Administration of Medication at School
5.11.3
The school nurse cannot administer medications of any kind at a parent's request
unless we receive a written order from a physician and a parental authorization
form.
Medications will be administered at school only under the following
conditions:
(1) Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be given by the
school nurse with written and/or telephone permission by the parent.
(2) A written note from the physician must
accompany the medication requesting that
the dose be administered
at school. The order also must include the name of the
medication, dose to be
administered, time(s) for administration, any known
allergies or side effects, and
reason for the medication. The only exception to this
policy is for prescription medications
requiring administration for ten (10) days or
less. Under these
circumstances the pharmacy-labeled bottle may serve as the
doctor's order if the school nurse has no
questions. A parental authorization form
available in the Health Office must
accompany all medications.
(3) All medication must be plainly labeled and
brought to school in the bottle dispensed by the pharmacy.
(4) When it is necessary for a child to take
medication at school, an adult must bring the medication to school. No
medication should be brought to school by the student. This safety
policy is to protect the children from accidental spillage or usage of the
medication. Please contact the school nurse if you require special
arrangements.
(5) There shall be a new licensed prescriber's
order for all medications at the beginning of each academic school
year.
(6) Medications must be brought to and kept in
the Health Office. No student will be
allowed to carry
any medication with them during the school day unless the child's physician, parents
and school nurse agree upon it. Any medication left in
the Health Office after the last day of school
will be disposed of by the school
nurse.
(7) Emergency medication (Epi Pens) may be
administered by "educated" staff other than the school nurse during an
emergency situation provided the following:
a. There is a list
of "educated" staff that have taken and passed the Epi Pen
training program designed and administered by the school nurse. The
training is to be conducted twice a school year.
b. There is specific documentation that the child has a life-threatening
allergy.
c. There are physician orders to administer an Epi Pen in a life-threatening
situation.
d. There is parental/guardian permission for "educated" staff to administer
an Epi Pen in a life-threatening situation.
e. The school nurse is not immediately available to administer the Epi Pen.
First reading: July 26, 2005
Second reading: August 30, 2005
Approved: August 30, 2005
Proposed Policy