Unlicensed Teacher Subs

[guest83140]

We have a problem at our district. We have no Nurse Subs implemented to cover nurses. The Health Coordinator never had a system and the nurses would just have a teacher sub put in the clinic with most with no training. If the nurses have asked for a Nurse Sub system and she shrugs it off, who is responsible for a mishap if the nurse takes a sick day?

[OldDude]

In Texas, if there is not a RN on campus, or if a RN is not supervising another for that campus, the principal is responsible.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

In California, there is rarely a nurse on every campus and the school nurse is responsible for more than one campus. And most school nurse jobs are part-time.

The principal is ultimately responsible but the school secretaries are the ones doing the "nursing".

[100kids, BSN, RN]

There have been 2 days that they could not get a sub for me and the Secretary lest the Teacher's know the Nurse's office is closed. Anyone needing the Nurse is sent to her and she calls a parent if a child is sick. The principal is responsible but doesn't get involved unless there's a true emergency.

[guest83140]

Thanks for all the comments, I actually thought the Nurse Sup had some responsibility in it but I guess the campus boss needs to say something. I guess times have changed with who is delegated for districts versus the hospital environment. I keep fogetting that point. So far nothing has fell in the gray area with judgement calls with the staff they put in there when I'm off. I can't make them have nurse subs so I have to deal with it. Thanks.

[kidzcare]

Finding subs for nurses has been an issue in my district. I don't see how a nurse supervisor could be liable if he/she is not present. For example, a student may have an asthma attack and the administration (or secretary or whoever is handling it) fails to see the severity, does not know how to assess for this (auscultate lungs, pulse ox) and calls home instead of administering a nebulizer (if the student has one), inhaler, or calling EMS. How can a supervisor (or the regular building nurse) be held accountable for something they cannot see or assess? If that happened in my building on a day that I was out, I would definitely argue it if I was held liable in any way/shape/form.

[kidzcare]

Also, what really chaps my @ss here is that a secretary or most teachers are not LEGALLY able to administer medications. In IL a teacher with a certain endorsement (an administrative one) can, but otherwise, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. This is something I'm stressing during our union negotiations. The nurse's job/skill set cannot be delegated.

[100kids, BSN, RN]

Thanks for all the comments, I actually thought the Nurse Sup had some responsibility in it but I guess the campus boss needs to say something. I guess times have changed with who is delegated for districts versus the hospital environment. I keep fogetting that point. So far nothing has fell in the gray area with judgement calls with the staff they put in there when I'm off. I can't make them have nurse subs so I have to deal with it. Thanks.

Just to clarify in my situation there is no Nurse Supervisor so that's why the Principal would be responsible. I am the only Nurse on staff in the district (only 1 school in district).

[CalNevaMimi, LPN, LVN]

No subs here. We're so short on nurses in my district. It's possible that if more than one of us calls in, kids will not be able to stay in school that day if they have meds that require a nurse's administration. If they can get away with it, the RNs delegate medical tasks to the health assistants...and I hate that. It can be written in the orders that a non-licensed person can give certain medications and do g-tube feedings, even to a student with a complex medical condition. Makes me wonder what they need me for if they can train just "anybody." I'm currently a warm body for schools that have emergency seizure meds. Sounds fulfilling, right?

[SnowyJ, RN]

We have a terrible time finding nurse subs since it doesn't pay well. I don't take any time off unless I am REALLY sick. (Would have to be flu or worse.) The staff in my building would be terrified to play nurse.

[Eleven011]

I am the only nurse in our district (only one school), so I am kind of on my own. I do have 2 nurses who are able to sub for me if they are available. If not, the secretaries would handle the sick ones and call parents and then we have 3 staff that are trained med aides that would be utilized at med times to give those. Emergencies would be 911.