Early Childhood Education

In early childhood education, there are varying practices on how to ensure knowledge of medical treatment. A breeder implementing medical treatment may require the necessary additional training. Children with different diagnoses such as intellectual disability, speech delay, autism spectrum or ADHD are placed in the group. Some children need regular medication. There have been ADHD drugs, epilepsy drugs, asthma drugs, strong painkillers and antibiotic courses. Medicines can be taken orally, inhaled and given through a feeding tube.

When he started working in early childhood education, he was confused by the fact that the knowledge of medical treatment was not updated. This fall, together with a trustee, he started to demand medical care training and an exam at the daycare center. I said that i cannot take responsibility for the medical treatment of children without updating my skills. I decided that i could not continue working unless i had valid medical licenses.

There are various practices in maintaining the know-how of medical treatment of breeders. In some kindergartens, the nurses regularly conduct medical examinations, but this is not the case everywhere. Updating skills depends on whether the employer considers it an important matter.

Early childhood education managers are responsible for familiarizing employees with drug treatment, training and ensuring competence. If the employees do not have sufficient skills, the employer must organize additional training and ensure the skills before the child starts early childhood education. According to the recommendation of the ministry of social affairs and health, a healthcare professional such as a family nurse is responsible for implementing drug treatment in early childhood education.

Even though he has received training as a nurse, medical treatment requires regular refresher. It is important to recognize the limits of your own competence. When a child joins the group with a diagnosis that requires medical treatment, the supervisor should be asked for further training.

An early childhood education teacher or a social worker may administer medication to the child in a natural way, for example orally, but it requires his consent. He needs to be familiarized and organize additional training. In order to carry out more demanding medical treatment, for example injecting insulin, it is also necessary to verify competence on the screen and a medical license.

It is worrying that there are currently groups in early childhood education that do not have any family caregivers. If, for example, a diabetic child starts in such a group, no one has an obligation to take care of his medical treatment.

Medication affects the child’s well-being

All children have the right to early childhood education, and the implementation of medical treatment cannot be an obstacle to participation. The management of early childhood education has an obligation to ensure that there is an educator responsible for the implementation of medical treatment on duty. Every municipality must have a drug treatment plan for early childhood education, which can be picked up in municipal and private kindergartens. In addition, the daycare center must have a site-specific drug treatment plan.