ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION TO STUDENTS

The intent of this policy is to promote the safe administration of medications to students by school personnel and to provide for authorization of student emergency self-administration of medication from asthma inhalers and epinephrine pens. The Board encourages collaboration between parents/guardians and the schools in these efforts. The Board disclaims any and all responsibility for the diagnosis, prescription of treatment, and administration of medication for any student, and for any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication.

 The board recognizes that in some instances a student’s chronic or short-term illness, injury, or disabling condition may require the administration of medication during the school day. The school will not deny educational opportunities to students requiring the administration of medication in order to remain in attendance and participate in the educational program.

 ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL

 A. Scheduled Medications: Medication, defined as prescription and over-the-counter medication, will be administered by the school nurse or designated unlicensed personnel who has successfully completed a medication course as required by the medication administration rule Chapter 40:

1. Health care provider order for medication.

a.   It has been determined by a health care provider and parent that there is no satisfactory alternate method of administration, i.e., before or after school at home.

b.   The need for medication is based on either an acute or long term health problem.

c.   The medication is brought to school by the parent or guardian in its original container, labeled with:

1. First and last names of student;

2. Name of medication;

3. Dosage of medication;

4. The route of administration;

5. Time intervals for administration;

6. Any special instructions; and

7. The name of the prescribing health care provider.

 

It is the responsibility of the school nurse to clarify any medication order that he/she believes to be inappropriate or ambiguous. In accordance with Department of Education Rule Chapter 40 § 2(B), the school nurse may decline to administer a medication if he/she believes such administration would jeopardize student safety. In this case, the school nurse must notify the parent, the student’s health care provider, and the school administrator (i.e., building principal or designated administrator).

 

B. As Needed/Medications: Medication, defined as prescription and over-the counter medications, given only as needed for special health situations. Medication will only be given when the following conditions are met:

1. Parent or legal guardian must submit a completed Medication Permission Form, CLEARLY identifying under what condition, (e.g., headache, menstrual pain, tooth pain from braces, cough) the medication should be used.

2. The medication is brought to school in its original container, labeled with:

a. First and last names of student;

b. Name of medication;

c. Dosage of medication; and

d. Frequency and route to be given.

 

C. Standing Orders: A school physician standing order or a health care provider order for medication is needed for all medications.

 

D. Renewal of Parent Permission Requests/Forms and Health Care Provider Orders:

Written parental permission requests/forms and health care provider orders must be renewed at least annually. Health care provider orders must be renewed whenever there are changes in the order.

 

E. Delivery and Storage of Medication:

1.  The student’s parents shall deliver any medication to be administered by school personnel to the school in its original container. In the event that this is not practical, the parent must contact the school to make mutually agreeable alternate arrangements.

2.  No more than a 20-day (one month) supply of medication shall be kept at school unless agreed upon by school nurse and parent, excluding inhalers and epinephrine pens. The parent is responsible for the replenishment of medication kept at school.

3. The parent is responsible for notifying the school of any changes in or discontinuation of a prescribed medication that is being administered to the student at school. The parent must remove any medication no longer required or that remains at the end of the school year.

4. The school nurse OR principal OR designated school official shall be responsible for developing and implementing procedures for the appropriate and secure storage of medications kept at school, and all medications shall be stored in accordance with this procedure.

 

F. Recordkeeping: School personnel and the student’s parent shall account for all medication brought to school. The number of capsules, pills or tablets, and/or the volume of other medications brought to school shall be recorded.

 

School staff administering medication shall document each instance the medication is administered including the date, time, and dosage given.

The school nurse OR principal OR designated school official shall maintain a record including the parent’s request, physician’s order, details of the specific medications (including dosage and timing of medication), and documentation of each instance the medication is administered.

 

Records shall be retained according to the current State schedules pertaining to student health records.

 

G. Confidentiality: To the extent legally permissible, staff members may be provided with such information regarding medication and its administration as may be in the best interest of the student.

 

H. Administration of Medication: Medication may be administered during the school day by licensed medical personnel acting within the scope of their licenses.

 

The school nurse, under the administrative supervision of the Superintendent, will provide direction and oversight for the administration of medication to students.

 

All unlicensed personnel (principals, teachers, education technicians, school secretaries, coaches, bus drivers, etc.) who administer medication must receive training before being authorized to do so.

 

Based upon the documentation of training and competency in the administration of medication, the school nurse will make recommendations to the Superintendent/designee pertaining to authorization of unlicensed persons to administer medication. Training that shall be acceptable for the purpose of authorization of unlicensed personnel is addressed under the section of this policy titled “Required Training of Unlicensed Personnel to Administer Medication.”

