packing medications for overnight field trips

[HAPPYNPROUD]

I'd appreciate all responses....I am a school nurse where we have residential and day students. When packing meds for overnight field trips, is it customary to pack all doses in the same envelope of different medications or is sending the "bubblepack" or bottle of meds the more common acceptable form of sending multiple doses on these trips. Some of the nurses feel as though sending all doses of meds (example 8pm doses of Lamictal, Risperdal, Clonidine, etc) in one envelope is considered "dispensing" meds and acting out of our scope of practice (in a manner similar to a pharmacist). We do instruct whatever staff is attending the outing in the administration of these meds.

Can someone lead me to a website that possibly covers this issue?

Thank you

[MomNRN, BSN, RN]

I'd appreciate all responses....I am a school nurse where we have residential and day students. When packing meds for overnight field trips, is it customary to pack all doses in the same envelope of different medications or is sending the "bubblepack" or bottle of meds the more common acceptable form of sending multiple doses on these trips. Some of the nurses feel as though sending all doses of meds (example 8pm doses of Lamictal, Risperdal, Clonidine, etc) in one envelope is considered "dispensing" meds and acting out of our scope of practice (in a manner similar to a pharmacist). We do instruct whatever staff is attending the outing in the administration of these meds.

Can someone lead me to a website that possibly covers this issue?

Thank you

Lorri -

I realize it has been a month since you posted this question, but I thought I would post a reply anyway.

At the residential facility where I worked, we would use small, med envelopes for each timed dose. One dose was marked Friday - 5:30 pm, Saturday - 7:30 am, etc. All pills required for that time frame were in the envelope. The envelope also indicated what pill and dosage were inside. Each days envelopes were then placed in a zip-lock sandwich bag marked with the day the pills were for. Finally, all sandwich bags were placed in another bag.

I have not been advised that this method is considered dispensing. This is exactly what our school requires for day trips as well. I can't imagine sending home an individual envelope for each individual med. It seems your chances of missing a med would increase.

Hope this helped!