Student Health

Medications are generally administered by an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel under the supervision or direction of a school nurse. Medications are given at school as a courtesy to parents. Medications not necessary for attendance may be refused and some prescribed medications may be refused at the nurse’s discretion due to safety issues.

The following requirements are to be met before medication is administered at school:

• All medications must be stored and administered from the original containers with the most current, dated labels. The student’s name must be on the prescription label.
• The medication label is not to be changed in any way. (Name of child, dosage, and time given.) Parents are responsible for getting the medications to and from school.
• A parent must sign medication forms giving school personnel permission for administering medications to their child. The dosage on the medication container and the dosage on the medication permission form must be identical.
• No medication will be given unless it is specifically ordered by the child’s physician to be given during school hours. Medication ordered to be given 1, 2, or 3 times a day will be given at home unless specifically ordered to be given during the school day.
• Medications such as inhalers and auto-injectable epinephrine may be kept with the student provided that all district guidelines and state requirements (ACA 6-18-707) are met. Non-prescription inhalers will not be allowed at school without a written doctor’s order.
• If morning medication, usually given at home, is forgotten – there must be verbal consent from the parent before being given at school.
• The school system is not responsible for reactions caused by medications which are properly administered.
• If questions concerning a medication arise, school personnel have the right to call the doctor/pharmacist regarding medications. The parent/guardian will be notified.
• All medications should be kept in a locking cabinet in the office to be administered by the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel or School Nurse.
• With permission from the parent/guardian, all unused medication may be sent home with the student or collected by the parent/ guardian by the end of the final student day ofthe school year. Any medications remaining after the last school day will be destroyed.