General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Nurses take on schools over insulin shots (Obama is against the nurses union) [View all]FarPoint
(14,805 posts)A nurse has been formally trained for this task. A nurse is licensed by a governing board in each state which tells the public that this nurse is competent and responsible to administer insulin, following physician orders, in a public or clinical setting. It identifies that this nurse practices a standard of care.
Lets think about it...your suggesting there be non-medical employees at the school shown how to administer insulin....this tells me the non-medical staff member, be it voluntary or a delegated task would be practicing medicine without a license.
Another thought. If the public does not demand nurses be staffed for such duties and accept the below standard clinical care then...it will never change...it will not be a temporary setting as the bell was rung and this is a downward tailspin thereafter...
Parents or family caregivers are trained to administer insulin...that relationship has a different liability dynamic where they assume the risk and responsibility. A school employee does not fall into this category as they can not practice nursing without a license.