Taking Medication at School

Give medicine at home when possible

Whenever possible, medication should be given to a student at home rather than at school to limit the amount of disruption to the student's day.
 

School staff who can give students medicine

Medication may be given by authorized school personnel, in accordance with state law and established procedures. Note that designated school personnel have the right to refuse to give medication to a student when the parent/guardian has not complied with established requirements.

No school personnel, except the school nurse, will be required to give any medication to a student by any means other than oral ingestion. School personnel voluntarily accepting the responsibility of giving medication by any means other than ingesting (including inhalation, insertion into the eye, ear and/or nose, injections, rectally or by g-tube) will be provided appropriate instruction from the school nurse. These nursing procedures must be delegated to school personnel under the general direction of a registered nurse, based on state law and regulations.

If your child needs to take medication at school, these instructions should be followed and a consent form must be file at the school:

• Prescription medication: Written instructions from the student's practitioner and written permission from the student's parent or guardian must be on file before prescription medication may be administered by authorized school personnel.
• Non-prescription medication: Written instructions and written permission from the student's parent guardian must be on file before non-prescription medication (over-the-counter medication) may be administered by authorized school personnel.
• Medication Request/Consent form

Possession and self administration of medication

A student may possess and use an inhaler or epi pen while in school, at a school-sponsored activity or under the supervision of school personnel if both of the following conditions are true:

• The student uses the inhaler before exercise to prevent the onset of asthmatic symptoms or uses the inhaler to alleviate asthmatic symptoms. In the case of an epi pen, the student uses it to counteract an allergic reaction.
• The student has provided written approval by his or her physician and, if the student is a minor, the written approval of the student's parent/guardian.

All other medications including over the counter medications must be stored and administered by school personnel. A student's ability to manage his or her own medication may be evaluated by building staff after consultation with the school nurse. The parent or guardian may be asked to reconsider whether it is appropriate for the student to take his or her own medication without supervision. Please contact the school nurse for more information.