Thu May 24, 2012, 05:33 PM

alp227 (20,428 posts)

Nurse refuses student inhaler during asthma attack

Volusia County School officials stand by a Deltona High School nurse's decision to refuse a student his inhaler during an asthma attack, citing a lack of a parent's signature on a medical release form.

"It's like something out of a horror film. The person just sits there and watches you die," said Michael Rudi, 17. "She sat there, looked at me and she did nothing."

He said the school dean found his inhaler during a search of his locker last Friday. The inhaler was still in its original packaging -- complete with his name and directions for its use; however, the school took it away because his mother hadn't signed the proper form for him to have it.

School leaders called Sue Rudi when her son started having trouble breathing. She rushed to the office and was taken back to the nurse's office by school administrators and they discovered the teen on the floor.

full: http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Nurse-refuses-student-inhaler-during-asthma-attack/-/1637132/13560430/-/wm13uaz/-/index.html

Found this story via Jonathan Turley, who comments: "Since the school appears primarily motivated by legal rather than medical considerations, a torts action may serve to concentrate the mind of officials."

179 replies, 12852 views

Reply to this thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

179 replies	Author	Time	Post
Nurse refuses student inhaler during asthma attack (Original post)	alp227	May 2012	OP
ABSOLUTELY agree with Turley here.	elleng	May 2012	#1
me too -- also emailing the principal at --->>> SHFREEMA@volusia.k12.fl.us	nashville_brook	May 2012	#57
That's nasty...	FarPoint	May 2012	#2
+1. She was thinking about her job and not her patient.	freshwest	May 2012	#9
Any child with the ability to dial 9-1-1 could have filled in for her that day	Shampoobra	May 2012	#79
Why did they not phone 911?	tsuki	May 2012	#139
Even if the school nurse believed she could not administer it...	jberryhill	May 2012	#3
+1.	freshwest	May 2012	#10
Excellent response. nt	TBF	May 2012	#19
Anybody who knows an asthma patient knows you're right	Mimosa	May 2012	#107
I agree. 911 should have been called. nt	tsuki	May 2012	#141
This is infuriating. That nurse should be fired. Why the hell didn't she call 911?	pnwmom	May 2012	#4
She should not just be fired, she should lose any license she has to practice.	FiveGoodMen	May 2012	#37
standing up for school nurses	SCantiGOP	May 2012	#116
They are so sued!	longship	May 2012	#5
I hope so. nt	pnwmom	May 2012	#6
Right.	Igel	Jun 2012	#171
So it's the parents fault?	atreides1	Aug 2012	#177
Another fine example of Zero Tolerance policies run amok	GObamaGO	May 2012	#7
i have a mild asthma	dembotoz	May 2012	#8
If she wasn't going to give him his inhaler, the "nurse" should have call 911	notadmblnd	May 2012	#11
This woman should lose her state license.	PDJane	May 2012	#12
She should face criminal charges.	LeftyMom	May 2012	#17
That's a little drastic,,,,	FarPoint	May 2012	#26
Watching a young person go into a full-blown asthma attack	PDJane	May 2012	#27
We have yet to hear the entire story...	FarPoint	May 2012	#29
Since the office still had the inhaler several days later	LadyHawkAZ	May 2012	#76
The school had the inhaler for how many days?	LiberalFighter	May 2012	#109
This message was self-deleted by its author	CreekDog	May 2012	#105
you never had an asthma attack. I am guessing	roguevalley	May 2012	#71
Exactly	PatSeg	May 2012	#101
you and me both. My sister-in-law's sweet brother died of an	roguevalley	May 2012	#150
That is so sad	PatSeg	May 2012	#152
So, a prescription medication with the patient's name on it	hifiguy	May 2012	#13
Gomer had some sense.	GoneOffShore	May 2012	#15
Well, the instructions were on the bottom so...	Cave_Johnson	May 2012	#68
It sounds like they got the mom on the phone, and told the mom to come to the school...	Ian David	May 2012	#14
at the very least	SemperEadem	May 2012	#123
She had comments up on one of the articles	LadyHawkAZ	May 2012	#130
Yeah, some people in that school are in deep shit. n/t	Ian David	May 2012	#135
My child was having an asthma attack at school	sense	May 2012	#16
I wish I could say I disagree with your observation,	truedelphi	May 2012	#21
My daughter goes to a public school, and every time we talk to her principal...	Ian David	May 2012	#136
As a nurse	bluedeminredstate	May 2012	#18
I was thinking the same thing... the heck with corporate guidelines	w8liftinglady	May 2012	#32
This message was self-deleted by its author	FarPoint	May 2012	#35
For starters, confiscating the inhaler was ridiculous	lolly	May 2012	#39
THIS	GObamaGO	May 2012	#45
