That's the third kid this morning

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who has walked in to my office with a random OTC allergy med and asked me to give it to them. I have K and 1st graders and parents are sending them in to school with allergy meds (eye drops, benadryl, zyrtec) and having them ask me to administer them. Driving me nuts. Three since 8:30 this morning! I keep just handing them the letter and the form to sign and telling them if mom or dad fills it out THEN I can give the medication. Nothing has changed and suddenly it's as if they think the rules don't apply for allergy season :banghead:

I can't believe parents would send their children to school with Benadryl of all things.

Parents will send in all kinds of crazy things.

The best is baggies with unmarked medication. Could be Tylenol, could be Xanax, could be dad's metoprolol... Let's roll the dice on that one...

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

YES! I have been getting here all week long as well!!! So crazy!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

3 today for me too!! 2 that came in mystery ziplock baggies. The office staff accepts it without batting an eye even though I've told them a million times to wait for me before taking anything so I can ambush parents right there with paperwork.

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Specializes in Sub-Acute, School Nursing, Dialysis.

This drives me absolutely nuts!!!!!! My last post is about this kind of thing. Kindergartener kept bringing me Benadryl and then some random pills all last week. I sent home a detailed letter explaining step by step instructions (because no one has common sense anymore!) about needing a medication order form from the doctor and to not put medication in your 5 year old's back pack! Both mom and dad are nurses!!! This was everyday last week, even with the note sent home, a copy sent to the principal (pointless really, she never backs me up) and multiple phone calls to the parent.

Then the kid one day told me his dad showed him how to pour the dose himself while in the after care program when the nurse has left for the day. I just received the form from the physician and she didn't bother to send in the medication. I call to say thank you for the order but there is no med. She then says, doesn't the school have medicine in stock. No, we don't, this is not a pharmacy. Then she jokes how I am her "best friend" because I have called her every day for the last week. Whose fault is that?!

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Mom of the older student admitted giving the older student the pills to take in school, but never imagined that he would do something like that.

QUOTE]

Oy vay.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
2 that came in mystery ziplock baggies.

At the high school level, mystery zip lock baggies get you an interview with the school cop, an interview with your discipline officer and sometimes they ask me to play "name that pill." I had a furious parent who said "But it's X medicine." Well, I can't verify that because it's in a BAGGIE.

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The craziest (and scariest) was a 2nd grader than brought a 10ml syringe of liquid Hydrocodone to school with her. Mom stated "but she had major dental work done yesterday and is in serious pain."

Thank goodness the kid brought it to us and didn't take it all herself or share it. Can you say respiratory depression??????

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Specializes in Cardiology, School Nursing, General.

I have my own monthly letter in our weekly mail home (It goes each week.) I had this happen and I sent that unless it's doctor' ordered, NO OTC MEDS ALLOWED! I haven't had that issue since then.

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Specializes in School nursing.
The craziest (and scariest) was a 2nd grader than brought a 10ml syringe of liquid Hydrocodone to school with her. Mom stated "but she had major dental work done yesterday and is in serious pain."

Thank goodness the kid brought it to us and didn't take it all herself or share it. Can you say respiratory depression??????

If she is in serious pain, enough to need that liquid hydrocodone for a procedure done the day before, she should be home. Some folks...

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Specializes in school nurse.

It's not that the rules don't apply for allergy season, it's that they don't apply for Special Snowflakes...

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Specializes in kids.
At the high school level, mystery zip lock baggies get you an interview with the school cop, an interview with your discipline officer and sometimes they ask me to play "name that pill." I had a furious parent who said "But it's X medicine." Well, I can't verify that because it's in a BAGGIE.

I use pill finder, it t is very useful.

Pill Identifier (Pill Finder) - Drugs.com

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Specializes in School nursing.
I use pill finder, it t is very useful.

Pill Identifier (Pill Finder) - Drugs.com

I love pill finder, it is very useful. Helps me determine at least that a student isn't bringing in a narcotic, for example. I have also identified random pills that have been brought to me after having been found on the bathroom floor (the protocol I set up; I dispose of pill with witness into pill bottle that gets turned into police station med re-cycling program). Since abuse of ADHD medication is a thing, unfortunately...

But, of course, I'm still not going to administer it :). I'll use the acetaminophen out of my own bottle after I call home about it.

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