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

[Unregistered]

This. I administer a lot of meds, legally and properly for the right need. Expired or for a random condition not prescribed for?? Um...no

Agree here too. If a parent brought me an expired med, I'd make them take it and get a REAL rx and they'd be excluded. If they feel she's that ill, she should be seen. Giving an inhaler without a real need isn't a great thing to do and it proves that she did NOT take the child to get evaluated to knoe if that's even the right treatment

[cheerfuldom]

I dont administer medications. I had one child here for a short time and was not told that she had an emergency epi pen until a few days into care i tried to work things out with mom but had to term due to various reasons. I dont understand parents that do not tell providers of all medical issues up front! even after I ask! I have had a number of other issues with parents trying to sneak in special needs kids or kids that have severe allergies or medical issues.

Anyway, I just do not want the liability of administering any medications. I do not do breathing treatments or anything of that nature.

[TwinKristi]

I think the red flag here is the fact that it's expired. Otherwise I really don't see an issue with administering Rx meds with the appropriate documentation from a Dr. In CA we have a form that has to be filled out to give meds of any kind. But if a child came here and needed an inhaler every 4 hours and had the proper documentation I would have no problem. Just a random inhaler from March that's now expired? No! I'm surprised it's expired already though. Mine usually have a good year on them when I get them for my son, sometimes more.
To each their own. That's one of the benefits of having your own business. You make the rules. BUT like someone said in this thread and the other, you may not want to be so narrow and strict that you exclude people who would otherwise be a wonderful addition to your childcare. And at what point is it discrimination that you don't allow children with asthma or a chronic condition in your childcare? Asthma is a pretty common things now days. I have had 2 boys in the past that required nebulizer treatments and I had no problem giving them with the correct documentation.

[Familycare71]

I won't get MAT trained either.

I have a child with a bee allergy (epi pen is here, dr's order is here, and I CAN administer it under emergency circumstances without MAT training)

Have a kid with asthma, same thing.

But for any NON EMERGENCY MEDICATION I cannot give it and I WILL NOT get certified to do so. If they are sick enough to need meds (eg. acetaminophen, ibuprofen) they are too sick to be in care.

Ah my fellow ny-er! :hug: ::
Yup- me too! Funny thing is I just got an exemption for inhalers when they changed the rule!

[daycaremom76]

I don't get what's expired, the note from the doctor or the actual date on the inhaler? Inhalers are dated 2yrs out (I have asthma and so does my son) So if she just got it in the spring it wouldn't be expired yet, even meds for breathing machines are over a year out til they are expired. My son has lung issues and has been on a nebulizer since he was an infant (he's 10 not) in the winter when he gets congested he has to have treatments every 3hrs just to prevent him from getting sicker (pneumonia or rsv)

[MCC]

I think the red flag here is the fact that it's expired. Otherwise I really don't see an issue with administering Rx meds with the appropriate documentation from a Dr. In CA we have a form that has to be filled out to give meds of any kind. But if a child came here and needed an inhaler every 4 hours and had the proper documentation I would have no problem. Just a random inhaler from March that's now expired? No! I'm surprised it's expired already though. Mine usually have a good year on them when I get them for my son, sometimes more.
To each their own. That's one of the benefits of having your own business. You make the rules. BUT like someone said in this thread and the other, you may not want to be so narrow and strict that you exclude people who would otherwise be a wonderful addition to your childcare. And at what point is it discrimination that you don't allow children with asthma or a chronic condition in your childcare? Asthma is a pretty common things now days. I have had 2 boys in the past that required nebulizer treatments and I had no problem giving them with the correct documentation.

I just want to clarify, this child does not had asthma. She HAD bronchitis in March, and now has a cold that mom wants to treat with the inhaler. The inhaler does not even have the child's name on it, much less a date that it expired.

I did not exclude the DCG today, and I would have no problem enrolling a child with asthma.

It more comes down to the proper documentation. I require a Dr's note for any prescription drug, and it has to be less than 10 days old. If it is a ongoing med, I have a different form. These are all State Regs. And I am not MAT certified currently, so DCM should have never asked me to do it.

[MCC]

I don't get what's expired, the note from the doctor or the actual date on the inhaler? Inhalers are dated 2yrs out (I have asthma and so does my son) So if she just got it in the spring it wouldn't be expired yet, even meds for breathing machines are over a year out til they are expired. My son has lung issues and has been on a nebulizer since he was an infant (he's 10 not) in the winter when he gets congested he has to have treatments every 3hrs just to prevent him from getting sicker (pneumonia or rsv)

OP Here, I'm not sure where people are getting that it is expired, I did not write that, I think people are assuming that.

My problem was that I do not administer meds, yet this mom is continuing to ask me to do so. Also that the inhaler was issued for Bronchitis in March, not this cold she currently has in October.

I do not administer meds b/c in my State I have to be MAT certified, and for numerous reasons, I am not.

[Cradle2crayons]

I just want to clarify, this child does not had asthma. She HAD bronchitis in March, and now has a cold that mom wants to treat with the inhaler. The inhaler does not even have the child's name on it, much less a date that it expired.

