Administering Medication to Students

Neither the Board nor district staff members are responsible for the diagnosis or treatment of student illness.  The administration of prescribed and/or over the counter medication to a student during school hours will be permitted only when failure to take such medicine would jeopardize the health of the student, or the student would not be able to attend school if the medicine were not made available to them during school hours, or where it is done pursuant to law requiring accommodation to a student’s special medical needs (e.g., Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973).  “Medication” will include all medicines prescribed by an authorized medical provider.

Before any medication may be administered to or by any student during school hours, the Board requires:

1. the written request of the parent(s) or guardian(s), gives permission for such administration and relieve the Board and its employees of liability for administration of medication;
2. the written order of the prescribing authorized medical provider, which will include the purpose of the medication, the dosage, the time at which or the special circumstances under which medication will be administered, the period for which medication is prescribed, and the possible side effects of the medication;
3. medication orders need to be renewed at the beginning of each new school year, or when there is a change of the previous medication orders;
4. that in order for a student to carry and use a rescue inhaler, an epinephrine auto-injector, insulin, or glucagon and associated testing supplies, written permission must be provided both by the parent and the prescribing authorized medical provider in accordance with state law and regulation.

Students are allowed to carry and apply parentally provided sunscreen without a prescription from a medical provider, assuming that the sunscreen is FDA approved and that the sunscreen is not treating a medical condition. Parents need to provide the district with written permission for students to use sunscreen.

Permission slips and medical orders will be kept on file in the office of the school nurse.

Administering Medication to Students in School

The administration of prescribed medication to a student during school hours is permitted only when the medication is necessary to allow the student to attend school or failure to administer the medication would seriously affect the student’s health.

Parent(s) or guardian(s) must present the following information:

1. a written order from a NYS licensed health care provider (e.g. physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) containing the following: student’s name, the date and name of the medicine, dosage and time to be administered, and list of possible side effects; and
2. a written note from the parent/guardian giving appropriate licensed school personnel permission to administer the medication to their child during school or for trained unlicensed personnel to assist their child in taking their own medication.

Students who may carry and use certain medications

Students are permitted to self-administer medication under certain circumstances, in accordance with state law and regulation. A student is authorized to carry and use the following medications: rescue inhaler, epinephrine auto-injector, insulin, glucagon (and associated diabetes testing supplies), if the following conditions are met:

1. An authorized medical provider must provide written permission that includes an attestation that the student’s diagnosis requires the medication; the student can assume responsibility of carrying the medication; the student has demonstrated that they can self-administer the prescribed medication effectively; the name of the medication, the dose, the times when it is to be taken, the circumstances which may warrant use and the length of time during which the student may use it.
2. Written parental permission.

If a student is authorized to carry and use medication as described above, the parent/guardian is permitted to give extra medication and supplies that the district will maintain in accordance with the written directions submitted by the authorized medical provider. Such extra medication and supplies will be readily accessible to the student.

All documents pertaining to student medication will be kept on file in the nurse’s office.

The school nurse will develop procedures for the administration of medication, which require that:

1. all medications will be administered by a licensed person unless the child is a “supervised student” (able to self-administer with assistance and supervision) or an “independent student” (able to self-administer and self-carry);
2. medications, other than as noted above, will be securely stored in the office and kept in their original labeled container, which specifies the type of medication, the amount to be given and the times of administration;
3. the school nurse will maintain a record of the name of the student to whom medication may be administered, the prescribing physician, the dosage and timing of medication, and a notation of each instance of administration; and
4. all medications will be brought to school by the parent(s) or guardian(s) and picked up by the parent(s) or guardian(s) at the end of the school year or the end of the period of medication, whichever is earlier. If not picked up within five days of the period of medication, the medication will be discarded.
5. all medications will be counted at the time they are received from the parents/guardians; and
6. When medication needs to be discontinued, an order from the physician and a letter from the parents/guardians should be given to the school nurse.

An adult must bring the medication to school in the original container. The administering staff member should clearly label the medication with the time to be given and dosage.

Sunscreen. Students are permitted to carry and apply sunscreen without a medical provider’s order under the following conditions:

• the sunscreen is used to avoid overexposure to the sun and not for medical treatment of an injury or illness, if sunscreen is required to treat a medical condition, the procedures for administering medication (above) apply;
• the sunscreen is FDA approved for over the counter use;
• the student’s parents or guardians provide written permission annually for the student to carry and use the sunscreen.
• The school nurse will keep written permission for students on file and develop procedures pertaining to this policy.

Administering medication on field trips and at after-school activities

Taking medication on field trips and at after-school activities is permitted if a student is an “independent student” described above in administering their own medication. On field trips or at other after-school activities, teachers or other school staff may carry the medication (if the student does not need it on hand for rapid administration) so that the independent student can take it at the proper time. If a student is a “supervised student” described above, unlicensed school personnel who have been trained by a licensed school health professional may assist the student in taking his/her medication. The student’s parent/guardian, if attending the trip, may also perform these activities, but may not be required to do so.

If a student is “nurse dependent” (i.e., requires a licensed health professional to administer their medication), then the student must have their medication administered by a licensed health professional, or the district may:

• permit the parent or guardian to attend the activity and administer the medication.
• permit the parent to personally request another adult friend or family member to voluntarily administer the medication on the field trip or activity and inform the school district in writing of such request.
• allow the student’s health care provider to be consulted and, as the provider permits, order the medication time to be adjusted or the dose eliminated.

If no other alternative can be found, the trip will be canceled or rescheduled.