DD was denied her inhaler when she was in first grade. 

Do not quote

My DD was denied her inhaler during the second week of school in first grade.  The health clinic assistant called me after she sent DD back to class to tell me what happened.  She told me that DD was just tired and that her "fingernails weren't blue."  The HCA called me about the time school ended and DD had gone to the clinic within 20 minutes of the end of the day.  At the time DD rode a buss afterschool to get to day care and the day care staff were completely unaware of what had happened at school and might have had to deal with the attack worsening while they were on the road.  I called the day care center to give them a heads up so they could watch DD/give her her inhaler if neeeded. I should note this happened in September, which is a month that sees a spike in asthma attacks, and it was humid and during ragweed season, one of DD's triggers.

 I went ballistic.  DD's pediatrician was aghast and stated that if DD's fingernails were blue that she would need to be intubated because she would be cynotic at that time.  I emailed the supervisor for all the nursing staff at the school district level, and it hasn't been a problem since. (It also helped that the HCA was just filling in until the permanent one could start; the permanent one is still at the school and has been wonderful--calls me when DD uses her inhaler more than once a day.)  Our pediatrician also wrote a wonderful letter stating that DD knows her symptoms and should always be given  her inhaler when requested, and the letter also noted that asthma is a co-morbid condition to DD's nut allergies, particularly her peanut allergy.  We've included this letter in her paperwork every year since. 

Also of note, the HCA who denied the inhaler also waved her hand dismissively in my face when I dropped DD's kindergarten paperwork off and requested a 504 while stating, "We don't do 504s."  Unfortunately, I didn't know enough about the 504 process at the time to know that was a procedural violation and  that I only had 180 days to file a complaint.  That HCA still works for the school system to my knowledge.

End Do No Quote

DD's always had an inhaler and EpiPens in her backpack, so that inhaler would have been available.  DD was approved for self-carry this year and now carries her Epi and inhaler on her person in a small purse.

Even if that's what she thought, whats up with no assessment?  She's a nurse!  She could have quickly assessed him and done a lot of things differently.

also, many high schools have "surprise" locker checks.  they could have found it during a routine check. 

One year I apparently didn't give the school paperwork for the asthma nebulizere since DS rarely needs them (uses inhalers or nebulizer less for about one asthma event every two years!)  He had asthma at home and I requested the school nurse give him his nebulizer mid-day.  She agreed. I  got a call soon after telling me she had the paperwork for the inhalers but not the neb.  She called his pediatrician and had him fax the paperwork asap and she gave him the neb!  Good nurse, hu? 

I can't imagine what this nurse was thinking.  Who knows her side of the story but if what this woman says is accurate she should have at the least called 911. 

And see, this is where a 504 plan is superior to healthcare forms.

Seriously.

There is NO WAY that the school could have "not carried over" forms and pretended as though they had never known that the child had asthma... if the condition were covered under a 504 plan.  They'd have been obligated to SEEK OUT information from the family.  Specifically.

 

Wow. 


If the family's account of what took place is in any way,shape, or form accurate...


WTF is wrong with this person??   

There's a special place in HELL for anyone that would watch a child suffering/dying while under their duty of care and do nothing to help that child.   

This nurse needs to find another line of work.  Period.

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ON a more pragmatic note, there are two lessons to be learned from this:

• DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT.  Cross EVERY t and dot every i so that your child is "officially" allowed access to emergency meds at school.  Even if you think it seems like overkill, or if school administrators treat you like week-old roadkill in the process... DO IT ANYWAY.
• Schools really ought to be SEEKING out families for item 1, here.  Whose a$$ would have been on the line if this child had DIED before his mother showed up, hmm?  I'm thinking that "not following protocol" kind of pales in comparison to "criminal negligence" and "wrongful death settlement."  Schools are being STOOOOOOPID in the extreme when they open themselves up to this kind of liability.  Ignorance doesn't absolve them of their duty of care.  Not in the least.  Child-find, in fact, says that they HAVE TO GO HUNTING FOR THESE KIDS.  'Not knowing' is just as wrong as not acting on information that they do have, when you get right down to it, because they SHOULD know.  That's like arguing that you didn't KNOW that a bunch of high schoolers weren't of age when you served them liquor because you didn't ask to see ID     Morons.

OMG, I would be in jail and she would be in the hospital!  This goes beyond following protocol. Her behavior is cold, uncaring and well, I probably can't say it here.  Unbelievable.

They took his inhaler away on Friday.  What day did this happen? 

The ball was dropped long before the asthma attack. 

Did the school contact parents (or police) when they took the inhaler away from him?  Did he tell his parents it had been taken away?  Shouldn't both school and parent at that time (Friday) have realized the school didn't have the paper work?

And most importantly.....being a nurse, seeing a student having an asthma attack, and having an inhaler that says it is prescribed for that student....at most, wouldn't a verbal instruction to administer be sufficient?  I mean...call the parent, tell them what's happening and say "Do you give permission for your son to use his inhaler?"