Medication at School
Each school principal shall
authorize two staff members to administer prescribed or non-prescribed oral medication. Oral medications are
administered by mouth either by swallowing or inhaling. These designated staff members will
participate in an in-service training session conducted by a physician or
registered nurse prior to the opening of school each year.
Prescribed or over-the-counter
oral medication may be dispensed to students on a scheduled basis upon written
authorization from a parent with a
written request by a licensed practitioner. If the medication is to be
administered more than fifteen consecutive days the written request must be
accompanied by written instructions from a licensed practitioner. Requests
shall be valid for not more than the current school year. The prescribed or
non-prescribed medication must be properly labeled and be contained in the
original container. The dispenser of prescribed or non-prescribed oral
medication shall:
A. Collect
the medication directly from the parent, students should not transport
medication to school, collect an authorization form properly signed by the
parent and by the prescribing licensed practitioner and collect instructions
from the prescribing licensed practitioner if the oral medication is to be
administered for more than fifteen consecutive days;
B. Store
the prescription or non-prescribed oral medication (not more than a two [2]
weeks supply) in a locked, substantially constructed cabinet;
C. Maintain
a daily record which indicates that the prescribed or non-prescribed oral
medication was dispensed.
D. Provide
for supervision by a licensed practitioner.
A copy of this policy shall be
provided to the parent upon request for administration of medication in the
schools, and the parent shall agree in writing that because of the schedule and
other responsibilities it is permissible for a dosage or dosages to be delayed
or missed. If the parent refuses to accept that condition, the district shall
reject the request.
No prescribed medication shall
be administered by injection by staff except when a student is susceptible to a
predetermined, life-endangering situation. The parent shall submit a written
statement which grants a staff member the authority to act according to the
specific written orders and supporting directions provided by a licensed
practitioner (e.g., medication administered to counteract a reaction to a bee
sting). Such medication shall be administered by staff trained to administer
such an injection.
Written orders for emergency
medication, signed and dated, from the licensed practitioner shall:
A. State
that the student suffers from an allergy which may result in an anaphylactic
reaction;
B. Identify
the drug, the mode of administration, the dose. Epinephrine administered by inhalation, rather than
injection, may be a treatment option.
This decision must be made by the licensed practitioner;
C. Indicate
when the injection shall be administered based on anticipated symptoms or time
lapse from exposure to the allergen;
D. Recommend
follow-up after administration, which may include care of the stinger,
administration of additional medications, transport to hospital; and
E. Specify
how to report to the licensed practitioner and any record keeping
recommendations.
Medications administered other
than orally may only be administered by a licensed practitioner.
If a physician or dentist and a
student's parent request that a student be permitted to carry his/or her own
medication and/or be permitted to self-administer the medication, the principal
may grant permission after consulting with the school nurse. The process for requesting and
providing instructions shall be the same as established for oral
medications. The principal and
nurse shall take into account the age, maturity and capability of the student;
the nature of the medication; the circumstances under which the student will or
may have to self-administer the medication and other issues relevant in the
specific case before authorizing a student to carry and/or self-administer
medication at school. Except in
the case of multi-dose devices (like asthma inhalers), students shall only
carry one day's supply of medication at a time. Violations of any conditions placed on the student permitted
to carry and/or self-administer his or her own medication may result in
termination of that permission, as well as the imposition of discipline when
appropriate.