Madison Metropolitan School District
Board of Education Policies and Procedures

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POLICYWELFARE 4113
Pupils

Administering Medication

The BOARD, the SUPERINTENDENT, or the SCHOOL PRINCIPAL has the authority to authorize in writing that an employee administer medication.

Except for the administration of Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen as provided for herein, in all other instances in which the BOARD, the SUPERINTENDENT, or the SCHOOL PRINCIPAL authorizes the administration of medication by an employee, the following shall be delivered to the School Nurse, or an employee designated by the MSCR Director if the administration of medication shall take place at an MSCR site/program, who is supervising the medication administration:

  1. Written instructions from the prescribing practitioner for the administration of the prescribed medication. Such instructions shall be signed by the prescribing practitioner. (Practitioner means any physician, dentist, optometrist, physician assistant, advance practice nurse prescriber or podiatrist licensed in any state. s. 118.29(e)
  2. A written statement from a prescribing practitioner which:
    1. Identifies the specific conditions and circumstances under which contact should be made with her/him in relation to the condition or reactions of the student receiving the medications; and
    2. Reflects a willingness on the part of the prescribing practitioner to accept direct communication from the person administering the medication.
  3. A written statement from the parent/legal guardian:
    1. Authorizing school personnel to give the medication in the dosage prescribed by the prescribing practitioner; and
    2. Authorizing school personnel to contact the prescribing practitioner directly.
PROCEDUREWELFARE 4113
Pupils

Administering Medication

  1. Except as provided in paragraph 8 below, no medication will be administered by school personnel without the Medication Consent form and the Order for Medication Administration form being filled out and returned to the School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee.
    1. Medication Consent Form must be filled out by the parent/legal guardian and addressed and returned to the School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee.
    2. An Order for Medication Administration form must be filled out by a prescribing practitioner and addressed and returned to the School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee.
    3. The School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee shall maintain an accurate medication file which includes all of these necessary forms for each student receiving medication. Any changes shall be communicated to the School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee by both the prescribing practitioner and parent/legal guardian.
  2. Medication to be given in the school must have the following information printed on the container:
    1. Child's full name;
    2. Name of the drug and dosage;
    3. Time to be given; and
    4. Prescribing practitioner's name.
  3. Medication will be administered to the child at the designated time by the School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee, or by an individual who has been authorized to do so.
  4. Only limited quantities of any medication are to be kept at school. With the exception of those non-prescription medications (i.e., acetaminophen and ibuprofen) which are outlined in paragraph 8 of this policy, parents are responsible for supplying the School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee with the medication.
  5. All medication administered at the school will be kept in a locked cubicle, drawer, or other safe place. The School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee will count and document the quantity of medication each time it is brought to school.
  6. The length of time for which the drug is to be administered, which is not to exceed the current school year, including summer school or the length of the MSCR program, shall be contained in the written instructions from the prescribing practitioner, and further written instructions must be received from the prescribing practitioner with the consent of the parent/legal guardian if the drug is to be discontinued or any other change is to be made in the prescribing practitioner's original instructions.
  7. An accurate and confidential system of record keeping shall be established for each pupil receiving medication.
    1. Information on the administration of medication shall be kept in the health office or a designated place at the MSCR site. Such information shall include a list of pupils who are being administered medication during school hours and the type of medication, the dose, the time to be given, and the date the medication is to be discontinued. Such information should be updated periodically as practicable.
    2. An individual record for each pupil receiving medication shall be kept by the School Nurse in the Health office or MSCR Director's designee at a designated place at the MSCR site, including the type of medication, the dose, the time given, the duration, and an inventory of the amount of medication.
    3. School personnel are asked to report any unusual behavior of pupils on medication.
  8. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this policy, with written parental permission and instruction on file at the school (Medication Consent Form), a School Nurse can give students Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen when a student has a headache, other discomfort or menstrual cramps. These services will only be available when the School Nurse is physically present in the building. The dosage of the medications will be specified in "standing orders" approved by the District medical consultant. The non-prescription medications will be stored at the school in accordance with all the requirements of this policy. At a MSCR site/program, non-prescription medications such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen may be administered if the parent/guardian has completed the Medication/Procedure Consent Form for that medication and has provided the MSCR Director's designee with such medication contained in its original container.
  9. Provided that the Medication Consent Form is on file, a School Nurse may administer medication pursuant to a verbal order of a prescribing practitioner. After receiving the verbal order, a School Nurse must follow PROCEDURE 4113, items 1b through 8. A verbal order shall only be used by a School Nurse and such order shall only be followed up to ten (10) consecutive school days.
  10. In the event of a medication error, parent and prescribing practitioner will be notified. A written incident Report explaining the error shall be completed by the School Nurse or MSCR Director's designee or other employee involved, if any, and such report shall be filed with the student or participant health record and sent to the coordinator of health services.
  11. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to limit an employee's ability, including a nurse's ability, to respond appropriately in a health emergency situation, including but not limited to administering medication, if needed.

s. 118.29
7/7/03