We're not trained to be nurses: teachers By LARISSA CUMMINGS August 5, 2005 TEACHERS have called for nurses or medically trained staff to administer prescription drugs to students, following a rise in the number of children taking medication at school. NSW Teachers Federation president Maree O'Halloran said there was too much responsibility being placed on teachers to give out daily doses of drugs. "The number of children who need to be administered medication has risen over the past five years," Ms O'Halloran said. "It's accepted it's because of the rise in diagnoses for ADHD and related behavioural problems. "This is a big issue for teachers because they are not nurses and they are not medically trained." Ms O'Halloran said the varying medications, doses and times children required them. did not allow room for mistakes. "There is clearly a growing trend towards more and more students needing to take medication and it has reached the point where we require nurses in schools," she said. "Administering medication is not a teacher's function. "These drugs often come with few instructions so it is a big issue. "And it's one that causes heartache for many teachers because they want to care for the students but don't want to be placed in a position where they could make a mistake." Ms O'Halloran said the use of bells in some schools to remind students to take their medicine – as revealed in yesterday's Daily Telegraph – showed the extent of the issue. NSW Principals Council president Cheryl McBride said teachers in public schools who volunteered to administer drugs were sent on training courses but learnt only basic medical skills. "There is a great sensitivity among teachers about their role in administering medication to students," Ms McBride said. " The responsibility lies with parents to help with training their child to take their medicine. "There are some exceptions, in cases when the child is very young or if they required help to administer their medication." http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=3557000 Back To Guvment Skool Page 8 COPYRIGHT "DUHMAG.COM" 2005