Jlcd - administering medication to students

EDUCATIONAL POLICIES OF SCHOOL
REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT #10
DATE ADOPTED: 8.10.09
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION TO STUDENTS
The administration of medication in schools is limited and controlled by law -- Title 20-A MRSA, 254 (5), 4009 (4) -- and is specifically addressed by school board policy JLCD. This regulation is based on the following: A.The dispensing of medication on school premises is discouraged. Whenever possible, the schedule of medication administration should be altered to allow a student to receive all prescribed doses at home. The first dose of a newly prescribed medication must be given at home, not at school. Should a medical reaction occur at school, the parent/guardian/emergency contact will be notified immediately. In the case of students requiring narcotics the dispensing of such medications shall be on a case by case basis at the discretion of the school nurse. B. Administering medication in school should be allowed, subject to the conditions of the board policy and these regulations, when, in the opinion of the attending physician/dentist, a pupil would be unable to attend school without medication being received during the school day. C. For the purpose of this policy, “medication” includes both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications. “Physician” includes physicians, dentists, and other licensed health professional when prescribing within the scope of their prescriptive authority (e.g., nurse practitioners). “Parent” refers to the student’s parent or guardian. “Unlicensed personnel” refers to school staff who are not licensed by the State in any profession that allows for the administration of medication, diagnose medical conditions, provide medial care, and/or prescribe medication (e.g., administrators, teachers, secretaries, education technicians, coaches, bus drivers). D. The RSU 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. Careful records are to be kept as referenced in the Administering Medication Procedure. E. Students are not permitted to carry and self-administer medication. The only exceptions will be asthma inhalers, Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride), epinephrine auto-injectors, insulin and/or insulin pumps and glucagon that are prescribed by a physician. Written approval must be received from the student’s health care provider stating that the student has the knowledge and skills to safely possess and use an inhaled asthma medication, an epinephrine auto-injector. The student must demonstrate to the school nurse their ability to properly and responsibly carry and use the inhaled asthma medication, Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride), epinephrine auto-injector, insulin and/or insulin pumps and glucagon. F. To minimize the possibility of miscommunication, misunderstanding and error, an annual written request for prescription medication to be administered in school is to be submitted by the parent/guardian AND the private practitioner. A medication label that provides sufficient information may be used in lieu of a written order unless the medication is to be administered for more than fifteen (15) consecutive days. The written request shall then be reviewed and approved by the school nurse. Written permission from a parent or guardian is required in order for non-prescription medication to be administered in school. For students in middle and high school, in RSU #10, the school nurse and unlicensed trained school personnel may administer the following school supplied medications: Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Ibuprofen (Advil) with the written permission form on file indicating the preferred medication. No verbal permission will be accepted. All procedures noted in the RSU #10 Policy for Administering Medications to Students shall be strictly followed. G. The general content of the policy and this regulation, with any procedural information needed for compliance, shall be made available to the parents and students via bulletins, handbooks, etc. as appropriate.
H. Parents/guardians are invited to come to the school to directly medicate their children.

Source: http://district.rsu10.org/wp-content/uploads/policies/JLCD_-_Administering_Medication_to_Students.pdf