JLCD
SCHOOL MEDICATION POLICY
1. The professional Registered Nurse shall be the supervisor of the medication program in the district during school hours.
2. Whenever possible, medication should be given before and after school hours.
3. No narcotic pain medication will be given by the school nurse.
4. Other than in an emergency situation, the school nurse is not authorized to administer any type of medication to school children unless all of the following conditions are met:
A. A written order signed by a physician, dentist, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant is provided for all prescriptions. Medications prescribed for 10 days or less may be administered according to the directions on the original pharmacy medication label, in place of a written order. The pharmacy will provide a second labeled container for medication to be administered at school. The school nurse will not accept “As Directed” on prescription labels. Only the school nurse may accept a telephone order for emergency medication. This shall be followed by a written order from the licensed prescriber within three school days.
B. Prescription medication provided to the school nurse must be in the original pharmacy container and state:
a. Child’s Name
b. Medication Name
c. Dosage/Route/Frequency of Administration
d. Licensed Provider’s Name
e. Date Prescribed
A responsible adult shall deliver the prescription medication to the school nurse.
C. A parent or legal guardian must complete and sign a Medication Order and Parent/Guardian consent form. This form is available in the School Health Office and is also available online at http://www.awrsd.org.
5. The following OTC medications (brand name or generic substitutions) are now covered by the Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District (AWRSD) standing orders: Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl and TUMS, Calagel and Throat Lozenges. Parent/guardian consent is required for administration of these medications and can be given by signing the appropriate line on the AWRSD Student Emergency and Health Record. This form is sent home with students on the first day of school and is also available online at http://www.awrsd.org. Please note: A written order by a student’s individual health care provider is no longer required unless the OTC medication is given in prescription strength. A one‐time dose may be given by the Registered Nurse with a parental verbal request which must be followed by a written consent within three school days. No further doses will be given until such written consent is returned. All prescription medication orders must be renewed annually including Epipens and inhalers.
6. The Registered Nurse may delegate prescription medication to another responsible adult at his/her discretion when students attend field trips and special short‐term school events. Written consent from the parent or guardian for the named responsible adult to administer the medication shall be obtained. The nurse shall instruct the responsible adult on how to administer the medication to the child.
7. Each school shall maintain medication administration records.
8. All medications will be kept in a locked cabinet except Epipens which will be readily accessible. Refrigerated medications will be kept in a locked container specifically used for medications only.
9. A parent or legal guardian should retrieve all unused, discontinued, or outdated medication at the end of the school year. Medications may be destroyed by the school nurse in accordance with applicable policies of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Division of Food and Drugs.
10. Self‐administration of medication will be determined on an individual basis after a written and mutually signed Medication Care Plan is developed by the physician, school nurse and the parent or legal guardian.
LEGAL REF: Mass. General Laws 94C and Mass. DPH 105 CMR 210.000)
Regulation: JLCD-R Medication Procedures
First Reading: 05/08/12 Second Reading: 05/22/12 ADOPTED: 06/26/12 Revised & Readopted 01/21/20