File:  JLCD-R - Administering Medicines to Students

If under exceptional circumstances a student is required to take oral medication during school hours only the school nurse or the nurse's designee will administer the medication in compliance with the following regulations.  In an alternative, the parent/guardian may come to school to administer the medication.

1.  All directives of the accompanying policy will be followed.

2.  Written orders from the student's health care practitioner with prescriptive authority under Colorado law shall be on file in the school stating:

a.  Student's name

b.  Name of medication

c.  Dosage

d.  Purpose of the medication

e.  Time of day medication is to be given

f.  Anticipated number of days it needs to be given in school

g.  Possible side effects

3.  The medication must be brought to school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or health care practitioner.

4.  An individual record will be kept of such medications administered by school personnel.

5.  Medication will be stored in a clean, locked cabinet or container.  Emergency medications (such as epinephrine) shall be kept in a secure location accessible to designated school staff.

6.  Written consent must be obtained from the care provider and parent/guardian.

Unless these requirements can be met, medication will not be administered at school.

Procedure

1.  Identify the student.

2.  Identify the medication and confirm the following:

a.  Student's name and/or photo on bottle.

b.  Name of medication on bottle.

c.  Dosage of medication on bottle.

d.  Instructions on bottle for giving the medication.  (Time and route.)

3.  Compare information on medication bottle with medication record information.

4.  Confirm that the health care practitioner's order is attached to medication record or note.

5.  Check to see that the medication has not been given already for that day and time by another school person.

6.  Administer the medication to the student as directed.

7.  Record time the medication was given on student's medication record.

8.  Return medication to locked medication cupboard.

Self-administration of medication for asthma, allergies or anaphylaxis

A school shall permit a student to possess and self-administer medication, such as an inhaler or epinephrine, if all of the following conditions are met:

1.  Written authorization signed by the student's health care practitioner must be on file with the school which shall include the student's name; the name, purpose, prescribed dosage, frequency, and length of time between dosages of the medication(s) to be self-administered; and confirmation that the student has been instructed and is capable of self-administration of the medication.

2.  The school nurse or school administrator, in consultation with the school nurse, the student's health care practitioner, and the student's parent/guardian collaborate to make an assessment of the student's knowledge of his or her condition and ability to self-administer medication.

3.  A written statement signed by the student's parent/guardian must be on file with the school, which shall include permission for the student to self-administer his/her medication and a release from liability for any injury arising from the student's self-administration of such medication.

4.  A written contract between the school nurse, school administrator, the student, and the student's parent/guardian must be on file with the school, assigning levels of responsibility to the student's parent/guardian, student, and school employees.

A treatment plan authorizing a student to possess and self-administer medication for asthma or anaphylaxis shall be effective only for the school year in which it is approved.

A student shall report to the school nurse or designee or to some adult at the school immediately after the student uses an epinephrine auto-injector during school hours.  Upon receiving such report from a student, the school nurse, designee, or other adult will provide appropriate follow-up care to the student, which shall include making a 911 emergency call.

Adopted June 25, 2003

Revised April 8, 2014