Chapter 224 and Chapter 225. For example, the RN may decide to delegate to an unlicensed person, the emergency administration of Epi-pens, Glucagon, Diastat, oxygen, metered dose inhalers, or nebulizer treatments for the relief of acute respiratory symptoms and the use of a hand held magnet to activate a vagus nerve stimulator to prevent or control seizure activity under 22 TAC §224.6(4) in order to stabilize the child and prevent complications from delaying treatment. The decision to delegate a specific task is always at the discretion of the RN in accordance with 22 TAC §224.8(b)(1)© or 22 TAC §225.9(d).

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In our state a law was passed a few years back that teachers could be trained in giving diazepam (Valium) and Epi Pens.

However, the teachers have to volunteer to be trained and here in my state, the majority of teachers will not place a rectal suppository.

They are so over-mandated about child sexual abuse from teachers . . .that they can't even give a kid a hug front-to-front, only side to side.

I was not able to get one teacher to do this.

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Steph: It is not in their contact.

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Steph: It is not in their contact.

Oh, I know.

Honestly, I do have issues with teaching non-medical people about medical things.

And I do understand that teachers have a huge load of bureaucratic nonsense they have to contend with and to add medical stuff as well is just silly and wrong.

But . . . that's another subject all together. :sarcastic:

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I don't mind Epi Pens.

Diastat?

No.

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I don't mind Epi Pens.

Diastat?

No.

Agreed!

With Diastat you must assess, and a healthcare assessment is a NURSING function. Where I work, only the nurse administers Diastat.

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We have special ed classes that go for community based instruction a minimum of one day a week. They may all be gone on the same day to 3 different locations. We have no choice but to train the teachers and aides how to administer any and all medications.

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We have special ed classes that go for community based instruction a minimum of one day a week. They may all be gone on the same day to 3 different locations. We have no choice but to train the teachers and aides how to administer any and all medications.

If that happens here, the aides in the class go as well. I will say that Special Ed teachers and aides do volunteer to get training or maybe they can be mandated in a way other teachers cannot due to special laws regarding Special Ed.

I'm not sure about the details though. I just know an aide goes with the kids. And there are a bunch of aides helping out the teachers.

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