Medication Administration

• Administration of medication during the school day must be ordered by the child’s physician and authorized by a parent/guardian. This document, known as the “medication order,” must be provided to the school nurse. The order must contain the name of the medication, the dosage, the route in which it is to be administered, the timing (specific time of day, intervals), the diagnosis/reason, and any other important information. The physician’s signature and date must be on the order. An order is not the same as a copy of the prescription. A prescription is instructions for a pharmacist to follow in filling the prescription, whereas an order is the physician’s instructions for administration.
  
  • A physician’s order is necessary for any medication, prescription or over-the-counter.
  • A separate order is required for each medication to be administered.
  • An updated order is required for any change in the medication administration (change in dose, time, etc.).
  • The medication order and parent authorization must be renewed at the beginning of every school year.
  • It is against district policy to administer or allow homeopathic or herbal medication substitutes, including ointments and oils.
  • The medication (prescription or over-the-counter) must be transported to and from the school nurse by the parent/guardian.
  • Some medications (such as inhalers, and epi-pens) may be transported to the high school by the student, please contact the high school nurse for information.
  • K-8th grade students are never to transport any medications to the school health office.
  • Prescription medications must be in a pharmacy-labeled container, with a label that contains the following information: Pharmacy name and phone number, student’s name, physician’s name, name of the medication, prescribed dosage, interval of distribution, prescription number, and date of the prescription.
  • Over-the-counter medications must be in their original packaging with accompanying instructions, matching the physician’s order.
  • Please limit the medication supply to a 30-day supply, to be stored in the health office.
  • It is the responsibility of the student to report to the nurse for medication administration at the proper time.
  • The school nurses will attempt to reach K-8th grade students who miss their medication administration.
  • High school students will be given reminders at the beginning of a new medication administration but then will have to come on their own or miss their dose.
    
    

• • According to the PA Public School Code, only the following emergency medications may be carried and self-administered by students:
    • • Epinephrine Auto-Injectors (such as Epi-Pen or Auvi-Q)
      • Inhalers for emergency asthmatic situations.

• • Students who request to carry/self-administer these emergency medications must follow the protocol as listed above, and also these requirements:
  • The physician’s order must provide permission for the student to carry and self-administer.
  • The student must have a proven ability to responsibly carry and self-administer their medication. This may be documented on the physician’s order or demonstrated to the school nurse.
  • Violation of these protocols will result in confiscation of the self-carry emergency medication, loss of self-carry abilities, and possible disciplinary actions.
    
    

• • Diabetic students must follow the same guidelines outlined above.
  • Physician’s orders must detail insulin type, administration route, parameters and calculations, interventions for hyper- or hypoglycemia, and any other pertinent information, and must be provided to the school nurse. Any dosage adjustments must be communicated to the school nurse in the form of a new order.
  • Diabetic students K-8, as well as those at the high school deemed to need additional support, will come to the health office daily before lunch for blood sugar testing and insulin administration (by injection or by pump).
  • Diabetic supplies supplied by parents will be stored in the school health office. Older diabetic students may self-carry minimal diabetic supplies if approved.
  • Diabetic students should report to the health office immediately if feeling hyper- or hypoglycemic. NOTIFY THE HEALTH OFFICE AND PLEASE DO NOT SEND ALONE.

PLEASE NOTE: Carrying any type of medication, other than the emergency medications listed above, is against school policy and is subject to disciplinary action. This includes such things as herbal supplements, vitamins, antacids, over-the-counter pain relief medications, allergy medications, or daily prescriptions. ALL medications must be provided to the school health office, with an accompanying completed medication form (that includes the doctor’s order and parent signature), and are stored there in a locked cabinet.             
medication form update 2013

If you have any questions about medication administration policies, please contact your school nurse.