DCG Shows Up With Inhaler....I Don't Administer Meds

[MCC]

DCG, almost 3. Has had a cold for 3 weeks now. She has been sent home a couple of times b/c of her mood, but has not had a fever. She has had a raspy cough the whole time. We have all caught this cold at this point, including me and my DD who both got ear infections from the cold.

DCM shows up this morning with teary eyed DCG and hands me an inhaler and says "She'll need her next dose at 10.". I reminded her that I do not administer meds, and asked why she was Rx'd the inhaler. DCM said it's been kicking around since DCG had bronchitis in the spring.

I'm so annoyed by this. Last week this mom asked me to give her "little colds", and I reminded her of the No meds policy, and she understood. Now an inhaler...

Other than continuing to repeat myself with her, is there anything I should do? Also, should I have sent DCG home, she is here now, but if she "needs" the expired Rx inhaler, maybe I should have not let her stay?

[mrsnj]

I am curious what others say. I can't understand how "you" (you as in used openly) cannot give medications. What about asthma. Allergies. Epi pens. So you don't take children who have any issues? I would think that would really narrow down who you take and have a turn over. What is this mom to do? If she stays there she will get more sick or have an attack. So she would have to pull? Don't get me wrong. NOT attacking in any way or shape. But I notice a lot on here do the same. I am curious how it works. Advil I get. But in this situation I am curious what you do. If you don't mind I wanna tag on to see how this works out

[Familycare71]

So this mom brought you an expired inhaler that was prescribed for a diff issue all together!?
I would have said and still would say- I'd just add: after I thought about it... That dcg needs to see a dr to get breathing checked before return. I would require a note stating: diagnosis and treatment plan. i would also remind mom that you do not administer meds so if dcg NEEDS an inhaler she will be required to stay home.
If she complains you can always say: I KNOW you wouldn't give her medication she didnt need and breathing is an important function so I'm sure you can understand why I would need a dr to evaluate that she is ok.
Good luck!!

[Familycare71]

I am curious what others say. I can't understand how "you" (you as in used openly) cannot give medications. What about asthma. Allergies. Epi pens. So you don't take children who have any issues? I would think that would really narrow down who you take and have a turn over. What is this mom to do? If she stays there she will get more sick or have an attack. So she would have to pull? Don't get me wrong. NOT attacking in any way or shape. But I notice a lot on here do the same. I am curious how it works. Advil I get. But in this situation I am curious what you do. If you don't mind I wanna tag on to see how this works out

In NYS we are not allowed to administer meds without being trained and then following a specific plan and having a RN consult. In my opinion the requirements are full of ways to mess up - like: if I give Advil for a child I have to have a dr note with very specific info filled out (I can barely get a properly filled out physical!) and even if Advil was approved for teething pain I would need an entirely new form to Administer it for ear pain
So I choose not to administer meds.
Just recently we were allowed to administer emergency meds such as an inhaler and Epi pen without going through the entire process or getting a waiver.
Yes it does limit who I can take- and I would probably get certified if a current dck developed asthma or something but I would only use it for that specific reason. I actually like that it limits when kids can come- like for a child that isn't asthmatic - if they require an inhaler for an illness they are probably really sick and should be home anyway

[Cradle2crayons]

In NYS we are not allowed to administer meds without being trained and then following a specific plan and having a RN consult. In my opinion the requirements are full of ways to mess up - like: if I give Advil for a child I have to have a dr note with very specific info filled out (I can barely get a properly filled out physical!) and even if Advil was approved for teething pain I would need an entirely new form to Administer it for ear pain
So I choose not to administer meds.
Just recently we were allowed to administer emergency meds such as an inhaler and Epi pen without going through the entire process or getting a waiver.
Yes it does limit who I can take- and I would probably get certified if a current dck developed asthma or something but I would only use it for that specific reason. I actually like that it limits when kids can come- like for a child that isn't asthmatic - if they require an inhaler for an illness they are probably really sick and should be home anyway

So the inhaler is an around the clock dose? In that case I could u doers rand what you are saying. It's not an emergency dose inhaler because in that case you could give it without all the required red tape right??

[MCC]

I am curious what others say. I can't understand how "you" (you as in used openly) cannot give medications. What about asthma. Allergies. Epi pens. So you don't take children who have any issues? I would think that would really narrow down who you take and have a turn over. What is this mom to do? If she stays there she will get more sick or have an attack. So she would have to pull? Don't get me wrong. NOT attacking in any way or shape. But I notice a lot on here do the same. I am curious how it works. Advil I get. But in this situation I am curious what you do. If you don't mind I wanna tag on to see how this works out

In VA we have to have trainings to be able to administer meds. I currently have no interest in getting the training. It's $100, it's a 9 hour course during the week, making it $200 b/c I would have to have my assistant here in order to go, and not having the training has not prevented me from taking on any clients. I also like that I can use not having it as a reason to not administer.

