Back to Policy Manual index

Barre Town Supervisory District Policy Manual

TITLE: Administering Medicines to Students     CODE: JLCD

MEDICATION IN SCHOOLS

Standard

Many children are able to attend regular school because of the effective use of prescribed medication in the treatment of chronic disabilities or illnesses. It is more desirable for medication to be administered in the home; however, any student who is required to take prescribed medication during the regular school day must comply with the regulations that follow.

Procedures

Prescription Medication:

  1. Written orders from a physician detailing the name of the student, the drug dosage, reason for giving, and time medication is to be given must be received by the school nurse before the medication can be given. A renewal of a long-term medication order is required each school year.
  2. Written permission from the parent/guardian of the student requesting that the school district comply with the physician's order must accompany the physician's order.
  3. Students with chronic illness, (e.g. seizure disorder, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, asthma) and/or potentially life threatening conditions, (e.g. severe allergies) who are responsible for self-administering their medication should be allowed to continue the practice under the guidance of the school nurse. These students must have a doctor's order that gives permission to carry and self-administer the medication. The medication should be kept in a secure place and the school nurse must instruct the student on the safe use of the medication at school before the student can carry the medication on his/her own. The student is expected to notify the nurse or other designated school personnel when the medication is used. Any student not found to be responsible for the safekeeping and use of the medicine will be required to keep the medication locked, and the nurse will administer the medication.
  4. Medication must be brought to the school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or physician. All medications, with the exception of those self-administered and/or those needed for emergencies, will be transported to and from school by the parent or a responsible adult designated by the parent to do so.
  5. Medication must be stored in the nurses' office in a locked closet or cabinet.
  6. The school nurse shall be responsible to alert, when appropriate, the necessary school personnel with information regarding the medication to include possible adverse drug reactions.
  7. The above procedures must be followed for all prescription medication.
  8. Unused medication must be returned to the parent for disposition or be destroyed by the school nurse in the presence of a witness and signed and dated by both.

Non-Prescription Medication:

  1. The school nurse must be notified if a non-prescription medication is required during school hours or activities.
  2. Transportation of non-prescription medication will be by the parent or a designated adult.
  3. The medication will be in the original container with dosage information available.
  4. The school nurse will communicate with the parent and child's physician when the medication efficacy is questionable.
  5. Non-prescription medication will be administered with written permission of the parent.
  6. Non-prescription medication will be stored in the school nurses' office in a locked closet or cabinet.

Homeopathic Remedies and Food Additives

  1. Prior to the administration of homeopathic substances, the school nurse must be aware and have access to current valid information regarding the action, desired effects, side effects, toxic effects and possible chemical and drug interactions with other substances.
  2. Information on the substance will be obtained from a monograph written by a physician if published data is not available.
  3. If the student is receiving medication, his/her physician must validate in writing that the homeopathic substance is not contraindicated.
  4. The school nurse has the right to refuse to administer substances which he/she feels may harm the student or if the information regarding the substance is unknown. The school nurse will communicate with the parent and principal regarding such a decision.

 

Date Adopted: 5/17/89
1st Reading: 11/6/02
2nd Reading: 11/20/02
Date Revised:
Date Effective:
Legal Reference(s):
Cross References:
Date Distributed:
Typed at BTEMS-on disk