Medication administration practices of school nurses

J Sch Health. 2000 Nov;70(9):371-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2000.tb07277.x.

Abstract

This study assessed the medication administration practices of school nurses. From a random sample of 1,000 members of the National Association of School Nurses, 649 (64.9%) completed the survey developed for the study. These school nurses report that during a typical day, 5.6% of children receive medication in school, with 3.3% receiving medications for ADHD. Almost all the school nurses follow written guidelines for administering medication. Potential problems were identified in documenting side effects of medications, storage of medications, student self-administration practices, and appropriate authorization of nonprescription drug use. Most nurses (75.6%) delegate medication administration to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), with secretaries (66.2%) the most common UAP. Discomfort with delegation and confusion over state nurse practice laws were noted. Errors in administering medications were reported by 48.5% of the school nurses, with missed dose (79.7%) the most common error. Factors identified as contributing to errors included use of UAP and responsibility for large numbers of students.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medication Errors / statistics & numerical data
  • Medication Systems*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • School Nursing / organization & administration*
  • United States