When I was in High School, an emergency inhaler was one of two prescription drugs...	Ian David	May 2012	#138
For someone concerned with waiting for all the facts...	liberalmuse	May 2012	#54
"waiting for the facts" usually means "I've made my decision and I'm going to guess The Truth."	Posteritatis	May 2012	#90
This message was self-deleted by its author	CreekDog	May 2012	#111
Yeah	LadyHawkAZ	May 2012	#65
The story just does not feel like we have all the facts.	FarPoint	May 2012	#67
My guess	LadyHawkAZ	May 2012	#75
Really? If you don't have all the facts, then why are you saying the student was a faker?	CreekDog	May 2012	#112
You say not so fast, we need facts, but ---FarPoint: 35. I think the teen went into drama mode..	CreekDog	May 2012	#113
Well maybe because	LaurenG	Aug 2012	#173
well they say that these days we'll have several careers in our	CreekDog	Aug 2012	#175
Here we go again... Another authoritarian blaming the victim.	backscatter712	May 2012	#69
Ahhhh....	FarPoint	May 2012	#70
This message was self-deleted by its author	LaurenG	Aug 2012	#174
Thanks Dr. Frist	CreekDog	May 2012	#106
you've never had an asthma attack	SemperEadem	May 2012	#124
An asthma attack is not drama mode.	LiberalAndProud	May 2012	#164
she literally locked him in a room as he collapsed...locked him up!!	nashville_brook	May 2012	#59
That is so right.	Chemisse	May 2012	#149
Even a child would know to call 911 if you see	TBF	May 2012	#20
My daughter keeps a spare inhaler hidden in her backpack for just such stupidity.	JoePhilly	May 2012	#22
that's really smart of you!	renate	May 2012	#30
I grew up with asthma as a kid ... before inhalers were being used widely.	JoePhilly	May 2012	#36
Much better nurse than that robot in the OP. (nt)	Posteritatis	May 2012	#33
+ 40 Billion	SmileyRose	May 2012	#34
I let my kids in high school	marlakay	May 2012	#23
I'm glad the parents are suing over that kind of malice.	Posteritatis	May 2012	#24
There were differences in the last situation discussed here	jberryhill	May 2012	#25
Tort action and medical malpractice.	nadinbrzezinski	May 2012	#28
Looks like common sense has flown out the window in some of these cases!	secondwind	May 2012	#31
They must sue. And the nurse should lose her license.	McCamy Taylor	May 2012	#38
I'm a retired nurse - saving	emilyg	May 2012	#40
Please don't hold it against me	skydive forever	May 2012	#41
This nurse makes Nurse Ratched look motherly	Smilo	May 2012	#42
We don't have all the facts...	FarPoint	May 2012	#43
FarPoint, why are you going to such lengths to defend this person?	bupkus	May 2012	#46
This message was self-deleted by its author	FarPoint	May 2012	#62
Since you ignored everything,	Occulus	May 2012	#80
OP is not "defending this person."	treestar	May 2012	#89
FP's presuming the worst of the victim/victim's mother. (nt)	Posteritatis	May 2012	#91
That article is almost entirely quotes of Rudi and his mother	treestar	May 2012	#97
Thank you....	FarPoint	May 2012	#92
Why do you imply that the teen was not in distress?	intheflow	May 2012	#95
You have mentioned that upthread	GObamaGO	May 2012	#47
Panic can bring on an acute attack--and can do so suddenly.	tblue37	May 2012	#83
I would say the phrase "happened conveniently" isn't a particularly impartial way...	CBHagman	May 2012	#146
When my son broke his wrist, the nurse sent him back to class.	silverweb	May 2012	#44
That's awful!	peace13	Aug 2012	#178
Terrible.	silverweb	Aug 2012	#179
My daughter has asthma and the same thing happened to her during her freshman year. The school	firenewt	May 2012	#48
I sincerely hope they sue	LadyHawkAZ	May 2012	#49
The problem is not just this nurse, sadly.	Odin2005	May 2012	#58
THis is a huge problem	Mojorabbit	May 2012	#87
One question that bears asking:	wial	May 2012	#50
Oh, don't you know? It's a DRUUUUUG	Lydia Leftcoast	May 2012	#53
I'd say no reason not to administer the inhaler...	FarPoint	May 2012	#64
I'm sorry--I have to say this, FarPoint.	tblue37	May 2012	#86
This message was self-deleted by its author	FarPoint	May 2012	#88
BTW - The word you want is "its"	COLGATE4	May 2012	#98
bwah ha ha!!	SemperEadem	May 2012	#127
communication is key	SemperEadem	May 2012	#126
No, I have to disagree with your final comemnt.	tblue37	May 2012	#151
They're there and their	BlueToTheBone	May 2012	#94
I used to volunteer at a radio station that was located on a high school campus	Lydia Leftcoast	May 2012	#51
apparently they have a zero-tolerance policy...for rationality	nashville_brook	May 2012	#52
This is why people who say "I was just following the rules"...	Odin2005	May 2012	#55
People who say "I was just following the rules"...	FiveGoodMen	May 2012	#163
They were covering their asses at the expense of the student...	cynatnite	May 2012	#56
