California School Nurses Org. Applauds Court Ruling - Agreement Allowing Non-Medical Personnel To Administer Diabetes Insulin Injections Overturned

Main Category: Diabetes
Also Included In: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PST

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The California School Nurses Organization (CSNO) today issued the following statement regarding the California Superior Court ruling on licensed nurses administering insulin injections to students.

"The California School Nurses Organization applauds Judge Lloyd G. Connelly of the California Superior Court for overturning an agreement between the California Department of Education and the American Diabetes Association that allowed unlicensed school personnel to administer insulin to our students with diabetes who have Section 504 or individual education plans.

"This ruling restores much needed patient safeguards contained in the California Nursing Practice Act, which clearly specifies that only a licensed nurse or physician may administer medication in a school setting with the following exceptions:

-- where a student self-administers the medication,
-- the parent or parent designee, such as a relative or close friend not employed by the school district administers the medication or
-- there is a public disaster or epidemic.

"This ruling in no way denies care -- in fact, the opposite is true. Parents of children in the public school system are given, once again, peace of mind knowing that their children will be cared for by trained and highly skilled nurses and will no longer be cared for by non-medical non-licensed personnel administering a dangerous medication such as insulin. It has always been incumbent upon school districts to provide the necessary safe and appropriate care to the students in their charge. Unfortunately, districts have not been following the law.

"Additionally, all school administrators should recognize the importance of having trained nurses within the district to provide all school children with safe and appropriate care. Diabetes is a life-threatening disease that is treated with insulin, which, if calculated and administered improperly can cause serious illness, coma or even death.

"We are pleased the Judge recognized the seriousness of this situation and has ruled in favor of current state law."

Dale Parent, RN, BSN, Ed D (c) President, California School Nurses Organization

California School Nurses Organization