Medical Assistant as school nurse

Farawyn · Feb 10, 2016

Do you have an RN overseeing you?

nortonplusRN · Feb 10, 2016

Good afternoon all,
I am a Certified Medical Assistant who is currently being working as the school nurse at a charter school for 6th-12th grade. I just started this position a few months ago. The previous 'School nurse' was not at all experienced in the medical field and I feel a bit overwhelmed at times because I do not have prior training in this area. I was thrown to the lions. The kids are thankfully well behaved but it can still be frustrating some times. I would appreciate any pointers or tips on anything really.
Thank you and have a wonderful evening!

You are not a nurse. How can they call you a "school nurse"? I believe it is against the law to call yourself a nurse when you don't hold either an LPN or RN license.

smileitout · Feb 10, 2016

The districts rn who is in charge is 6 hours away.

smileitout · Feb 10, 2016

My title is medical assistant. That is what I call myself when presenting myself to parents or when I speak to someone in regards to my positiong. We don't have a school nurse though. It's only me at the campus

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Feb 10, 2016

Check with your state dept of education and board of medical examiners. MA's absolutely cannot practice independently. And in some states a licensed healthcare professional must be on site not 6hrs away. you may be working way out of your scope

peacockblue · Feb 10, 2016

Sounds sketchy. Do you give meds? Procedures? I would be careful.

smileitout · Feb 11, 2016

Check with your state dept of education and board of medical examiners. MA's absolutely cannot practice independently. And in some states a licensed healthcare professional must be on site not 6hrs away. you may be working way out of your scope

I have spoken to the state health services department. It is not required to have a nurse at every campus in my state. Having a medical assistant is legal.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2016

In many, many states any layperson can be trained (or checked off) to administer medications (including insulin) as well as do many procedures (just like a parent is trained). This is the case in Texas, sadly.

Just be care the staff/students/parents don't call you the 'nurse'. Don't open the door for that misunderstanding! Many principles will hire a clerk or MA, stick them in the clinic and allow parents to believe there is a licensed nurse on staff (to save money). It's illegal to misrepresent yourself, and make it a priority to not allow anyone on staff to call you the school 'nurse'. They will do it without even realizing it and as innocent as it is it can cause a legal mess for the school if even one parent thinks there is a nurse on campus and finds out through a bad accident/incident that isn't the case.

smileitout · Feb 11, 2016

Sounds sketchy. Do you give meds? Procedures? I would be careful.

Any medication given to children has to be accompanied by a lengthy amount of forms from physicians and parents. I do not preform procedures.

peacockblue · Feb 11, 2016

I'm in Pennsylvania where that would be illegal. I keep forgetting I'm talking to folks from all overí ½í¸œ

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Feb 11, 2016

Not legal in my state.

MAs cannot legally assist with medication administration without a licensed medical professional on site.