The school district my child goes to has a CNA in the school clinic, who refers to herself as "The school Nurse". I thought she was either an LVN or RN until last week when she had me come pick up my child from school. She had a little nausea but, she said she needed to stay out for two days due to a small rash on her face that she diagnosed as "Wingworm"! She told me to get an over-the-counter anti-fungal and treat for two days when she would be allowed to return to school! (I think that is practicing medicine w/o a license?!) I asked did she mean ringworm-she said no, wingworm...so, I had her write that down on the standard form they use when children are sent hm. Maybe the school board is exempt from following the law?!
Well, I took her to our family Doctor who said, she doesn't have ringworm-it's impetigo and prescribed bactriban.
My beef is that the teachers even refer to her as the school nurse-I wonder if
they even know the difference between an LVN or RN and a CNA? I sent a letter to the Assistant Superintendant for the district but, have not heard a reply. I think I am no different than most of you who have worked hard for your RN or LVN license and earn the respect of being called a "Nurse". I was a CNA before I was an LPN and have now been an RN over 20 yrs. As a CNA, I knew my place and my limits of practice. Any other parent or Nurse concerned about this?
I think you are assuming that the secretary, etc., does have training.
I'm assuming that a school that formally designates an aide or secretary to be responsible for a child's medication during the school day would try to legally protect themselves with a formal policy on it that includes "instructing" that person on the administration of that medication. In practice, that instruction might not be more than "Here, keep this in your drawer and give it Johnny if he asks for it." Again, I'm not saying it's right or safe. I was just pointing out that it wouldn't be a strong argument to say "If your child was in the hospital, you would have a fit if the cleaning lady came in the room to give your child their medicine."
If they DO have a uh, policy of instructing, such info should be available upon request (and your lawyer could easily get that). I'd be impressed if they are instructed, tho.
Thank ALL of you for your support and posts!! I still haven't finished reading them all yet!-The main concern I have is what most of you have said...a child OR a teacher could be improperly assessed due to the CNA's lack of training and end up very sick or even dead!?
I considered applying for a job as a school nurse, but I felt that it was a huge responsibility and I didn't have enough (any ) experience. Well, guess what--it is a huge responsibility! Duh! There was a child in our school district that had kidney problems, nobody knew about it. Guess who figured out there was a problem--the school NURSE. (can't remember if it was LPN/RN). Anyway, the nurse strongly suggested that parents follow up with an MD, turned out that the kid needed an emergency kidney transplant. Good call nurse! School nurses might be the only healthcare/health education that some of these kids get. I'd definitely follow up on this. I'm sure there are plenty of other situations when a school nurse "saved the day."
Specializes in OB, critical care, hospice, farm/industr.
Somewhat in the same vein: Vet techs who call themselves "nurses". When you get a college degree in animal nursing, either a AD, BS, MS or a PhD and pass a nationally applied exam, have a Board of Animal Nursing in each state and publish THEN you can call yourself a nurse.
It frosts my cupcake to hear people say, "Oh yes, I'm an animal nurse." ARGH!
Ps...I just got a BIG scare and a good laugh. I got to thinking that this is the first year my dd has gone to this school and I've never checked out her school nurse. So I go to the staff list on the website and it lists her name, nothing else. Then I thought I'd just look through the rest of the list of staff to see if I knew anybody. Well...the nurse and the CUSTODIAN have very similar names and of course I thought--for the briefest second--that they were the same person. Turns out the nurse has been an LPN for 30+ years. What a relief! And what a giant dork I am!
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I have a friend who is an EMT that got hired to be a school nurse about 6 years ago. Have not heard from her since, but it does make me wonder how she functioned there. I don't know the course description of the EMT, but, I don't immediately recall if they are able to administer medications (I know that paramedics can, though), and other things that a nurse may need to do. This is a thread that takes on many different names and always brings passionate comments.
Report this person and the school to THE BOARD OF NURSING. It is the board's job to protect the public from such matters. They will absolutely investigate and send a cease and desist letter. Please do this. It is misleading, dangerous and illegal. No harm will come if they quit doing it.
My 6 year old diabetic granddaughter will be entering public school in the fall and the person responsible for giving her insulin is the school secretary!!!. Not in this lifetime!!!!!!!!! To my knowledge there is no law that states there must be a licensed nurse at the school when children are there.(at least not in Louisiana).
) experience. Well, guess what--it is a huge responsibility! Duh! There was a child in our school district that had kidney problems, nobody knew about it. Guess who figured out there was a problem--the school NURSE. (can't remember if it was LPN/RN). Anyway, the nurse strongly suggested that parents follow up with an MD, turned out that the kid needed an emergency kidney transplant. Good call nurse! School nurses might be the only healthcare/health education that some of these kids get. I'd definitely follow up on this. I'm sure there are plenty of other situations when a school nurse "saved the day."
jjjoy, LPN
2,801 Posts
I'm assuming that a school that formally designates an aide or secretary to be responsible for a child's medication during the school day would try to legally protect themselves with a formal policy on it that includes "instructing" that person on the administration of that medication. In practice, that instruction might not be more than "Here, keep this in your drawer and give it Johnny if he asks for it." Again, I'm not saying it's right or safe. I was just pointing out that it wouldn't be a strong argument to say "If your child was in the hospital, you would have a fit if the cleaning lady came in the room to give your child their medicine."