Pittsburg in the news

Farawyn · Sep 19, 2017

We have RTs that pop into this thread from time to time to warn us of that very thing.

Ugh. The poor kid.

OldDude · Sep 19, 2017

I agree. Something isn't being reported correctly or something is omitted.

Here is an example of my last post on the Insurance thread. All someone has to do is accuse you of something and you are immediately convicted in the media with the onus on you to prove yourself innocent; being too late to salvage anything by then.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Sep 19, 2017

All someone has to do is accuse you of something and you are immediately convicted in the media with the onus on you to prove yourself innocent; being too late to salvage anything by then.

That right there.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Sep 19, 2017

Yikes.

I never withhold an inhaler even if the kids seems perfectly fine. That said, and it's easy to play Monday Morning Quarterback...the kid didn't have the proper paperwork filled out. And then it's somehow the nurses fault. The parent didn't do HER job. So, if it had been me and the child was seemingly fine, I'm talking VS, WOB, lung sounds, and if the kid had the original box with his name and directions, I probably would've given him a dose, regardless. If just a random inhaler I would've called mom and said "Johnny said he feels like he can't catch his breath, this is what I observed, if you feel like he needs his inhaler you will need to come and give him a dose or I can call EMS." Had he been struggling, I would've given him a dose. I'm not letting a kid struggle over paperwork.

BUT, this is why it is so important to have your child's paper work completed. Don't put it on someone else, and then blame them for doing what they are legally supposed to do. What would this mom say if the inhaler hadn't been his, but Uncle Joe's and the nurse gave him a dose and he had some sort of reaction.

GdBSN, RN · Sep 19, 2017

^^^Yes!^^^ If this student has had this condition since 1st grade, why did Mom not have the proper paper work completed in the clinic. Parents get lazy and don't do what they are supposed to, and then want to blame someone when something happens. Our policy clearly states, that a student is not to have an inhaler at school unless proper documentation has been submitted. Not to say, I would not let them use there inhaler if they were having an asthma attack and address the paperwork issue with parents when they came to pick them up. Technically, I could probably lose my job for letting them use the inhaler, but I guess I would take that chance if the attack was severe enough.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Sep 19, 2017

And it seems that when they get to HS, all bets are off for paperwork....I am chasing paper ALL. DAY. LONG!!!!

That said, I would much rather they have the inhaler than the paperwork, but one can only hope the inhaler is the one prescribed to them and that it is not expired! :no:

Farawyn · Sep 19, 2017

And it seems that when they get to HS, all bets are off for paperwork....I am chasing paper ALL. DAY. LONG!!!!
That said, I would much rather they have the inhaler than the paperwork, but one can only hope the inhaler is the one prescribed to them and that it is not expired!

Yes. What paperwork?

GdBSN, RN · Sep 19, 2017

And it seems that when they get to HS, all bets are off for paperwork....I am chasing paper ALL. DAY. LONG!!!!
That said, I would much rather they have the inhaler than the paperwork, but one can only hope the inhaler is the one prescribed to them and that it is not expired!

This is the issue I have in HS also. I have told my teachers to never deny a student use of their inhaler if they need it in class. Then send them to the clinic if they don't have a self-carry form on file.

OyWithThePoodles, RN · Sep 19, 2017

I can't tell you how many times a kid has come up with something like hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion asking me to put it on. I'm like "UGH!! If only you would've sneaked into the bathroom like any other kid and put it on without me knowing! Now I gotta call yer Momma."

WineRN · Sep 19, 2017

And it seems that when they get to HS, all bets are off for paperwork....I am chasing paper ALL. DAY. LONG!!!!
That said, I would much rather they have the inhaler than the paperwork, but one can only hope the inhaler is the one prescribed to them and that it is not expired!

I've posted before about my little one who came in with a family members inhaler and when I called and explained to mom I couldn't use it, she FREAKED out because she felt I was withholding life living treatment from her daughter. Now I am lucky to have standing order albuterol here, but I HATE telling that to certain parents because then they feel like they are off the hook for getting me their child's actual medication.

BeckyESRN · Sep 19, 2017

I can't tell you how many times a kid has come up with something like hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion asking me to put it on. I'm like "UGH!! If only you would've sneaked into the bathroom like any other kid and put it on without me knowing! Now I gotta call yer Momma."

More than once I've said "Don't tell me about them, don't share them and don't cause problems in class with them" in reference to cough drops. I don't want to know! Just keep 'em in your pocket and don't cause a scene with 'em.

On topic; I wouldn't withhold an inhaler over paperwork. I would call and say "Little Johnny is here with an inhaler and he feels like he needs to use it. I wanted to confirm that this is his and he's okay to use it since we have no documentation on file" I feel like something is missing from this story.