If I was that nurse - I would be willing to get fired for giving him his inhaler.	jillan	May 2012	#60
Florida	The Wizard	May 2012	#61
Of course it was in Florida!	midnight armadillo	May 2012	#78
this is because 504 plans are about filling out the paper work and putting it in the drawer.	mopinko	May 2012	#63
My cousin died during an asthma attack.	Swede	May 2012	#66
Time for the regularly-scheduled daily hate.	HiPointDem	May 2012	#72
interesting. story in WESH has comments by the mother in the comment section	w8liftinglady	May 2012	#73
WTF? From one of the comments, and posted publicly	liberalhistorian	May 2012	#77
Shame on Nurse Hilda	Blue Owl	May 2012	#74
OMG. If that had happened to my son, who has truly severe asthma, he would have	tblue37	May 2012	#81
That's gonna hurt a little bit when the Board of Nursing makes its ruling on it	Horse with no Name	May 2012	#82
I've served on Peer Review	Horse with no Name	May 2012	#85
Florida nurses are subject to discipline by the Florida Board of Nursing.	AnotherMcIntosh	May 2012	#84
Here is and update by MSNBC...	FarPoint	May 2012	#93
Yes, the school backpedeling and saying it wasn't so bad is proof they did the right thing.	intheflow	May 2012	#96
The school administrator is at fault, not the nurse. They found the kid ON THE FLOOR in his office.	SunSeeker	May 2012	#121
On a related topic, why don't	BadgerKid	May 2012	#99
Can't teach?	GeorgeGist	May 2012	#100
The nurse was following state law	obamanut2012	May 2012	#102
Link to Volusia County info	obamanut2012	May 2012	#103
Thank you.	proud2BlibKansan	May 2012	#104
Thanks for the cool head...	AnneD	May 2012	#110
If you have a profession where you need a license to practice it	obamanut2012	May 2012	#133
The more I hear about this....	AnneD	May 2012	#140
Good info. I'm fine with taking back my other posts if this was not an emergency.	CreekDog	May 2012	#114
Great research...	FarPoint	May 2012	#148
As a school nurse....	AnneD	May 2012	#108
I question whether or not this school 'nurse' was actually a nurse	azurnoir	May 2012	#118
I do believe I read that...	AnneD	May 2012	#119
what I meant about the prescription label was that the medication was clearly prescribed by an MD	azurnoir	May 2012	#120
No...	AnneD	May 2012	#128
your blaming the parent? there was a form on file it was deemed outdated	azurnoir	May 2012	#131
Implied is not actual......	AnneD	May 2012	#137
giving shots is different isn't it? and as a CMA I am quite experienced	azurnoir	May 2012	#142
I am not sure about your state laws but....	AnneD	May 2012	#157
my scope of pratice is determined by the MD	azurnoir	May 2012	#160
It is true....	AnneD	May 2012	#162
No, it wasn;t implied -- state law requires a signed consent as well as	obamanut2012	May 2012	#143
there was a signed form on file it was deemed outdated	azurnoir	May 2012	#145
There was no current signed form nor doctor acknowledgement of the script	obamanut2012	May 2012	#153
so you defend the so called 'nurse' watching the kid collapse? and that's ethical in your mind?	azurnoir	May 2012	#156
Anne, I don't doubt that the legal framework is a minefield.	LiberalAndProud	May 2012	#165
This is why I question the story....	AnneD	May 2012	#166
I needed to be reminded of how we are informed by our own experiences.	LiberalAndProud	May 2012	#167
This is why I have been so adamant on this thread.....	AnneD	May 2012	#169
The schools around here only have an RN or LPN on duty two days a week	GObamaGO	May 2012	#144
She is an LPN and she was following state law	obamanut2012	May 2012	#134
The posters/nurses who say they care more about their licenses than people's lives...	just1voice	May 2012	#115
I worked damn hard for my license	AnneD	May 2012	#125
what would you have done in this instance?	SemperEadem	May 2012	#129
No...	AnneD	May 2012	#132
Also, it is the highest-rank available administraor who calls 911	obamanut2012	May 2012	#155
Thank you for your Nursing Service.	FarPoint	May 2012	#147
Oh yes, all the nurses have said that	obamanut2012	May 2012	#154
It take a special type of person.....	AnneD	May 2012	#158
They should expect a lawsuit no matter which choice they made,	BanzaiBonnie	May 2012	#117
so instead of dialing 911, you just sat there and watched the child have the attack?	SemperEadem	May 2012	#122
Sick woman.	BlueIris	May 2012	#159
Minor functionary automoton without the good sense or spine to make the correct choice of action.	Stinky The Clown	May 2012	#161
We like to set policy by lawsuits in this country	4th law of robotics	May 2012	#168
I don't blame lawyers....	AnneD	May 2012	#170
Good Samaratin or Force Majeure law would have protected emergency action by nurse	Mimosa	Jun 2012	#172
It really amazes me the stupidity of human beings	Drale	Aug 2012	#176

