Who can cath???

What does your policy say? In TX it's a delegable procedure, and I train the paraprofessionals, the teacher, and my aide to do it. Usually the person who needs a cath is in SPED, which is why I throw the teacher in there.

Having said all that, I was called to another school once because the nurse and paras were all out on one day.

When I was a HS nurse we had a gen ed student who needed to be cathed. If I was out and a sub for the day wasn't provided, usually a nurse came at the time of the procedure to do it.

9 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:

WOW!!. Now there’s a good one. My employer would probably say to contact the parent to come to the school to do it. Might as well keep the kid home for the day with homework.

I am not sure we can legally say that. If the parent chooses it, that's fine. But we are on the hook for the student's FAPE, cath and all.....

In my state, urinary catheterizations can be delegated to UAP. So as a last resort you can look up whether or not your state allows you to delegate it.

But I also agree, if you contact the parent, they would probably feel most comfortable coming in themselves if you are out.

I know nothing about school nursing but the question is interesting so I'm just here for the comments. Don't mind me.

Just now, caliotter3 said:

Hi NurseBlaq, always wanted to tell you I love your avatar!

Thanks. That's usually how I feel when I wake up. ?

in my state we can't delegate this task. I have a little guy that goes half day so I don't need to perform this intervention due to its current timing, but I've already brought this issue up to the parents and cst for when he goes full day.

17 minutes ago, caliotter3 said:

In all fairness, my response is in reference to my perspective as a home health nurse. I went to school with one child as their home health nurse. In specifics, I was there for only one child and was not a "school (wide)" nurse per se. My home health agency contracts with clients state that parents are responsible for all care when the agency can not provide a nurse. If I was sick, recall it happening once, my child went to school without me and the teacher and aides did fine without me. Nothing special in that case.

And I am sure the nurse and staff appreciated your presence and missed you in your absence. I know my work burden is lightened by folk like you! But yes, they would carry on.

19 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

WOW!!. Now there’s a good one. My employer would probably say to contact the parent to come to the school to do it. Might as well keep the kid home for the day with homework.

We cannot exclude the student from school due to lack of staffing.

I delegate to the paras.