New School Nurse: Forgot a medication yesterday

[Finally2008]

I have been a school nurse for 2 months now. I am trying to develop a better organization system when it comes to my medications. I missed this medication yesterday because the child typically comes on his own right after lunch and I totally forgot to call him down when he didn't come. (I definitely want to be accountable, but I forgot because I had another student in the clinic at the time with a head injury with dizziness, N/V, ringing in the ears at that time and couldn't get in touch with parents).

What is your system for keeping on top of your meds? What about those who are supposed to come before PE or recess?

[ob-rnc]

First off, don't beat yourself up about this, you're human and you're only one person. I'm sure his/her parents have missed an occasional dose of meds as well.:) Also, if the medication was for behavior issues or ADHD, I'm sure the teachers would have noticed if the one missed dose was causing a difference in the student's classroom behavior/performance and reminded him/her that they needed to visit the nurse. I usually send a note or call the parent to tell them I missed a dose and apologize and without breaking privacy laws just say it was a chaotic day or that there was an emergency I was tending to, etc.. That being said, I will get teachers involved in this as well. For example, ask the teacher who has the student at the time his meds are due to remind him to come see you. They still occasionally forget too but between the two of us plus the student, someone remembers. Two heads are better than one.

Hope this helps!

[rdsxfnrn]

I set the alarm clock on my phone for every med I need to give. It is very annoying. : )

[bell1962]

I make a new list each day and check them off as i give them

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

It happens, we're human. I try to call as soon as i realize i've done it so the parents can get the child back on track.

I like my healthmaster software because i can program it to give me a list of meds and procedures (blood sugars, etc) for the day and what time thay're due. It's hard to ignore that list when it's staring me in the face all day. If you don't have a program that does a "to do" list for you, you can certainly make one up your self and cross people off as they come in. The bolder the lost, the less likely you are to ignore it.

The ones that I do occasionally have a hard time with is when I have to give a PRN on a schedule for a few days (like an inhaler for a day or two d/t a cold)- that requires bright post its and alarms set on my iPhone so I won't forget.

[Wave Watcher]

I have a small dry erase board in front of my desk (basically in my face)...I write down times and initials of students I need to see each day as scheduled. Then mark them off as I do each one.

The way I see it is.....I have 500 students....there is ONE of me.....the child should be held accountable also for not going to nurses office if that's the norm and the child is capable of remembering.

[coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN]

I have a medication error form that I use for extra documentation. I also call the parents right away and I make sure to document the conversation on the form.

[fetch, BSN, RN]

I have a post-it with times and first names right at the bottom of my computer monitor - that way I never lose it, I can always remind myself "who am I supposed to see today?"

I like the whiteboard idea though, I'm going to have to use that for when I start doing screenings next week and will be out of the clinic more frequently.

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

I leave up my medication log in SNAP all day so it is staring me in the face. The color-coding of helps me see what I may have missed.

Additionally, I have weekly pill boxes for each student that I fill every Friday after school for the upcoming week. I do a review in the morning, midday and just before the bell of any pills left in Monday slots, for example, just in case I missed something when the avalanche of kids hits (which it always does) :).

[SchoolNurseTXstyle]

I have colored note cards cut in thirds. Each grade has their own color card. I have the student's name, the time they get their medication and the room number of their classroom where they are located at med time.

They sit right next to my computer. In the morning i flip them up, as the student comes in, i flip them over.

[Wave Watcher]

We use SNAP also and you can set alarm reminders for meds also. I know there are several useful functions on SNAP but I have yet to use them all.

[abc123RN]

I work as a sub for our school nurses and most of the regulars have a list inside the medication cabinet with times meds are due. I copy those down, put it on the computer and as the students come in I can check them off. If they don't come in then I have access to the student schedules and call the classroom. In the schools that don't have the list already, I have to check the MAR each time I work for them and make my own list.