It never ceases to amaze me that parents who knew their kiddos needed paper work filled out every year starting in PRE-K, for their inhaler and asthma action plan, their Epi pen and allergy action plan, their insulin, glucagon and diabetic care plan, seem to forget this when they are in HS.
As many non school nurses visit this awesome forum, I would really love some feed back as to what your perspective is on this. Do you feel as though this paper work is not needed/unnecessary in high school? Do you have the flexibility in your jobs to blow off paperwork regulations?
There are rules and regulations and policies for us. Are you allowed to give meds without orders? How do you handle it?
Blows my mind every year. I mailed out diabetic care plans and allergy action plans (relatively small numbers) and they are still dribbling in. I have not even attacked the asthma plans...
This is in addition to already having posted it on the website and reminded parents in the opening of the year email updates the parents get. The forms are available on line. I'm not sure what more I can do.
Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.
I had that issue last year, now this year is a bunch of papers signed with nothing on them, because parent didn't read that it was only for medication that is needed at school and must be signed by parent and physician, not if I can have permission to give medication to your child. So you can imagine how many parents were a bit angry when i called when their child felt sick and I told them I can't give them any medication. "But I signed that paper!" That still doesn't count, ma'am.
But I did get the papers signed for actually NEEDED medications. I had them all signed and taken care of.
As a nurse, I do think we have a different personality when it comes to paperwork. I have never been late with my daughter's and I always check everything before sending it.
But then there is sweet Mr Wine, who is one of the smartest men I know 99% of the time, who just doesn't feel like he has the time for turning in pieces of paperwork. We are taking a vacation in October. I submitted everything back in august, he will hopefully remember to do it today since i packed a note in his lunchbox saying "VACATION REQUEST" in big bold letters.
I do get how some parents just honestly need constant reminders because they may not get a break in their day to call their kids pediatrician for an updated action plan.
What gets me a little frustrated is when my 5th grade parents acts like I am asking them to cut off their own pinky when I request any sort of form (the same one they have turned in for the past 5 years). Or when they are SHOCKED that I can't give Delsyum without a doctors order...despite being pretty darn sure we had the same conversation last year.
As a nurse, I do think we have a different personality when it comes to paperwork. I have never been late with my daughter's and I always check everything before sending it.
But then there is sweet Mr Wine, who is one of the smartest men I know 99% of the time, who just doesn't feel like he has the time for turning in pieces of paperwork. We are taking a vacation in October. I submitted everything back in august, he will hopefully remember to do it today since i packed a note in his lunchbox saying "VACATION REQUEST" in big bold letters.
I do get how some parents just honestly need constant reminders because they may not get a break in their day to call their kids pediatrician for an updated action plan.
What gets me a little frustrated is when my 5th grade parents acts like I am asking them to cut off their own pinky when I request any sort of form (the same one they have turned in for the past 5 years). Or when they are SHOCKED that I can't give Delsyum without a doctors order...despite being pretty darn sure we had the same conversation last year.
Exactly! and the rules dont change just because they are driving and not as dependant on parents!!!
Um, This girl is NOT withholding an Epipen or inhaler, ever....What would YOU say as the parent of a kid with a presribed MDI or EPI pen and I did not give it due to a lack of paperwork?
Here is my standard for the inavailability of meds that I have requested twice:
EMS is a 12 minute response to the school, brain death occurs after 4 minutes. Please make those 8 minutes easier to handle by equipping me with the proper tools to treat your child.
Either the parent minimizes the severity or the child really doesn't need it.
I personally drive to each doctors office, wait to see the doctor to fill out the forms, swing by the parents house for their written permission, swing by CVS to get the prescribed med, (pay for it) and then bring it back to my office. I want to make it as easy as possible for my snowflakes and their snow flake parents, cause remember we work for them.
*** if you cannot tell this is complete sarcasm, you shouldn't be in school nursing
Emergent care falls under different rules (at least here) from other things. An Epipen or Inhaler or Glucagon in a severe hypoglycemic sistuation we can act on without explicit order.
Everything else needs the paper. Most meds come to me along with the paper (they get delivered together). Still, it sometimes is a bit of a paper chase at the beginning of the year (especially when things are dropped off before the first day I'm paid to be there). Sure wish they'd authorize a few extra weeks on both ends of the year for us to handle such.
Got my first "forged" parent signature (at least the first I knew about) the other day. I found out when I called the parent afterward. Fortunately, they knew about it but apparently the student neglected to bring the form for signature and managed to get someoen (girlfriend?) to do a passable parental signature.
Amethya
1,821 Posts
I had that issue last year, now this year is a bunch of papers signed with nothing on them, because parent didn't read that it was only for medication that is needed at school and must be signed by parent and physician, not if I can have permission to give medication to your child. So you can imagine how many parents were a bit angry when i called when their child felt sick and I told them I can't give them any medication. "But I signed that paper!" That still doesn't count, ma'am.
But I did get the papers signed for actually NEEDED medications. I had them all signed and taken care of.