School Nurses’ Experience With Administration of Rectal Diazepam Gel for Seizures

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 166-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine O’Dell ◽  
Kathryn O’Hara

The purpose of this study was to determine school nurses’ knowledge of state and school district policies, their experience regarding the administration of rectal diazepam gel in the school, and the perceived benefits and barriers of providing this treatment. Four hundred nineteen nurses responded to a survey conducted during the National Association of School Nurses Annual Meeting. Seventy-one (18%) nurses surveyed had administered rectal diazepam gel in a school setting, while 54 (13%) nurses reported that either their state practice act or school district prohibited them from giving rectal medications in the school. Medication administration benefits, such as early intervention for treatment of acute seizure emergencies, were noted. Barriers were also identified, with lack of privacy as the most frequently listed. Scope of practice as it pertains to administering medication in the school and the extent to which delegation of duties can be used in the situation of administering rectal medication in a seizure emergency remain issues for school nurses.

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine O’Dell ◽  
Kathryn O’Hara ◽  
Sarah Kiel ◽  
Kathleen McCullough

Effective seizure management in the school setting is a critical issue for students with seizures, as well as their parents, classmates, and school personnel. The unpredictable nature of seizures and the potential outcomes of experiencing a seizure in school are sources of anxiety for students with seizures. The ability to respond appropriately to a seizure is of concern to parents and school personnel. Implementation of a seizure emergency treatment plan empowers school personnel to quickly treat the child. Diazepam rectal gel is commonly used in seizure emergency treatment plans. It is safe and effective in terminating seizures and reduces the time to treatment and the need for emergency department visits when used in the school setting, and can be administered by medical and delegated to trained nonmedical personnel. School nurses should be aware of the laws and professional recommendations that pertain to rectal medication administration in schools for optimal emergency seizure management.


2003 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael W. Kelly ◽  
Ann Marie McCarthy ◽  
Matthew J. Mordhorst

This article reports school nurses’ experiences with medication administration through qualitative analyses of a written survey and focus groups. From a random sample of 1,000 members of the National Association of School Nurses, 649 (64.9%) school nurses completed the survey. The quantitative data from the survey were presented previously. However, 470 respondents provided written comments on the survey. Comments on the eight items that had the most written comments were qualitatively analyzed. In addition, to clarify information obtained from the surveys, two focus groups with local school nurses were conducted. A constant comparative method of analysis was used, and results were combined from the two data sources. The combined analyses resulted in six final categories of concern: (a) delegation of medication administration, (b) comfort with delegation, (c) self-administration of medication, (d) medication administration errors, (e) storage of medication, and (f) administration policies. The findings suggest that school nurses across the country have similar concerns regarding the administration of medications in the school setting.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (14) ◽  
pp. 1602-1606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Terry ◽  
Anup D. Patel ◽  
Daniel M. Cohen ◽  
Daniel Scherzer ◽  
Jennifer Kline

The purpose of this study was to assess school nurses’ perceptions of barriers to optimal management of seizures in schools. Eighty-three school nurses completed an electronic survey. Most agreed they felt confident they could identify a seizure (97.6%), give rectal diazepam (83.8%), and handle cluster seizures (67.1%), but fewer were confident they could give intranasal midazolam (63.3%), had specific information about a student’s seizures (56.6%), or could swipe a vagus nerve stimulator magnet (47.4%). Nurses were more likely to be available at the time of a seizure in rural (17/20) (85%) versus suburban (21/34) (62%) or urban (8/25) (32%) schools ( P = .001). School nurses are comfortable managing seizures in the school setting. However, a specific seizure plan for each child and education on intranasal midazolam and vagus nerve stimulator magnet use are needed. A barrier in urban schools is decreased availability of a nurse to identify seizures and administer treatment.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1942602X2110175
Author(s):  
Louisa Driscoll

As 21st-century school nurses, we address students holistically to meet their needs. The ASCD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coordinated school health model “Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community” resonates with many school nurses. However, implementing the model can be challenging. This article explains how the school district of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, uses data to leverage their whole child team to meet their school district’s needs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgann Loaec ◽  
Robert P. Olympia

Students presenting with varying degrees of respiratory symptoms and distress occur commonly in the school setting. It is important to develop a differential diagnosis for respiratory distress, to initiate stabilization of the student with life-threatening symptoms, and to triage these students to an appropriate level of care (back to the classroom, home with their guardian with follow up at their primary health care provider’s office, or directly to the closest emergency department via Emergency Medical Services). This article describes the initial assessment and management of a student presenting with respiratory distress.


2005 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 279-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheryl A. Krause-Parello

Tooth avulsions occur when a tooth is displaced from its socket. Tooth avulsions are common dental injuries that may occur before, during, or after school. Therefore, it is essential that school nurses be well prepared to intervene when such a dental emergency arises. It is also imperative that school nurses and school personnel are fully equipped to manage a tooth avulsion. Time is of the essence when attempting to save an avulsed tooth. The goal is to successfully reinsert the avulsed tooth and to preserve the periodontal ligament. The school nurse is responsible for implementing the appropriate actions needed to save the avulsed tooth.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 202-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted Cross ◽  
Erin D. Maughan ◽  
Donna Mazyck

As a district, Mansfield Independent School District wanted to validate that Health Services was performing at the highest level possible, implementing evidence-based practices, and achieving the highest outcomes with our students and staff. NASN (2016) had developed the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice to illustrate the practice of school nurses; and sought ways to operationalize the Framework for local school nurses and district level use. This article will explain how the two groups partnered together to develop a tool and assessment program. The article will discuss the approach, challenges, and perspectives of both Mansfield Independent School District and NASN, lessons learned, outcome, and future/potential changes within health services.


2012 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. AB133
Author(s):  
H.P. Sharma ◽  
H. Robinson ◽  
S.A. Twichell ◽  
L. Hanks ◽  
C. Nguyen ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 344-351
Author(s):  
Vickie Z. Beckwith ◽  
Jennifer Beckwith

Motivational interviewing (MI) is a collaborative communication style that can be integrated into everyday practice to improve conversations and serve as a catalyst for behavior change. This article reviews the fundamental principles and basic skills of MI. It discusses how MI has evolved from a therapeutic modality to a conversational style, applicable in the school setting and specifically for school nurses. The article provides an overview of how MI can be used by school nurses, challenges they may face, and resources to support implementation.


2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darlene English ◽  
Marilyn Marcontel

For more than 30 years, nursing students have had the opportunity to have clinical experiences related to their course requirements in the Dallas Public Schools. The Dallas Independent School District School Health Services Department staff provide an orientation to student nurses before their first day in the school clinic. To enhance their learning experience and clarify the regulations and expectations for student nurses, a handbook was prepared for the use of school nurses and the students. The Basic Health Care for the School-age Child: A Handbook for Student Nurses outlines the use of the school as a clinical experience setting. Another purpose for the handbook is to reduce the stress of this clinical rotation for the student nurse and for the staff nurse who serves as the student nurse’s preceptor. This article describes the development of the expectations for the clinical experience and the information included in the handbook. An outline of the material included in each section is presented to provide ideas for school nurses who provide or are considering providing a rotation for student nurses in their schools.


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