Vaseline without parental permission?

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We routinely use vaseline for a variety of reasons, but now one of my colleagues is being questioned for putting vaseline on a child without the parent's permission. She expected a phone call or note that vaseline was applied. Another parent chimed in that lotion shouldn't be used either, without parental permission, and we are talking about basic lotion, no bath and body works stuff. We do not apply aloe, calamine lotion, sunscreen, or neosporin without MD authorization - we don't even keep that stuff in our office. But now lotion and vaseline are an issue???

Do any of you actually have parental permission slips for lotion and/or vaseline???

17 minutes ago, ruby_jane said:

You know, I don't hand out mints because I don't believe in them. (Folds hands primly). Mints are a choking hazard here in the elementary. And remember...it's YOUR nursing practice. Don't let anyone else tell you you have to give a mint!

But the nurse at RJ Junior's school has 3K kids so the mints are in a basket (along with cups for water, pads, and band aids) and the kids help themselves.

I am the first ever full time nurse my school has ever had. They have always had to share a nurse with at least 1 other campus who spent 75% of her time at that other campus. It has been good as they love having me here and bad as I have had to break them of some bad habits.

Now, I buy mints and saltines out of my own pocket. It is just easier than going through the entire PO mess and they are so cheap, I would rather use my $400 budget on other stuff. That being said, it stays in my clinic and I decide who gets it. If I start giving teachers their own supply (and yes they are mad at me for not), it will start getting passed out (like well, candy) and then I can't afford to buy out of my pocket and/or their goes half my budget.

Teachers here want to give mints for everything. Headaches - no, they need to hydrate!!! Sore throat - no, they need a salt water gargle!! I only give mints for certain GI issues, maybe a cough. I also always ask (and document) about food allergies when giving mints, saltines.

I have worked at 3 districts and we have never supplied lotion but always vaseline. And really, vaseline for chapped lips is almost a waste of time. They lick it off before leaving my door - but before I give to them, I make them drink water which is the more effective treatment as they are dehydrated!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

Our standing orders cover basic lotion, vaseline, calcium chews and calamine lotion. It also covers ibuprofen, acetaminophen, benadryl, epi, vicks vaporub, and cough drops with specific parental permission. I don't stock the calcium chews, so I just inform parents on a case-by-case basis (mostly the kids plagued by indigestion) that they are welcome to supply these for LD, to be kept in the health office. The cough drops are a similar situation. I have a small supply of these on hand, but once they're gone, they're gone, so you best be bringing your own.

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21 hours ago, ruby_jane said:

What does your policy say you may do?

Ours implies we may do the following: Lotion, Vaseline, mints. I don't do mints and I hate Vaseline but if it keeps a kid in school - eh.

We don't have many policies unfortunately ?

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.
21 hours ago, jess11RN said:

Argh! The mints...if staff doesn't stop handing mints out to students before they get to me, I might go crazy!!!

I tried mints but then word got out that the nurse gave out candy. It was over almost before it started.

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Specializes in school nursing.
7 minutes ago, SaltineQueen said:

I tried mints but then word got out that the nurse gave out candy. It was over almost before it started.

Ditto! I let my stash disappear and quit buying it. I normally just educate on water intake and if necessary do a salt water gargle, but even that is rare.

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Specializes in Med-surg, school nursing..

Ugh. I do Vaseline for severely chapped lips and only do hypoallergenic lotion on the kids whose parents I know wont throw a fit.

This mom has probably at some point asked "Why can't you just give him Ibuprofen? I mean it's over the counter.

People will always find something to complain about.

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Specializes in school nurse.
1 hour ago, CanIcallmymom said:

Ditto! I let my stash disappear and quit buying it. I normally just educate on water intake and if necessary do a salt water gargle, but even that is rare.

Don't be hating on the mints! I have them, but treat them with more security than oxycontin. Under the right circumstances I disable the alarms, secure the pitbulls and actually give one out. So far so "mint-chasers"...

Re: the vaseline- Oy! With that mentality, should we get doctor's orders for soap as well?? (Seriously, I stock my own soap- the cheap stuff that the school buys dries out your hands quicker than old age...)

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

We have permission for calamine and for bacitracen. NOT for vaseline or hand lotion. I use vaseline and hand lotion (magic lotion!) all the time. I am in elementary school, never had a problem.

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Specializes in school nursing/ maternal/child hospital based.
On 2/27/2019 at 11:26 AM, jess11RN said:

Argh! The mints...if staff doesn't stop handing mints out to students before they get to me, I might go crazy!!!

I had to Heimlich a kid last year when he was choking on a peppermint that had been handed out in class. UGHHH why didnt someone heimlich him in class ( teacher, aids etc) could really rant on that one!!! Thankfully, all was well, but had my ticker pumping!!!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

i also will keep some mints on hand - but i've noticed some strange psychology. If my mint jar is full, it's like open season. But if I only keep 2 or 3 in there then almost nobody asks for one. They reserve them for the ones that truly need them. I keep saying that I have to get to the store. I'll get there some day.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Oncology, School Nursing, OB.

Oh good grief. Some people! We have standard orders for Vaseline as needed. We have many kids with very chapped and peeling lips from the cold, dry weather whose parents won't take care of their basic needs so I do use it frequently. I've never had anyone complain. I do have hypoallergenic lotion as well. You know for those that complain about lotion or vaseline I'd just call their parent EVERY SINGLE TIME their child came into my office. I have a handful of parents I do that with because nothing pleases them. About the 3rd or 4th visit I mysteriously quit seeing these kids as often.

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I did a clinical in school nursing. A kid came in with chapped lips and the RN (she was awesome!) Said she couldn't even put chapstick or vaseline on many of the kids in this school since the parents get mad about putting parabens and carcinogens on their babies! She said a mom complained the year before and caused a scene when she let a kid use vaseline for chapped lips. I thought she was kidding. She wasn't. Oddly... many of these parents drove Tesla's as well... never seen so many Tesla's in a parking lot before.

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