File: JLCD
ADMINISTRATION
OF MEDICATION TO STUDENTS
MSAD #41
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Although the Board discourages the administration of
medication to students during the school day when other options exist, it
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.
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.
DEFINITIONS
“Administration” means the provision of prescribed
medication to a student according to the orders of a health care provider.
“Health care provider” means a medical/health
practitioner who has a current license in the State of Maine with a scope of
practice that includes prescribing medication.
“Indirect supervision” means the supervision of an
unlicensed school staff member when the school nurse or other health care
provider is not physically available on site but immediately available by
telephone.
“Medication” means prescribed drugs and medical
devices that are controlled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are
ordered by a health care provider. It includes over-the-counter medications
prescribed through a standing order by the school physician or prescribed by
the student’s health care provider.
“Parent” means a natural or adoptive parent, a
guardian, or a person acting as a parent of a child with legal responsibility
for the child’s welfare.
“School nurse” means a registered professional nurse
with Maine Department of Education certification for school nursing.
“Self-administration” is when the student
administers medication independently to him/herself under indirect supervision
of the school nurse.
“Unlicensed school personnel” are persons who do not
have a professional license that allows them, within the scope of that license,
to administer medication.
ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATION BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL
Parental Request
In the event that no reasonable alternative exists,
the parent/guardian may request in writing that medication be administered to
the student during the school day. The written request must include an acknowledgment
and agreement that unlicensed personnel may administer the medication as per
the health provider’s instructions. In addition, the request shall indicate
that information regarding the student’s medication may be shared with
appropriate school personnel. Parents may provide the reason (diagnosis)
requiring the administration of medication. Requests shall be valid for the
current school year only.
Health Care Provider’s Order
All parental requests must be accompanied by a
written order from the student’s health care provider substantiating the fact
that the administration of a particular medication during the school day is
necessary for the student’s health and attendance in school. Such order must
include:
A. The
student’s name;
B. The
name of the medication;
C. The
dose;
D. The
route of administration (e.g., tablets, liquid, drops); and
F. Time
interval for administration (e.g., every four hours, before meals);
G. Any
special instructions; and
H. 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).
Renewal of Parent Permission Requests/Forms and
Health Care Provider Order
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.
Deliver and Storage of Medication
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 alternate arrangements.
No more than a 20-day (one month) supply of
medication shall be kept at school, excluding inhalers, epinephrine pens and
glucagon. The parent is responsible for the replenishment of medication kept at
school.
If the health care provider’s order/prescription is
for a medication regulated by the Federal Narcotics Act, no more than a [one week]
OR Lone day] supply shall be kept at school.
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.
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.
Record keeping
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.
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.
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.”
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 primary 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 of School Trips” will be followed.
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.
A. 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.
B. The student must have the prior written
approval of his/her primary 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 primary 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.
C. The student’s parent/guardian must submit
written verification to the school from the student’s primary care provider
confirming that the student has the knowledge and the skills to safely possess
and use an epinephrine pen or asthma inhaler.
D. The school nurse shall evaluate the
student’s technique to ensure proper and effective use of an epinephrine pen or
asthma inhaler.
E. 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.
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.
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.
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;
5. Training of appropriate staff
on administration of emergency medications;
6. The procedure to follow in the
event of a medication reaction;
7. Access to medications in case
of a disaster
8. The process for documenting medications given
and medication errors; and
9. The proper disposal of medications not
retrieved by parents.
Legal Reference: 20-A
M.R.S.A. && 254; 4009(4)
Ch. 40 (Me. Dep’t. of Educ. Rule)
28 C.F.R. Part 35 (Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990)
34 C.F.R. Part 104 (Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
34 C.F.R. Part 300 (Individuals with disabilities
Education Act)
First Reading: March
1, 2006
Adopted: April
5, 2006
MSAD#41 Medication Permission Form
It is the policy of MSAD #41 that
medication NOT be sent to school unless absolutely necessary. Physicians will
often accommodate your request to schedule medication time outside of school
hours.
PERMISSION FOR DESIGNATED SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO SUPERVISE
ADMINISTRATION
OF MEDICATION IN SCHOOL
Student’s
Name________________________________________________________________________
Name of
Medication_____________________________________________________________________
Doctor’s
Name_________________________________________________________________________
Reason for
Medication___________________________________________________________________
Dosage and
Time(s)_____________________________________________________________________
Side
Effects____________________________________________________________________________
Doctor’s
Signature Date_________________________
(Required only if medication Is not
accompanied by pharmacy prescription label or if medication is to be taken at
school more than 15 days)
All medication (NOT EXCEEDING A
I give my permission for DESIGNATED
SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO SUPERVISE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION IN SCHOOL or for
special activities outside of school, including field trips to the ABOVE named
student. Designated personnel may include school nurse or trained unlicensed
non-medical staff under the supervision of the school nurse or an adequately
instructed teacher in the event of a field trip.
I understand that new Medication
Forms must be submitted with each change in present medication or new
medication(s) and that information regarding my child’s medication will be
shared with appropriate school personnel. I also understand I must notify the
school of any changes in or discontinuation of the prescribed medication and that
the school will notify me if problems occur with the administration of the
above mentioned medication. Prescriptions are valid for current school year,
therefore, I understand that medications left at the school one week following
the June school closing, will be discarded if not claimed.
Parent/Guardian Date_______________
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
School Nurse
Signature_________________________________________Date_______________