What if there had been an ACTUAL emergency?!? Ugh!

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

First grader shows up to school today with an (unlabeled) albuterol inhaler and says, "My dad says I need to have this at school today because I've been coughing and I have gym." Great. Go to class and I'll call your dad.

Primary phone number listed is no longer in service. Dad's cell phone is "not accepting calls at this time." Mom's cell phone goes to voicemail. I leave a message explaining I cannot give the inhaler to this child without a label and parent permission. No answer.

Four hours later the little cherub comes to the health office to use her inhaler. I listen to her lungs. Luckily, good air movement and no wheezing. No coughing when she breathes deeply. She played at recess and did just fine. Repeat calling phone numbers listed with exact same result. Have to tell the kid sorry but I can't give you the medication. Poor little thing went back to class.

Write up a polite but firm letter to the parents and added a medication authorization form to be signed and returned to school for the student to bring home today in her folder.

I am SO irritated! What if there had been an actual emergency and NO ONE is answering their phone or voicemails?!? UGH!

Rant over.

[SchoolNurseTXstyle]

I have a first grade son!!! I could not imagine being unreachable for even 1 minute if he needed something. Just burns my bucket!!

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

I know! This kind of stuff really ticks me off.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

I have the same exact thought multiple times a day as i run down my list of numbers and call 5-6 numbers to try and reach parents only to get no answer (and often times with NO other emergency backup people). I think to myself - "Jeeze, what if your child had fallen off the slide and had knocked them self unconscious?" Or what IF that inhaler was needed emergently? Sure - i'd probably give a puff of it if the kid was in dire straits, but it would be followed up with calling ems and ensuring that the right forms are on file. Of course once the media would get their hands on it and the right people put their spin on it it would be "School nurse sends child to ER for simple asthma treatment despite having inhaler" and those who don't know can begin their judgefest.

[tining, BSN, RN]

[SchoolNurseTXstyle]

I have the same exact thought multiple times a day as i run down my list of numbers and call 5-6 numbers to try and reach parents only to get no answer (and often times with NO other emergency backup people). I think to myself - "Jeeze, what if your child had fallen off the slide and had knocked them self unconscious?" Or what IF that inhaler was needed emergently? Sure - i'd probably give a puff of it if the kid was in dire straits, but it would be followed up with calling ems and ensuring that the right forms are on file. Of course once the media would get their hands on it and the right people put their spin on it it would be "School nurse sends child to ER for simple asthma treatment despite having inhaler" and those who don't know can begin their judgefest.

Well said!!!

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

9 freaking 11 let them deal with it and involve protective services

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

9 freaking 11 let them deal with it and involve protective services

And in no way do I mean this to be a dump on EMS!

[KKEGS, MSN, RN]

She showed up yesterday with the original box the inhaler came in and a signed permission form.