Response to alp227 (Original post)

Thu May 24, 2012, 05:39 PM

elleng (40,520 posts)

1. ABSOLUTELY agree with Turley here.

SUE the idiot school./administration for FAILURE to take NECESSARY AND REASONABLE action in an EMERGENCY.

Nurse refuses student inhaler during asthma attack

1. ABSOLUTELY agree with Turley here.

57. me too -- also emailing the principal at --->>> SHFREEMA@volusia.k12.fl.us

2. That's nasty...

9. +1. She was thinking about her job and not her patient.

79. Any child with the ability to dial 9-1-1 could have filled in for her that day

139. Why did they not phone 911?

3. Even if the school nurse believed she could not administer it...

10. +1.

19. Excellent response. nt

107. Anybody who knows an asthma patient knows you're right

141. I agree. 911 should have been called. nt

4. This is infuriating. That nurse should be fired. Why the hell didn't she call 911?

37. She should not just be fired, she should lose any license she has to practice.

116. standing up for school nurses

5. They are so sued!

6. I hope so. nt

171. Right.

177. So it's the parents fault?

7. Another fine example of Zero Tolerance policies run amok

8. i have a mild asthma

11. If she wasn't going to give him his inhaler, the "nurse" should have call 911

12. This woman should lose her state license.

17. She should face criminal charges.

26. That's a little drastic,,,,

27. Watching a young person go into a full-blown asthma attack

29. We have yet to hear the entire story...

76. Since the office still had the inhaler several days later

109. The school had the inhaler for how many days?

71. you never had an asthma attack. I am guessing

101. Exactly

150. you and me both. My sister-in-law's sweet brother died of an

152. That is so sad

13. So, a prescription medication with the patient's name on it

15. Gomer had some sense.

68. Well, the instructions were on the bottom so...

14. It sounds like they got the mom on the phone, and told the mom to come to the school...

123. at the very least

130. She had comments up on one of the articles

135. Yeah, some people in that school are in deep shit. n/t

16. My child was having an asthma attack at school

21. I wish I could say I disagree with your observation,

136. My daughter goes to a public school, and every time we talk to her principal...

18. As a nurse

32. I was thinking the same thing... the heck with corporate guidelines

39. For starters, confiscating the inhaler was ridiculous

45. THIS

138. When I was in High School, an emergency inhaler was one of two prescription drugs...

54. For someone concerned with waiting for all the facts...

90. "waiting for the facts" usually means "I've made my decision and I'm going to guess The Truth."

65. Yeah

67. The story just does not feel like we have all the facts.

75. My guess

112. Really? If you don't have all the facts, then why are you saying the student was a faker?

113. You say not so fast, we need facts, but ---FarPoint: 35. I think the teen went into drama mode..

173. Well maybe because

175. well they say that these days we'll have several careers in our

69. Here we go again... Another authoritarian blaming the victim.

70. Ahhhh....

106. Thanks Dr. Frist

124. you've never had an asthma attack

164. An asthma attack is not drama mode.

59. she literally locked him in a room as he collapsed...locked him up!!

149. That is so right.

20. Even a child would know to call 911 if you see

22. My daughter keeps a spare inhaler hidden in her backpack for just such stupidity.

30. that's really smart of you!

36. I grew up with asthma as a kid ... before inhalers were being used widely.

33. Much better nurse than that robot in the OP. (nt)

34. + 40 Billion

23. I let my kids in high school

24. I'm glad the parents are suing over that kind of malice.

25. There were differences in the last situation discussed here

28. Tort action and medical malpractice.

31. Looks like common sense has flown out the window in some of these cases!

38. They must sue. And the nurse should lose her license.

40. I'm a retired nurse - saving

41. Please don't hold it against me

42. This nurse makes Nurse Ratched look motherly

43. We don't have all the facts...