Student Allergy Shots

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 17, 2014

Nope. No Way. No how.

AdobeRN · Oct 17, 2014

No way would I do that - risk is way too high for a reaction, especially if they are moving up to the stronger serums. I am a parent of a kid that has been on allergy shots for 7 years - we have had 4 reactions while moving thru the serums over the years. One was a good hour after we had left the doctors office - scared me to death even tho I am a nurse and know what to do and had benadryl & the EpiPen in my purse. Thankfully the others happened within our 20 minute window sitting in the office after the injection - we had to do IM Benadryl and EPI - not fun.

Wave Watcher · Oct 17, 2014

Our policy is that any type of medication that is twice a day or less (in your case twice a week) will have to be administered at home. We only give medications that have to be given to keep the child productive and in school. Allergy shots is not one of them nor would I. You have to monitor them for a certain amount of time. What if you have an emergency after you give the shot and you can not watch the student. Plus, I don't think the students allergist would agree to it either. That is a liability. The parents need to be responsible and take their child to get their shots. Pure laziness and no concern for the child's safety. Just my thoughts.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2014

Nope, nope, nope. :no:

I cannot imagine there is an allergist who sign off on those orders. And if there is, I would not be going to that allergist!

amoLucia · Oct 17, 2014

... The parents need to be responsible and take their child to get their shots. Pure laziness and no concern for the child's safety. Just my thoughts.

And trying to get a freebie to avoid an office visit???

Maybe I'm cynical and this could just be more convenient for parent but... nobody pays for your MD/PMP visits.

Don't do it!

NanaPoo · Oct 17, 2014

Thank you for your answers! I was thinking along the same lines but needed (wanted) some backup.

The dad said in the email: "Does your school, via the on site nurse, offer the administering of these allergy shots (I believe they are twice per

week)?. It is not convenient otherwise for us to take him to the

allergist."

I totally understand that it's a pain to get to the allergist. My husband has the same conundrum. He can't get to the allergist because he works 7:30a-6p a lot of days and we're in Atlanta where traffic is a living nightmare. His work is just too demanding and rarely allows him the freedom to scoot out for an allergy shot. He'll just have to survive on his nasal spray and Zyrtec for now. But somehow someone picks this kid up at 3 from school everyday...can't they take him to the allergist if he really needs it?

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Oct 17, 2014

The dad said in the email: "Does your school, via the on site nurse, offer the administering of these allergy shots (I believe they are twice per

week)?. It is not convenient otherwise for us to take him to the

allergist."

'Nuf said

Flare, ASN, BSN · Oct 17, 2014

absolutely not. i would not stake my license simply for the convenience factor for the parents.

Wave Watcher · Oct 17, 2014

And trying to get a freebie to avoid an office visit???
Maybe I'm cynical and this could just be more convenient for parent but... nobody pays for your MD/PMP visits.
Don't do it!

Yes! That was my thought also!! Just pay dang co-pay and get on with it!!

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2014

The dad said in the email: "Does your school, via the on site nurse, offer the administering of these allergy shots (I believe they are twice per
week)?. It is not convenient otherwise for us to take him to the allergist."

Ugh I just had one of those parents. Wanted me to take blood pressures every day for a specified time to r/o high BP because it's too much of an inconvenience to take student to the Dr. Office a few blocks away every day. I said no because there's no doctor orders, I am the only Nurse, and it's too difficult for me to make sure I'm at that school everyday. I have a million things to do and if you can pick the student up from school you can bring them up the street for a BP check.

Also this week: can you remove my child's stitches? WHAT?!!! This is the 5th time this year I've been asked that. No.

T-Bird78 · Oct 17, 2014

NOOOOOOO! I work for an allergy/asthma clinic and we don't even allow school nurses to administer allergy shots to our pts. The ONLY time someone can get their shots from someone other than us is if they're going to a board-certified allergist who is willing and able to administer them correctly. They must have an emergency cart, epi, the whole nine yards. We let our college kids get their shots at their school clinic if the school clinic is able. There's too much room for error and such tiny dose increases. We also have specified time frames and dose adjustments if they're late getting their shot or have had a reaction. There are times you'd need to mix back to a weaker vial; it's just too much for a non-allergy person to handle. And we haven't even mentioned having a reaction to a shot!