 

I.        Administration of Medication During Off-Campus Field Trips and School-Sponsored Events: The school will accommodate students requiring administration of medication during field trips or school-sponsored events as follows:

 

The school nurse, principal, and, as appropriate, the school unit’s Section 504 Coordinator and/or PET, will determine whether an individual student’s participation is contraindicated due to the unstable/fragile nature of his/her health condition, the distance from emergency care that may be required, and/or other extraordinary circumstances. The student’s parent and/or health care provider will be consulted in making this determination. The decision will be made in compliance with applicable laws, including the IDEA, § 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The parent must provide the appropriate number of doses needed for the duration of the field trip or school-sponsored event.

 

When there are no contraindications to student participation, an appropriately trained staff member will be assigned to administer medication. The parent will be encouraged to accompany the student, if possible, to care for the student and administer medication.

 

All provisions of this policy shall apply to medications to be administered during off-campus field trips and school-sponsored events. As practicable, the DOE’s “Policy for Medication Administration on School Trips” will be followed.

 

J.  Student Self-Administration of Asthma Inhalers and Epinephrine Pens: Students with allergies or asthma may be authorized by the building principal, in consultation with the school nurse, to possess and self-administer emergency medication from an epinephrine pen (EpiPen) or asthma inhaler during the school day, during field trips, school-sponsored events, or while on a school bus. The student shall be authorized to possess and self-administer medication from an epinephrine pen or asthma inhaler if the following conditions have been met.

 

1. The parent (or student, if 18 years of age or older) must request in writing authorization for the student to self-administer medication from an epinephrine pen or asthma inhaler.

 

2. The student must have the prior written approval of his/her health care provider and, if the student is under the age of 18, the prior written approval of his/her parent/guardian. The written notice from the student’s health care provider must specify the name and dosage of the medication, frequency with which it may be administered, and the circumstances that may warrant its use.

 

3. The student’s parent/guardian must submit written verification to the school from the student’s health care provider confirming that the student has the knowledge and the skills to safely possess and use an epinephrine pen or asthma inhaler.

 

4. The school nurse shall evaluate the student’s technique to ensure proper and effective use of an epinephrine pen or asthma inhaler

 

5. The parent will be informed that the school cannot accurately monitor the frequency and appropriateness of use when the student self-administers medication, and that the school unit will not be responsible for any injury arising from the student’s self-medication.

 

Authorization granted to a student to possess and self-administer medication from an epinephrine pen or asthma inhaler shall be valid for the current school year only and must be renewed annually.

 

A student’s authorization to possess and self-administer medication from an epinephrine pen or asthma inhaler may be limited or revoked by the building principal after consultation with the school nurse and the student’s parents if the

student demonstrates inability to responsibly possess and self-administer such medication. The health care provider should be informed if this occurs.

 

To the extent legally permissible, staff members may be provided with such information regarding the student’s medication and the student’s self- administration as may be in the best interest of the student.

 

Sharing, borrowing, or distribution of medication is prohibited. The student’s authorization to self-administer medication may be revoked and the student may be subject to disciplinary consequences for violation of this policy.

 

K.  Required Training of Unlicensed Personnel to Administer Medication:

Unlicensed school personnel who administer medication to students in a school setting (at school, on school transportation to or from school, on field trips, or during school-sponsored events) must be trained in the administration of medication before being authorized to carry out this responsibility. Such training must be provided by a registered professional nurse or physician and include the components specified in Department of Education Rules Chapter 40 and other applicable Department of Education standards, recommendations, programs, and/or methodologies.

 

The trainer shall document the training and competency of unlicensed school personnel to administer medication. Based upon a review of the documentation of training and competency in the administration of medication, the school nurse will make recommendations to the Superintendent/designee pertaining to authorization of such unlicensed personnel pertaining to authorization to administer medication.

 

Following the initial training, a training review and information update must be held at least annually for those unlicensed school personnel authorized to administer medication.

 

L.      Delegation and Implementation: The Superintendent/designee shall be responsible for developing administrative procedures and/or protocols to implement or supplement this policy.

 

Such procedures/protocols shall include direction regarding:

 

1. Safe transport of medication to and from school;

2. Administration of medication during field trips and school-sponsored events;

3. Accountability for medications, particularly those regulated by the Federal Narcotics Act;

 4. Proper storage of medication at school;