Nursery mess up with medicine.. AIBU?

[lemonmama]

So I’m not sure how I feel about what’s happened at DD’s nursery this week. She has been on medication for a while now, she has 4 weeks on the medicine then she has a break from it. Its not lifesaving meds at all, it’s more of a preventive. My DDs nursery know this but a couple of weeks ago they forgot to give her a dose. I could cope with that. But then last week she was on her break from the meds and she was given a dose. I told them at drop off that she wasn’t having the meds that day but they admitted at pick up that she had been given them. They were very apologetic. Like I said the meds don’t have any affect on DD so it’s not a life threatening situation.
I’m just not sure how to feel about it. I let them know I wasn’t too happy but I’ve left it at that. I think, although not good enough, it was a mistake. AIBU to not take it any further and report them?

Take the med home when she finishes the cycle and return it when she needs it again. No chance then for a mix up of giving it to her when she shouldn't have it.

(Nursery don't have to give any meds......so I would work with them or they may refuse. -- alternatively can you administer the med yourself outside nursery hours? Or send someone in to give the med at the right time each day?)

I think it sounds complicated and it’s difficult for them to keep track of what weeks she should be on it or not and you need to ensure there is no ambiguity. Why don’t you take the medicine away when she’s not on it and only bring it in when she is on it?

Why was her medicine in nursery if she was on a week off?

An easy way to prevent it happening again is to only send it in when she needs it.

Nurseries and schools are not legally required to give medication. Some do, some won't at all. They're not medical staff and have enough on their plates without remembering different children's doses and times. Is there a reason your child can't have this medication at home?
Also I'd work with them or they'll end up saying you have to come in and administer the medication.

Do they have a schedule of exactly when she needs it and when she doesn't or are they told adhoc in the morning?

Either take the medicine home on days it's not needed and take it in daily, or provide them with a list of dates it needs to be given.

It's far too easy for a verbal message in the morning to be forgotten Or miscommunication.

Make a list of the dates she is/isn't having it and fix it to the medicine packaging.

in this situation, I would ask for a meeting with the manager and ask how they would like to manage this going forward - would they prefer you to take it away when it’s not to be taken or do they have other ideas?

Do you have to sign anything before they give the medication?

It's unsual to have medication on site for a child who doesn't need it.

If she doesn't need it then it shouldn't be at nursery.

I think you need to take more responsibility with managing the medication here.

If she's not due to have it, don't send it in.

Is this a prescribed medication?

Yes it’s a prescribed medicine. It has always stayed at nursery in a named box and we just swap it out once the use by date it up. DD does have a care plan at nursery but we haven’t done a written schedule for the meds.
I agree that perhaps us just telling a staff member in the morning isn’t enough when they have 12ish other children coming through the door as well.

You should be signing daily to give permission and again to acknowledge that you know she's had it at pick up.

Honestly if it was too complicated that I was getting it wrong, I'd probably just say I couldn't give it and you'd have to give it at home.

I think this is on you for not giving a clear schedule, it's too confusing. Perhaps remove it from the setting when not needed.

A lot of places won't give medicine. Others make you sign daily. So I would personally take the medicine home when she's not having it. That or ask them if they want you to sign something they can check daily if they are meant to give the medicine- no signature no medication.

Messages at the door at busy times while simultaniously dealing with unsettled children who have just arrived is a receipe for missed messages or delayed messages.

We find emails tend to reach room staff better. Or insist on speaking to childs room leader for medication/important issues. Making sure they have a clear schedule for weeks the medication can't be given well in advance means it could be put on their room calander too. If a staff member who usually takes change of medication is off then it ensures there is no confusion with staff who may be in there less often.

Thanks for the responses. We will start bringing the meds home when she is having her break.

Now @lemonmama am just not used to posters accepting advice and that they may have been wrong! Go you my mind is blown! 😆

Haha 😆 I just wanted a bit of advice whether to take it further or not. My DP was and still is quite annoyed with the situation but he has started to see where I’m coming from. We are going to sort out a schedule for the medicine dates this week and start bringing him home when she’s not having it so there’s no chance of confusion.