"I Wish I Would Have Known That!"

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Yesterday morning, a child came in with medication. I recently sent home a notice about this and the Mom did read it and acknowledged it. This family is on their way out due to us not wishing to work an additional 5 hours per week for free (their request after signing on).

DH: "I'm sorry but we don't administer medication here."
Parent: "Well, I wish I would have known that..."
DH: "I'm sorry but we don't administer medication here."
Parent: "None of the other places I've been to have had a problem with that!"
Me: "We choose not to for liability purposes. Have a nice day!"
Parent:

Parent had no idea that I was in the restroom right by the entrance, and DH frequently is the one interacting with her and her requests.

I can't be the only provider that doesn't administer medication. It has never been an issue before. :confused:

[Kiki]

I don't provide it either, too much at stake! Wrong doses, allergic reactions, the list goes on. Sorry, my curiosity always kills me, what kind of medicine was it? Did they need it during the day, or could mom/dad give it before arrival, and once they got home?
I just recently updated my contract to include some of Blackcats, they have to give it before/after, and if they do it before, they have to fill out the medication form letting me know what it was, and how much they gave.

[littlemissmuffet]

I do admin prescription meds, so long as they are in the original bottle with dose required, name of child, name of doctor and name of medication - and a form is signed by parents that I can admin it.

I will not admin pver-the-counter meds under any circumstances.

I don't think it matters if you are the only provider who does or doesn't do something... it's your business, YOU decide

[littlemissmuffet]

Oh yes, and in the future - when you send home any sort of notice... make sure you have the parents sign/date a copy and leave it in their file. I just LOVE it when a parent tells me "Well, I didn't know that!!!" because all I have to do is pull out their file, pull out a notice they signed regarding a particular policy or procedure and say "Sure you did. You signed off on it on (this date). See." and show it to them. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who think that everyone around them is stupid... I like proving to these types of people that they are the one acting stupid! I promise you, they won't ever tell you "I didn't know that" again

[Blackcat31]

I am SUPER strict about meds. I don't have any on site and will NOT adminster any for ANY reason.

If a parent chooses to give their child OTC meds before arrival, they have to fill out a dosage sheet saying that they gave the med, when, how much, who administered it and for what reason. If I fnd out the parent medicated without acknowledging it and signing the form, they are immediately termed. NO EXCUSES.

Yes, there could be ways to sneak it by but for the most part you and I both know that it isn't hard to tell when a kid has been medicated before drop off.

I will, ONLY if necessary, give prescription meds but for the most part ask parents to try to accomodate their child's medical needs outside of child care hours.

Like Kiki said, their is just waaaaaaaaay too much liability involved with meds now days and I honestly feel we have enough to deal with that if a kid needs meds, they really shouldn't be at daycare in the first place.

This subject is discussed VERY thoroughly during the interview process so I KNOW my parents all know how I feel and what my rules/policies are about this.

[countrymom]

I also administer meds. (I was a nurse in my previous life) its hard when kids have to have it 4 times a day and they are here all day, when are they suppose to recieve their medication. Its now rare kids are even on meds now a days.

[Fruitloops1]

Blackcat, can I see an example of the med form? PWEASE?
I am trying to get all my forms together, I have my first interview with a family TODAY for evening care...

[Blackcat31]

Blackcat, can I see an example of the med form? PWEASE?
I am trying to get all my forms together, I have my first interview with a family TODAY for evening care...

I will attach it here but it is just a simple log that parents have access to by their child's files. The "rules" I have about meds are, like I said, discussed in depth at the interview and are written in my handbook like this:

"Medication

Due to increased liability, I will NOT administer any OTC medications to your child. This includes acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil) or any other pain relieving or fever reducing medications. NONE of these medications will be kept on site at any time.

If your child has been given any OTC medication in the morning before drop off, you MUST fill out a form stating the amount, time and reason for dispensing. Failure to do this will result in immediate termination. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Prescription Medications

Prescription medications will still be administrated when necessary. Prescription medication is required to :

• be in original bottle
• be labeled with child's name and date dispensed
• include written diagnosis for the medication from a physician

[pootmcgoot]

I too have added black cats med policy. Too much of a risk!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I don't provide it either, too much at stake! Wrong doses, allergic reactions, the list goes on. Sorry, my curiosity always kills me, what kind of medicine was it? Did they need it during the day, or could mom/dad give it before arrival, and once they got home?
I just recently updated my contract to include some of Blackcats, they have to give it before/after, and if they do it before, they have to fill out the medication form letting me know what it was, and how much they gave.

She deemed it necessary. However, upon stating what I did she said, "Oh. I will give it this evening."

[Meeko]

I will only give it if the doctor insists on more than twice a day dosing as I know it's hard for parents to come to the day care to give the meds themselves.


I don't give any OTC meds at all and tell the parents to ask the doc for something that is no more than a twice a day prescription and then they can administer at home.

I haven't given any meds in years now.

[MarinaVanessa]

I don't administer it all, for any reason ... with or without a doctor's note. The only exception I may ever make is if I were to get a special needs child tha required medication on a regular basis and there was no way that the child could go without the dosage during daycare hours.

Even children taking antibiotics usually only have to take one or two dosages which can easily be given at home before or after DC. It's not that common around here for people to refuse it but I do it this way because I don't want the liability just like you.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I don't administer it all, for any reason ... with or without a doctor's note. The only exception I may ever make is if I were to get a special needs child tha required medication on a regular basis and there was no way that the child could go without the dosage during daycare hours.

Even children taking antibiotics usually only have to take one or two dosages which can easily be given at home before or after DC. It's not that common around here for people to refuse it but I do it this way because I don't want the liability just like you.

My exceptions are an Epipen (as needed) and an asthma inhaler.

[saved4always]

When I cared for children in my home, I would do some medications. I had one little guy who needed breathing treatments (I think he may be on his way to an asthma dx). I had to do these for my daughter all the time so I had no problem doing that for this child. They gave him one right before coming to my home, I gave one at lunchtime and then he had one when he got home. He was with me too long during the day and needed the treatments for too many days for me to refuse to give it to him. I also didn't get paid if the kids were not here, so it was not feasible for me to have him out for over a week when he needed a treatment I had experience with. Plus I loved that family to pieces.

Besides that, I would give tylenol if I was given written instructions on dose. But I did not do it for fevers, only for teething pain. Fevers meant going home. I didn't have to do that often because it was at my discretion if I thought they needed it and usually they didn't. I don't think I was ever asked to administer anything else. Antibiotics these days seem to be one or two doses a day so the parents don't need me to do them. When my boys went to daycare, they were always given rx's for 3 times a day so the daycare did have to give one of those...that was many, many years ago though.

[DaisyMamma]

Why do parents think that if they ask the question a second time because they didn't like the first answer that you will change your answer? And furthermore why do they think if they compare you to daycare XYZ that you will change your answer?! LOL. Sometimes I just want to say "that's my policy, if you dont like it go to daycare XYZ!" It's no wonder why some kids will ask you the same question over and over and over because you said no. They learned it from DCP.

Littlemissmuffet, I love your idea of dealing with sneaky parents!