Administering Medicines to Students

Teachers and other non-administrative school employees, except certified school nurses, shall not be required to administer medication to students. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for administering medication to their children. Administering medication during school hours or during school-related activities is discouraged unless it is necessary for the critical health and well-being of the student. Parent(s)/guardian(s) may authorize their child to self-administer a medication according to the District’s procedures for student self-administration of medication.

Nothing in this policy shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication.

The Building Principal shall include this policy in the Student Handbook.

Administrative Procedure – Non-Emergency Administration of Student Medication

I. Definitions

A. Certified school nurse – as defined in Section 10-22.23 of The School Code, a registered professional nurse. All school nurses must be registered professional nurses. Any school nurse, first employed on or after July 1, 1976, shall hold a Type 73 Certificate with the school nurse endorsement.

B. Medication – as used in this document, will refer to both prescription and non-prescription drugs.

C. Licensed prescriber – as defined in this document:

1. Physician – a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches including medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy.

2. Dentist – a person licensed to practice dentistry in all of its branches.

3. Podiatrist – a person licensed to practice podiatry.

D. Prescription drugs – drugs requiring a written order for

dispensing, signed by a licensed prescriber.

E. Non-prescription drugs – medications which may be obtained over

the counter without a prescription from a licensed prescriber.

F. Long-term medication – medication utilized for treatment of

chronic illnesses, including both daily and PRN (as needed) medication.

G. Type 73 Certified school nurse – a registered nurse who holds an

Illinois State Board of Education School Services Personnel

Certificate with an endorsement in school nursing.

II. All medications dispensed in the schools shall be prescribed by an Illinois licensed prescriber. Students who require medication during the school day may bring the medication to school following these guidelines:

A. A written order for the medication must be obtained from the

student’s licensed prescriber. The order shall include possible

side effects and other information recommended by the Illinois

Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of

Education.

B. Medication must be brought to the school in the original package

or appropriately labeled container.

1. Prescription drugs shall display:

Student’s name

Prescription number

Medication name/dosage

Administration route and/or other direction

Date and refill

Licensed prescriber’s name

Pharmacy name, address and phone number

Name or initials of pharmacist

2. Non – prescription drugs shall be brought to school and stored

with the manufacturer’s original label indicating the ingredients

and the student’s name affixed to the container.

C. The parent(s)/guardian(s) will be responsible at the end of the

treatment regime for removing from the school any unused

medication which was prescribed for their child. If the parent(s)/guardian(s) do not pick up the medication by the end of the school year, the certified school nurse will discard the medication in the presence of a witness.

III. Student Medical Authorization. No school personnel shall administer to any student, nor shall any student possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed School Medication Authorization Form (written form) is filed. This form shall be completed annually by the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) and physician and shall be on file at the school building which the child attends. This form shall be filed prior to dispensation of any medication to a student and the form shall specify the times at which the medication must be dispensed and the appropriate dosage.

IV. Administration by School Personnel

A. All student medication shall be left with the school nurse during the school day. If there is no school nurse in the building, then the medication shall be left with the person designated by the Building Principal.

B. Medications must be stored in a separate locked drawer or cabinet. Medications requiring refrigeration should be refrigerated in a secure area.

C. The program for administering medications must include the following:

1. Each dose of medication shall be documented in the

student’s individual health record. Documentation shall

include date, time, dosage, route and the signature of the

person administering the medication or supervising the

student in self-administration. The reasons shall be entered

in the record whenever a dosage is not administered as

ordered.

2. The certified school nurse may, in conjunction with a

licensed prescriber and parent(s)/guardian(s), identify

circumstances in which a student may self-administer

medication.

3. Effectiveness and side effects shall be assessed as required

by the licensed prescriber. A procedure shall be established

for written feedback to the licensed prescriber and the

parent(s)/guardian(s) as requested by the licensed prescriber.

4. Whenever the medication is not administered as ordered,

that fact and its reasons shall be documented.

V. Administration by Student

A. A student may self-administer medication with parental

consent and the School Medication Authorization Form on file with the Building Principal. The medication shall be stored for

the student.

B. A record shall be kept of all medication stored, specifying the

name of student and name of medication, the time of use and

dosage.

VI. Field Trips

The following instructions shall appear on all parental permission forms required for field trips and outdoor education experiences:

All medication to be administered during this field trip/outdoor education experience shall be clearly marked with the:

Student’s Name

Prescription number

Medication name/dosage

Administration route and/or other directions

Date and refill

Licensed prescriber’s name

Pharmacy name, address and phone number

Name or initials of pharmacist

or if sending over the counter medications, the container is to be affixed with the manufacturer’s original label indicating the ingredients and the student’s name.