Spacers: Do you order extra?

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Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.

I'm finding some of my Kinders with asthma have inhalers with no spacers. Unfortunately some parents do not seem to be able to afford them. Or Health care Providers don't order them....which....is a story for another day.

I was surprised at the cost the pharmacy gave me for my kid's spacer. 50.00!

In my past school, the Office of school health sent extra spacers at the beginning of the semester for students who might need it.

Do you have this problem at your school and if so, do you buy spacers?

If so, please recommend your site for ordering. I am also looking it up and so far I see 23.00 a spacer.

Thank you!

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I usually order couple at the end of the year when I need to spend last of my budget money. School Nurse supply has them for 10.95-12.95 each.

If I use one of the spacer that I purchased on a kiddo - I will label with their name & XXXisd - and not send it home with the kid at the end of the year unless they are moving out of district, keep it in my clinic to use the next year. Once I send them home, they never return.

I have also MCGyvered them using a paper cup or toilet paper roll too.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.
47 minutes ago, AdobeRN said:

I have also MCGyvered them using a paper cup or toilet paper roll too

LOL! Yes! I haven't had to do that just yet but thank you for mentioning it! Also thank you for school nurse supply recommendation.

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Specializes in School nursing.

I bought 25 of the disposable ones for my office. Cost is $16.95.

https://www.schoolnursesupplyinc.com/Disposable-Spacer-25Pkg_p_6603.html

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Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.
2 minutes ago, JenTheSchoolRN said:

I bought 25 of the disposable ones for my office. Cost is $16.95.

https://www.schoolnursesupplyinc.com/Disposable-Spacer-25Pkg_p_6603.html

That is my kind of pricing!! Than you JenTheSchoolRN!

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

I have also read in a pinch, seal a regular white envelope, make a slit in one end for the inhaler to go into, and cut the other end off completely. Squeeze "Open" the envelope and have it go over the kiddo's nose and mouth (sorta like a mask)... Voila! Insta-spacer!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.

That is such a great suggestion! Voila indeed!!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i am truly surprised how many inhalers i don't get with spacers. My middle schoolers I don't care as much, but my little guys, I do. I am going to look for the disposables. Great tip!

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Specializes in ED, School Nurse.

I order the disposable ones and I label and keep them for students. I feel like they can be reused at least a few times before I have to chuck them.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

I am going to be the Grinch here.

Technically this is medical equipment and while there are disposable alternatives...why is it that this is coming out of your clinic budget? When I had a $2K budget for high school I probably would have jumped on the disposables. My budget in elementary for 650 kids is..... $150. I can't budget $17 for medical equipment for a few kids.

I have called the MDs office to say that there is no spacer for the student (even though it was ordered). One or two had samples to send (which I labeled for the kid and kept). More suggested the toilet paper roll solution, which I documented.

This also might be a nice PTA/PTO ask - $17 for disposable spacers is probably something a PTA would get behind!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Orthopedic, M Surg, School RN.
53 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

I am going to be the Grinch here.

Technically this is medical equipment and while there are disposable alternatives...why is it that this is coming out of your clinic budget? When I had a $2K budget for high school I probably would have jumped on the disposables. My budget in elementary for 650 kids is..... $150. I can't budget $17 for medical equipment for a few kids.

I have called the MDs office to say that there is no spacer for the student (even though it was ordered). One or two had samples to send (which I labeled for the kid and kept). More suggested the toilet paper roll solution, which I documented.

This also might be a nice PTA/PTO ask - $17 for disposable spacers is probably something a PTA would get behind!

You are just stating the facts. I see no grinching! ?

The MD offices 'round these parts seem to send replies by horse and carriage. I can't seem to get timely responses else I'd jump on that!! Great idea Rubyjane!

I didn't know anything about the toilet rolls as spacers and so I will incorporate that for the students who don't have them.

This is why Nursing is great. Always learning something new!!

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Specializes in School nursing.
1 hour ago, ruby_jane said:

I am going to be the Grinch here.

Technically this is medical equipment and while there are disposable alternatives...why is it that this is coming out of your clinic budget? When I had a $2K budget for high school I probably would have jumped on the disposables. My budget in elementary for 650 kids is..... $150. I can't budget $17 for medical equipment for a few kids.

I have called the MDs office to say that there is no spacer for the student (even though it was ordered). One or two had samples to send (which I labeled for the kid and kept). More suggested the toilet paper roll solution, which I documented.

This also might be a nice PTA/PTO ask - $17 for disposable spacers is probably something a PTA would get behind!

No grinching. I am actually pretty lucky. I have about $2K a year to spend on supplies and sometimes I can get something covered out of furniture budget (like my new exam bed) if the year is right. I am in a basement with a cement floor though, so not everything is possible ;).

With $150? I'd probably use cardstock to made tubes to use as spacers :).

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