I had mailed asthma care plan to this particular parent who's daughter has asthma.
This is the care plan that the physician is to fill out and return to the clinic. Parents are supposed to bring an inhaler in so that we have it while kid is in school.
This care plan came in about a month ago, but no inhaler.
I just got off of the phone with the Mother. I told her that the order is here, and we are just awaiting the inhaler.
Mother states: Oh.... I thought the doctor would send you the inhaler too. What ???
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
Hey, don't just roll your eyes and move on. We've offered our perspective in response to your post. Please share your rationale and perspective. Maybe we can learn something from you and vice versa; maybe we'll just end up disagreeing, and that's OK, but at least lets explore the dialogue. Whadda ya say?
Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..
As an outsider I can understand both sides.
The zero tolerance policies are kinda nuts.
Then I remember all the "questionable" decisions kids make. Cinnamon challenge, naked selfies, pill parties, sharing eye contacts...
I guess the people who have to make these decisions erred on the side of caution
Thank you for your thoughts. But, seriously, while in school. There are many, many things that don't seem to make sense to the outside world. As a whole, ALL school policies and procedures are for the safety and well-being of all stakeholders. We can't pick and choose who must follow the rules and who doesn't need to. It doesn't matter if it is a school board members kiddo or the bum down the street's kiddo. Policies and procedures are in place and must be adhered to. If they aren't followed, it would be a complete free for all.
Really??? You can't see the validity of any of our points about school-aged children and their inhalers in school? I don't mind non-School Nurses coming here and commenting-I love them to see our world but if I read a post in the OR Nursing or Travel Nursing or nay other non school-based Nursing forum I don't think I'd be so quick to dismiss their protocols and practices in their nursing environment and I certainly wouldn't for a second think that I have a better handle on their jobs and how they should perform it than they do!
I just think that by 9 to 10 year olds.... Many kids are able to recognize symptoms and use an inhaler appropriately . I have served as a camp nurse to this population, and I certainly understand that there are exceptions to that rule..... But I believe in individualizing goals. ( and full disclosure I didn't let kids keep their inhalers due to policy.... But I did give them to their counselors )
They may very well be able to recognize symptoms at that age, but left their inhaler at home again, along with their lunches, homework, saxophone and gym shorts.
The HS kids forget them all the time. Or lose them. Or carry around an empty one because they forgot to tell mom they ran out.
So, sad confession: Until I was around 17, I just *could not* swallow pills. I know it was psychological and a little nuts, but there you go.
My senior year (I had gotten over my pill quirk by then) I got a bad headache.
I made my way to the nurse's office. Unfortunately my mom had not signed the consent to administer Tylenol paper. But the nurse looked at me and said that hey, since I was over 18 that didn't matter and I could darn well have some Tylenol.
Like I said I understand why these rules exist. Parents may get upset but you are protecting the student body as a whole - and sadly, we also live in a ridiculously litigious society that I think makes things worse.
So, sad confession: Until I was around 17, I just *could not* swallow pills. I know it was psychological and a little nuts, but there you go.
My senior year (I had gotten over my pill quirk by then) I got a bad headache.
I made my way to the nurse's office. Unfortunately my mom had not signed the consent to administer Tylenol paper. But the nurse looked at me and said that hey, since I was over 18 that didn't matter and I could darn well have some Tylenol.
Like I said I understand why these rules exist. Parents may get upset but you are protecting the student body as a whole - and sadly, we also live in a ridiculously litigious society that I think makes things worse.
I have students over 18 that I don't give Tylenol unless they have "the Paper" signed.
I just think that by 9 to 10 year olds.... Many kids are able to recognize symptoms and use an inhaler appropriately . I have served as a camp nurse to this population, and I certainly understand that there are exceptions to that rule..... But I believe in individualizing goals. ( and full disclosure I didn't let kids keep their inhalers due to policy.... But I did give them to their counselors )
Thank you for hanging with us. Now we're getting somewhere. I agree with you in this regard. When a child is mature enough to graduate from a facemask spacer to using a regular mouth piece spacer effectively they certainly can recognize when it's appropriate to use the inhaler. And you know what? That mechanism is in place now but like I said earlier I've never been provided that authorization from any provider - going on 15 years now. One of the biggest issues is asthma and EIB management stretches from horizon to horizon and varies greatly from provider to provider. One kid brought me an inhaler last week that actually said, "1 puff every 4 to 6 hours as needed." I think I'd like to contemplate a national asthma protocol management program kinda like the concussion protocol. At least that would draw everyone closer the center of asthma management. All the points here are valid. An inhaler doesn't help very much if its home on the bathroom counter, etc.., etc.. You're on the front line of parent and patient education. Again, it's all over the map. Us too. Anyway, thanks for your perspective. Don't be a stranger.
Cattz, ADN
1,083 Posts
Yesssssssssss...PLEASE???!!!