I did not exclude the DCG today, and I would have no problem enrolling a child with asthma.

It more comes down to the proper documentation. I require a Dr's note for any prescription drug, and it has to be less than 10 days old. If it is a ongoing med, I have a different form. These are all State Regs. And I am not MAT certified currently, so DCM should have never asked me to do it.

The inhaler didn't have an expiration date on it?? How weird. I know my kid and my inhaler doesn't typically come with a label on the actual inhaler but I have to specially ask my pharmacist to put a label on the box AND on the inhaler because the one she takes to school has to have a label on the actual inhaler.

I find it interesting e actual inhaler didn't have an expiration date in it.

But I understand what you are saying. I require original container, properly labeled, current medication with a dr form stating diagnosis and treatment plan.

[Unregistered]

OP Here, I'm not sure where people are getting that it is expired, I did not write that, I think people are assuming that.

My problem was that I do not administer meds, yet this mom is continuing to ask me to do so. Also that the inhaler was issued for Bronchitis in March, not this cold she currently has in October.

I do not administer meds b/c in my State I have to be MAT certified, and for numerous reasons, I am not.

Hey!

The last sentence of your original post mentions RX and expired. Maybe referring to something else or more hypothetical. I took it as the inhaler was expired, which I am assuming others did also. Sounds like a miscommunication with all the posts.

[Cradle2crayons]

OP Here, I'm not sure where people are getting that it is expired, I did not write that, I think people are assuming that.

My problem was that I do not administer meds, yet this mom is continuing to ask me to do so. Also that the inhaler was issued for Bronchitis in March, not this cold she currently has in October.

I do not administer meds b/c in my State I have to be MAT certified, and for numerous reasons, I am not.

Because you said in the last sentence of your ORIGINAL POST that the med was EXPIRED.??

[MCC]

Hey!

The last sentence of your original post mentions RX and expired. Maybe referring to something else or more hypothetical. I took it as the inhaler was expired, which I am assuming others did also. Sounds like a miscommunication with all the posts.

I can see how that was confusing... I am assuming the prescription for the inhaler was expired. As in, you get a bottle of antibiotics for an ear infection and it says to take it for 10 days, but the pills actually do not expire for over a year? YKWIM? Maybe prescription is not the right word? That was the "Rx" in there.

My DD had bronchitis in Feb, and the sticker from the pharmacy on her neutralizer packets says "as needed for 10 days" I am assuming the same is true for an inhaler that is prescribed for bronchitis. Maybe I am completely wrong, and the inhaler was meant to be used any time she got a bad cold, but that is not how DCM described it to me...

[MCC]

The inhaler didn't have an expiration date on it?? How weird. I know my kid and my inhaler doesn't typically come with a label on the actual inhaler but I have to specially ask my pharmacist to put a label on the box AND on the inhaler because the one she takes to school has to have a label on the actual inhaler.

I find it interesting e actual inhaler didn't have an expiration date in it.

But I understand what you are saying. I require original container, properly labeled, current medication with a dr form stating diagnosis and treatment plan.

There was no Label. This is making more sense. I did not look on the actual little metal part of the inhaler, I just looked for a sticker from the pharmacy, there was no sticker. I don't have any experience with inhalers, so I guess DCM would have had to ask for an extra sticker for the actual inhaler? It was not in a box.

The reason for needing the inhaler was expired...as in, DR. gave it to them for one thing, and they are treating a separate thing with it. I didn't realize how confusing I wrote that.

[Cradle2crayons]

There was no Label. This is making more sense. I did not look on the actual little metal part of the inhaler, I just looked for a sticker from the pharmacy, there was no sticker. I don't have any experience with inhalers, so I guess DCM would have had to ask for an extra sticker for the actual inhaler? It was not in a box.

The reason for needing the inhaler was expired...as in, DR. gave it to them for one thing, and they are treating a separate thing with it. I didn't realize how confusing I wrote that.

It's okay. After a long day..... I get confused easy hahahaha

[TwinKristi]

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?

I think this is where people are getting that it's expired?

[TwinKristi]

I can see how that was confusing... I am assuming the prescription for the inhaler was expired. As in, you get a bottle of antibiotics for an ear infection and it says to take it for 10 days, but the pills actually do not expire for over a year? YKWIM? Maybe prescription is not the right word? That was the "Rx" in there.

My DD had bronchitis in Feb, and the sticker from the pharmacy on her neutralizer packets says "as needed for 10 days" I am assuming the same is true for an inhaler that is prescribed for bronchitis. Maybe I am completely wrong, and the inhaler was meant to be used any time she got a bad cold, but that is not how DCM described it to me...

This just really depends on the dr. Our inhalers are for asthma and have a standing order with no length. Even with our other boys when they needed inhalant meds it was the same. There was no "length of time" it was more when symptoms get better or "as needed". I get it from your POV, I would require the proper documentation for such things even if the Rx was from March. Inhalers last a long time so a repeated Rx isn't always necessary but the proper docs are. We all seem to have varying opinions on the med issue so that's just that. But I agree the confusion in your term "expired" is what caused a great amount of confusion.