Parents won't send inhaler to school

[pvtschoolnurse]

Hi everyone,

I have a first grade student with asthma. I asked his mother twice this year to send in his inhaler. His father had to pick up the child today because he was sick. I asked the father if the student was still using the inhaler and if they would please send one to school. The dad replied "we do not like giving him any medicine" and implied that they were not going to send in an inhaler. Do you have any waiver/form that you have a parent sign so that the school is not held liable? Any wording/phrasing would be helpful!!

Thanks so much,

Marcy

[pvtschoolnurse]

Here is an update. The mom took him to the doctor's office this morning and he was prescribed 2 meds in ADDITION to his inhaler. Mom came to school and dropped off the inhaler. Funny how things work out.

[smily nurse, BSN, RN]

Depending on where you live; this sounds like a call to child protective services!!!

[NYnursejo]

I tend to call the PMD and tell them I received their med order but parent has been non-compliant with dropping off med...and of DOCUMENT. If I don't have orders and I have a documented history from the MD of asthma and that child has made one to many visits to the health office, I will call MD and ask them to discuss an asthma action plan with parent on next visit, I even fax them blank Med sheets to initiate the process...We have to advocate for these kids as much as we can.

[NYnursejo]

I will call Md and tell them I have a med order without the med d/t parent non-compliance and DOCUMENT. If I have a student with a documented history of asthma and he/she has had one too many visits to the health office and parent yes's u to death or doesnt follow thru, I will speak to the MD about considering an asthma action plan on their next visit and explaning the importance of it to them, I will even fax the med sheet to initiate the process, ultimately if falls on the parent, we have to advocate as much as we can for these kids.

[conscientiousnurse]

In WA state, (where I am), there is a life-threatening conditions law which requires parents to have a medical order and the medication or treatment and/or emergency care plan in the school before they will be allowed to come. They can be excluded from school for non-compliance if their child has life-threatening condition like asthma or anaphylaxis. For those who used to have such a medication/plan at school and no longer require one, we have a form letter which is to be signed by parent and medical provider. Although it's still hard to enforce things when you're trying to keep kids in school, and are working with office staff who let them in without following procedure, it's probably much easier than in other states.