Because of the need for the training, parents are used to providers not having the certificate.

I have considered getting it so that I have it if I ever needed to administer an epi pen, or emergency inhaler, but none of my currently enrolled kiddos have epi pens or inhalers, except my own DD, who has an epi pen.

[MCC]

So the inhaler is an around the clock dose? In that case I could u doers rand what you are saying. It's not an emergency dose inhaler because in that case you could give it without all the required red tape right??

This is not an emergency inhaler, it was prescribed in the Spring for bronchitis.

[Cradle2crayons]

This is not an emergency inhaler, it was prescribed in the Spring for bronchitis.

Ahh I see. I administer meds if all types. Heart medications, meds through feeding tubes etc... By one thing I won't do,,,


>>>>>administer an expired med or one that isn't prescribed for a current condition<<<<

Nope, won't happen.

[Scout]

I am one of the few that will administer meds. I will gladly give a child a breathing treatment, antibiotic, or pain meds if the parent wishes with the only stipulation being that they have had it before more than 2x. I had to send my son to dc with a breathing machine for bronchiolitis so I understand how the parents can feel but, let me add that I am legally unlicensed!

[mrsnj]

In NYS we are not allowed to administer meds without being trained and then following a specific plan and having a RN consult. In my opinion the requirements are full of ways to mess up - like: if I give Advil for a child I have to have a dr note with very specific info filled out (I can barely get a properly filled out physical!) and even if Advil was approved for teething pain I would need an entirely new form to Administer it for ear pain
So I choose not to administer meds.
Just recently we were allowed to administer emergency meds such as an inhaler and Epi pen without going through the entire process or getting a waiver.
Yes it does limit who I can take- and I would probably get certified if a current dck developed asthma or something but I would only use it for that specific reason. I actually like that it limits when kids can come- like for a child that isn't asthmatic - if they require an inhaler for an illness they are probably really sick and should be home anyway

hummm makes sense. And there is always that parent that will find a loop hole someplace. I had a parent who wanted me to do breathing treatments for RSV! Yes. RSV. The gmom tried to hide it under an unknown name (she is a nurse). But I googled. Then told them nope. Sorry charlie. And not only would I not do it....bring a dr note to return too. But thinking on my DD who is bee allergic. I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to send in an epi.

[Cradle2crayons]

hummm makes sense. And there is always that parent that will find a loop hole someplace. I had a parent who wanted me to do breathing treatments for RSV! Yes. RSV. The gmom tried to hide it under an unknown name (she is a nurse). But I googled. Then told them nope. Sorry charlie. And not only would I not do it....bring a dr note to return too. But thinking on my DD who is bee allergic. I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to send in an epi.

Breathing treatments are used very commonly for RSV... I'm not understanding what the problem was there??

[mrsnj]

In VA we have to have trainings to be able to administer meds. I currently have no interest in getting the training. It's $100, it's a 9 hour course during the week, making it $200 b/c I would have to have my assistant here in order to go, and not having the training has not prevented me from taking on any clients. I also like that I can use not having it as a reason to not administer.

Because of the need for the training, parents are used to providers not having the certificate.

I have considered getting it so that I have it if I ever needed to administer an epi pen, or emergency inhaler, but none of my currently enrolled kiddos have epi pens or inhalers, except my own DD, who has an epi pen.

You would think they would make life a little easier. I don't blame you. So if you get the asthma child interested, they can pay to have your trained?! Just crazy. I get the whole over the counter stuff but sometimes there should be a middle ground.

Thanks for explaining.

[mrsnj]

RSV is contagious..Esp when sick on a Monday and asking to come on a Tue.

[Cradle2crayons]

RSV is contagious..Esp when sick on a Monday and asking to come on a Tue.

Yes, RSV is contagious. But it's contagious before they ever get symptoms so everyone was exposed before the child ever was diagnosed. And breathing treatments are sometimes done for 10 days after diagnosis. And they can be contagious even without remaining symptoms for up to a MONTH. Not to mention that a lot of times what we think is the common cold in a child or adult is actually RSV but they don't test for it unless they are under a certain age or have certain symptoms. That's one reason I don't exclude based in a diagnosis but in symptoms instead.

I don't exclude for RSV unless the child isn't well enough for daycare because by the time you know, it's too late to prevent. That's why I hand wash etc as if every child is sick every day.

But I do understand everyone's illness policy etc is different

[Familycare71]

So the inhaler is an around the clock dose? In that case I could u doers rand what you are saying. It's not an emergency dose inhaler because in that case you could give it without all the required red tape right??

I'm not OP but yes- for me that is the case. And if I did have a kid who needed one with every cold (like my boys when they were little) I would do what I needed to for a case like that(which is jump through tons of red tape- I think that's why NYS taxes are so high- they use tons of red tape! :- but over all I don't do meds.