School Nurse

[mlkatie]

Hi everyone,
My son goes to preschool at the local elementary school and has a nurse present at all times during the regular school year. He will going to summer school from 11:30 to 2pm and the nurse only works until 12:30. I was ok with this, but I wanted one of Patrick's teachers to learn how to check his bg--one teacher volunteered right away. :)

But the nurse nixed this and said that only she is legally able to check his bg. Is this true?:confused: I don't know how it can be, I would think that most preschools do not have a nurse present, so someone else has to check.

I said fine, I just won't send him to summer school, but they offered to put him in the morning session--it will be the 3 year old class as opposed to the 4 year old class, but during the summer they don't learn anything new, they just don't want the kids to forget anything they've learned.

We live in NJ, so if anyone has any input that would be great.

Katie
Patrick 9/18/03 dx 10/21/05
Keri 9/1/00

[wellsfamily]

Is it through the public school system? We live in NJ, but my kids go to private school. Aidan's teacher's aid tested him and worked his pump all year, no problem. Maybe you could sign some kind of waiver if the teacher is in fact testing him. That is what we did.
Do you have a 504 for him yet?
ps where in NJ do you live?

[mlkatie]

Yes, this is public school and no, we don't have a 504 yet. I'd be more than happy to sign a waiver, I wish I thought of mentioning that, I'm surprised the nurse didn't bring it up.
We live in Ewing Twp, which is about 15 minutes South of Princeton. Where are you?

[MLH]

I am in NY, just north of NYC. My understanding is it can be the nurse or a nurse designee. They do not have the right to put him in a younger class because it is more convenient for them. If the teacher is competent and trained and WILLING and you and your son are comfortable then I don't see a problem. I am assuming you are always a phone call away to answer ?'s and be there if you have to be.

When my daughter was on shots in pm preschool, the teacher was trained on how to check her BG. They would call me and I would give instructions on what to do next.

Good luck

[Lindy]

hmmm - I don't know a bunch, but I would say your child DOES NOT have to go to a younger class. The school MUST make the appropriate accomadations! It's the law! If that is for a teacher to check him, fine. If that is for the nurse to stay until summer school is finished fine. I don't think they have to have a nurse present, as long as they have someone else who is able to check him I believe the school is fine. Yep, I'd be fighting that one.. but there are others out there who have the experience in dealing witht the schools - hopefully they'll chime in.. Good Luck!

[wellsfamily]

We are kind of all over the place. We live in Chatsworth - which is on the border of Burlington/Ocean County (about 20 min from LBI), but the kids go to school in Moorestown and we have a condo in Mt Laurel where we stay sometimes (closer to school and work) My husband works in Hamilton Twp so that is probably pretty close to you. We drove through Princeton last weekend along 206, and it was so beautiful up there!
If you ever want to get the kids together, send me an email.

[Jensmami]

My DD was in a private school, and her nurse did only what the doctor told her, even if I told her it was ok, she always needed it from the doctor. I don't know if that is a private school thing, or a personal attitude. Don't get me wrong the nurse was wonderful, but not very flexibel.

Do you want your kid to go to summer school? If not, this would be a good time to pull out;)

Michelle, are you from Westchester?

[wellsfamily]

I just noticed - our boys and girls are almost the same ages, and I think the boys were diagnosed within a month of each other! (Plus Aidan's middle name is Patrick.)

[caspi]

Cameron's (public) elementary school has a full time nurse but also has four other staff members trained in D care. I believe they have to have more than just one person trained. I would definitely check into this further if I were you.

Speaking of Westchester County, I was born and raised in North Tarrytown (now called Sleepy Hollow).

[Jensmami]

I'm just about to leave for Tarrytown, my DD has voice lessons up there - what a small world!

[caspi]

That's just too funny!!! :)

[mlkatie]

Thanks for all your responses. I'm going to e-mail the nurse right now. I really don't think she was trying to be a pain in the butt, she just wasn't sure of the laws--I guess I will have to educate her:rolleyes:

[MLH]

Caro, We live in Rockland. Where are you?

[Jensmami]

we are in Westchester, our kids are about the same age, my DD just turned 10.

[selketine]

But the nurse nixed this and said that only she is legally able to check his bg. Is this true?:confused:

In most states the nurse is allowed to delegate certain things - like testing bgl - to another person who is trained by him/her. I cannot find anything specific to NJ that says that the nurse is or is not allowed to delegate.

Where I live the school nurse works for the "School Health Services" which is a county (or state?) organization. I would check with the ones responsible for sending the nurse to the school and ask some general questions about delegation for testing.

I do agree though that they would need to arrange for a nurse if they want to tow that line - they can't put your child in an age-inappropriate class for their convenience unless you agree.

I would think that because the preschool is run through the public school system you could request a 504 eligibility meeting. But in the meantime you should check out whether the nurse is allowed to delegate and, if so, why she doesn't want to do it. My guess is that she is allowed to delegate -and she has a volunteer - so it shouldn't be an issue. You could always ask her to show you the policy that says only she is allowed to test and cannot delegate.

[deafmack]

Hi everyone,
My son goes to preschool at the local elementary school and has a nurse present at all times during the regular school year. He will going to summer school from 11:30 to 2pm and the nurse only works until 12:30. I was ok with this, but I wanted one of Patrick's teachers to learn how to check his bg--one teacher volunteered right away. :)

But the nurse nixed this and said that only she is legally able to check his bg. Is this true?:confused: I don't know how it can be, I would think that most preschools do not have a nurse present, so someone else has to check.

I said fine, I just won't send him to summer school, but they offered to put him in the morning session--it will be the 3 year old class as opposed to the 4 year old class, but during the summer they don't learn anything new, they just don't want the kids to forget anything they've learned.

We live in NJ, so if anyone has any input that would be great.

Katie
Patrick 9/18/03 dx 10/21/05
Keri 9/1/00

I found this. I hope it helps. I do not know if it has been updated or not.

I found this. It was done in 2000 so there may be updates but I am not sure.
http://www.state.nj.us/education/edsupport/diabetes/diabetes.pdf