Medication Policy # 516
Health Service staff wish to cooperate parents and the medical profession to assure that students receive any required medication during the normal school day at the time that it is required. It is preferred that medications be administered to students at home; however, it is also recognized that certain circumstances may necessitate administering medications during school hours.
Guidelines have been established to maintain control of authorized drugs within the schools and to ensure the health and welfare of students. Only a licensed nurse, or delegated staff may administer medications in the school setting. All persons giving medication are trained in medication administration by the school nurse.
Prescription medications
Prescription medications may be administered at school if the following criteria are met:
Student Self Administration/Carrying Medications
“Self administration” means the student is able to consume or apply medication in the manner directed by the licensed prescriber without assistance or direction. The School Nurse may approve a student to carry and administer their own medication based on physician recommendation and the School Nurse’s assessment. The approval of this will be on an individual basis. The School Nurse has the right to deny or revoke approval based on nursing assessment of the individual student. Written authorization from your physician must be on file in the Health Office.
Over-the-counter medication
Over the Counter (OTC) medications are medications that can be purchased without a physicians order. OTC medications will be administered at school if the following criteria are met.
Special forms are required to permit the administration of medicine in school. They are available here or from the nurse’s office. A new form is needed each school year. Medication that are not picked up at the end of the school year will be disposed of.
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Health Service staff wish to cooperate parents and the medical profession to assure that students receive any required medication during the normal school day at the time that it is required. It is preferred that medications be administered to students at home; however, it is also recognized that certain circumstances may necessitate administering medications during school hours.
Guidelines have been established to maintain control of authorized drugs within the schools and to ensure the health and welfare of students. Only a licensed nurse, or delegated staff may administer medications in the school setting. All persons giving medication are trained in medication administration by the school nurse.
Prescription medications
Prescription medications may be administered at school if the following criteria are met:
- A consent form is signed by the physician and parent and is on file in the Health Office. Click below for a printable copy of the Prescription Medication Consent form:
- A new medication consent form is required: when the dosage or time of administration is changed, at the beginning of each school year or if a medication that was discontinued is restarted.
- All prescription medications must be in their original prescription bottle properly labeled by the pharmacy. The label must include the student’s name, medication, dose, route and time to be given. Parents are encouraged to ask the pharmacist for a second container for school when the prescription is being filled.
- All doses of antibiotics prescribed for 2 or 3 times daily should be taken at home.
- Bottles cannot contain more than one dosage in a single container (ex. 10 mg tablets and 5 mg tablets in the same container).
- If pills must be cut to get the proper dose, the medication should be supplied to the school already cut by the pharmacist or parent.
- Students who fail to come to take a daily prescription medication will be called out of class to take the medication by health office staff. If a student regularly fails to come to take the medication at the scheduled time, the parent will be notified and an individual plan may be developed by the School Nurse, parent and student. Students will not be called out of class to take OTC medications or medications that are ordered “as needed”.
- If a student refuses to take a scheduled prescription medication, the School Nurse, the parent and/or physician will be notified at that time, by health office staff. The School Nurse, parent and physician will develop alternative plans as needed. Students will not be forced to take medication while at school.
Student Self Administration/Carrying Medications
“Self administration” means the student is able to consume or apply medication in the manner directed by the licensed prescriber without assistance or direction. The School Nurse may approve a student to carry and administer their own medication based on physician recommendation and the School Nurse’s assessment. The approval of this will be on an individual basis. The School Nurse has the right to deny or revoke approval based on nursing assessment of the individual student. Written authorization from your physician must be on file in the Health Office.
Over-the-counter medication
Over the Counter (OTC) medications are medications that can be purchased without a physicians order. OTC medications will be administered at school if the following criteria are met.
- Parents must complete the OTC medication form or include a signed note indicating the name of the medication and the reason or symptoms the student is taking the medication. Click below for a printable copy of the Over the Counter Medication Consent form:
- The medication is supplied to the school in the original container.
- The packaging must include dosing information.
- The medication must be approved by the FDA. School staff will not administer herbal medications and supplements.
- The packaging must indicate that the product is “approved for use in children”.
- Aspirin or products containing Aspirin will not be administered to students by school staff without a physician’s order and School Nurse approval.
- Requests to administer medication in excess of the manufactures’ recommended dose will only be honored with a written physician’s order.
- The original container should be labeled with the student’s name.
- The School Nurse may request a physician’s written order if a student is taking the medication on a frequent basis.
Special forms are required to permit the administration of medicine in school. They are available here or from the nurse’s office. A new form is needed each school year. Medication that are not picked up at the end of the school year will be disposed of.
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