Attention teachers!

[kengr]

I know there are several teachers and other folks who work in/around schools on my f-list.

I'm looking for info (anecdotal is fine) on how high schools and junior high/middle schools handle students carrying/using non-prescription meds. Stuiff like aspirin/Midol.

It's for a story I'm working on.

Come to think of it, some idea of what a school nurse might or might not hand out and how said nurse might react to certain claimed symptoms would be useful too (ie what might result in examining the student beyond just taking their temp and what might get a parent called or even a doctor)

background below the cut


I can't go into details without being a spoiler. But I will say that the kid has good reasons for not just asking the nurse for some (assuming that schools even allow nurses to hand them out.

Well, a bit of detail, since it's misleading anyway <eg>

Student is female bodied, attending as a male. And doesn't want the parents to know either. (And yes, PE is an "interesting" problem)

So I'm thinking of stuff like needing meds for cramps (and there are story reasons *why* the student needs them fairly badly). And if caught, trying to explain possession of the meds without getting found out.

If you can think of any problems besides the already mentioned PE that might come up I'd be interested as well.

For reference, the student isn't binding, but they don't show much either. And given enough advance notice (more a matter of scheduling) they can deal with a physical. (yes, I'm withholding details on purpose :-)

(And no, Fay, you aren't allowed to spill the beans)

Comments

[lolleeroberts.livejournal.com]

It is my understanding, from school nurses I have spoken with, that school nurses are not allowed to give out medications without a doctor's prescription, or over the counter medications without a parent's permission, even at the middle school/high school level. And students found taking over the counter medications, or giving them to a friend, can be expelled under the "zero tolerance" guidelines. (Yes, I agree that it's insane, that doesn't mean it's not the truth.)

[fayanora.livejournal.com]

(And no, Fay, you aren't allowed to spill the beans)

Aw darn, you are such a spoilsport. :-P :-)

[kengr]

I'd read a few news items and rants online, so I'm not surprised.

Then again, after reading about how parents had to sue one school to get their daughter allowed to carry her epi-pen.... (the school tried to argue that she should leave it with the school nurse. Yeesh. The whole *point* of an epi-pen is that there is rarely *time* for someone to go fetch help.)

Getting back to the story, any idea what they do these days with kids that appear to be ill or "acting oddly"? Call parents? Send them to doctor?

I'm going to have the kid overly paranoid about that sort of thing, but it helps to know what the reality is too. :-)

[kengr]

Be nice or you don't get to watch last night's episode of Merlin. :-)

[fayanora.livejournal.com]

I'm always nice. :-)