OTC Meds for School Staff

[ro2878, ADN, BSN]

Anybody have a “nice way” to inform staff at our back to school staff meeting next week that the nurse is no longer giving them OTC meds?

In our district we have some nurses who believe it is part of their job duty to help staff since these nurses consider staff as part of the “community” but I am more worried about liability risk. We even had a speaker at our state nurse conf a few years ago say we shouldn’t even be taking a BP for staff. I get that we need to treat and help in event worksite injury....

As it is, I won’t even take the med out of the med cab - I just point to the cab and tell staff to help themselves. Besides liability risk, I am getting tired of those staff members who are frequent fliers, those who interrupt my prep or lunch, and those who can’t accept that we are not their primary care providers! Geez, c’mon people - you are adults and I am not your mother! Keep meds in your purse or run out during your lunch for them.

I would like to tell staff they can keep a supply of OTC meds in the lounge and help themselves. I do not want to be responsible for purchasing or restocking.

Sorry for the length of this and I appreciate any suggestions on how to nicely tell staff.

[beekee]

“Sorry, it wasn’t in the budget this year.”

[Eleven011]

I've never had much of a problem with this. My office has never stocked OTC meds for staff and I'm not about to bring up the possibility. It would either have to come out of my budget or my own wallet, neither option I like. I do always have my own supply of motrin/tums in my purse for me or my kids and I am more than happy to share if a staff comes down desperately looking for something for a headache or some such thing. I make sure they know its mine and not stock and they are always very grateful and its really a rare happening.

[halohg, RN]

I like the idea of moving the existing supply to a cabinet in the staff lounge. Maybe ask the sunshine fund to make donations to the “med closet”. I don’t stock, and refer them to the main office staff to see if anyone has anything they are willing to share. I do take BPs if requested but always refer to their primary care. We do not have access to everything for a complete health profile to give an opinion.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

I am asking the Sunshine Committee for a few things. But "Sorry, not in the budget" works great! At my previous school we did have extra budget money and I could afford to be kind (as well as stock aspirin justincase anyone stroked out). Here - nope!

I respect your concern that having OTC medication implies. I don't know I'd feel comfortable having a supply of OTC med in a non-locked room (and our staff room is unlocked). Something for me to think about.

[ro2878, ADN, BSN]

Thanks all!

Staff was receptive to the idea and I told them I will set up initial stock and then after that, they are on their own to replenish.

I did think of the unlocked cabinet thing with regards to kiddos ever being in the lounge and not sure yet how we will handle. I may put the meds in a closet behind the front office secretary desks. The closet is unlocked by the secretaries in the morning and locked at night. Students have no access to the closet.

[linda1959]

I have concerns about you facilitating or approving of setting up med storage somewhere in the school that is not always locked. Standard of care and safety says medication is always locked.

I know you said it is behind the secretary desk and no one has access. But unless you can guarantee that no student WILL EVER have access to the cabinet, it's a set up for a problem. And since you are not monitoring it and are trusting the secretary to do it, you cannot guarantee 100% it is a safe environment.

Think about it . . . a student who is thinking of self-harm somehow manages to access the cabinet (lets be honest . . .they are crafty.) The student takes an overdose of Tylenol. First thing anyone will say is, "why was there a supply of unlocked medications a student could access?" Do you really want to say that you stocked that cabinet, knowing it was not going to be locked at all times?

You have given the staff ample warning of the need to provide their own OTC's. That's where it should stop.

And an issue on a far less important side . . . to the secretaries REALLY want increased traffic in their space for staff needing to access the cabinet?