2016  7513

Students

 

SUBJECT:    MEDICATION AND PERSONAL CARE ITEMS

Administration of Medication

The school’s registered professional nurse may administer medication to a student during the school day under certain conditions. For the purpose of this policy, the term “medication” includes both prescription and non-prescription medications. The school must receive the following before medication will be administered to a student:

a)      The original written order from the student’s provider stating the name of the medication, precise dosage, frequency, and time of administration;

b)      A written, signed consent from the student’s parent or person in parental relation requesting the administration of the medication, as prescribed by the physician, to the student in school; and

c)      The medication, properly labeled in its original container, must be delivered to the school health office by the student’s parent or person in parental relation. The term “properly labeled,” in the context of this policy, means that the container must include the following information: the student’s name, name of medication, dosage, frequency, and prescribing physician. A student is not permitted to carry any medication on his or her person in school, or on the school bus, or keep any medication in his or her school locker(s). Exceptions may apply, however, for students diagnosed with asthma or other respiratory illnesses, diabetes, or allergies who will be permitted to carry and self-administer medication under certain conditions.

All medication orders must be reviewed annually by school health office personnel or whenever there is a change in dosage.

Students with Asthma or Other Respiratory Illnesses

The District will make a nebulizer available on-site in school buildings where full- or part-time nursing services are provided. Only students with a patient-specific order may have access to the nebulizer. School nursing personnel will clean and maintain the District nebulizer as appropriate.

The District will obtain and stock albuterol metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and/or liquid albuterol from a licensed pharmacy. This stock albuterol is for use in a nebulizer for students diagnosed with asthma whose personal prescription albuterol supplies are empty and while awaiting the parent or person in parental relation to provide the school with a new one. School health office personnel will promptly inform parents or persons in parental relation of the need for replacement of the student’s albuterol medication. Students utilizing the school’s stock albuterol must provide a patient specific order for albuterol from their own private health provider, including an order permitting the student to utilize the school’s stock albuterol. Stock albuterol may only be utilized when the school nurse is available to administer the medication. The student’s parent or guardian must also provide the school with written permission allowing his or her child to be administered the school’s stock albuterol in the event that the student’s own prescription albuterol supply is empty. The school health office will promptly inform students’ parents or persons in parental relation any time that the school stock albuterol was utilized.

Personal equipment used to deliver albuterol to a student will be cleaned and appropriately labeled with the student’s name and used solely by that individual student. (Examples of equipment to be cleaned and labeled are nebulizer tubing, facemask, mouthpiece, spacer, etc.)

Self-Administration of Medication

Generally

Each student who is permitted to self-administer medication should have an emergency care plan on file with the District. Further, the school will maintain a record of all written parental consents in the student’s cumulative health record.

School health office personnel will also maintain regular parental contact in order to monitor the effectiveness of such self-medication procedures and to clarify parental responsibility as to the daily monitoring of their child to ensure that the medication is being utilized in accordance with the physician’s or provider’s instructions. Additionally, the student will be required to report to the health office on a periodic basis as determined by health office personnel so as to maintain an ongoing evaluation of the student’s management of such self-medication techniques, and to work cooperatively with the parents and the student regarding such self-care management.

Students who self-administer medication without proper authorization will be referred for counseling by school nursing personnel, as appropriate. Additionally, school administration and parents will be notified of such unauthorized use of medication by the student, and school administration may determine the proper resolution of this behavior.

Students with Asthma or Another Respiratory Disease

A student will be permitted to carry and self-administer their prescribed inhaled rescue medication during the school day, on school property, and at any school function if the school health office has the following on file:

a)      Written order/permission and an attestation from a duly authorized health care provider stating that the student has a diagnosis of asthma or other respiratory disease for which inhaled rescue medications are prescribed to alleviate respiratory symptoms or to prevent the onset of exercise induced asthma; the student has demonstrated that he or she can self- administer the prescribed medication effectively; and the expiration date of the order, the name of the prescribed medication, the dose the student is to self-administer, times when the medication is to be self-administered, and the circumstances which may warrant the use of the medication; and

b)      Written consent from the student’s parent or person in parental relation.

Upon written request of the student’s parent or person in parental relation, the school will allow the student to maintain an extra inhaled rescue medication in the care and custody of the school’s registered professional nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or school physician.

Students with Allergies

A student will be permitted to carry and self-administer his or her prescribed EpiPen during the school day, on school property, and at any school function if the school health office has the following on file:

a)      Written order/permission and an attestation from a duly authorized health care provider stating that the student has a diagnosis of an allergy for which an EpiPen is needed for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions; the student has demonstrated that he or she can self-administer the prescribed EpiPen effectively; and the expiration date of the order, the name of the medicine, the dose the student is to self-administer, and the circumstances which may warrant the use of the medication; and

b)      Written consent from the student’s parent or person in parental relation.

Upon written request of the student’s parent or person in parental relation, the school will allow the student to maintain an extra EpiPen in the care and custody of a licensed nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or school physician.

Students with Diabetes

A student will be permitted to carry and self-administer his or her prescribed insulin through an appropriate medication delivery device, carry glucagon, and carry and use equipment and supplies necessary to check blood glucose and/or ketone levels during the school day, on school property, and at any school function if the school health office has the following on file:

a)      Written order/permission and an attestation from a duly authorized health care provider stating that the student has a diagnosis of diabetes for which insulin and glucagon through appropriate medication delivery devices, and the use of equipment and supplies to check blood glucose and/or ketone levels are necessary; the student has demonstrated that he or she can self-administer effectively, can self-check glucose or ketone levels independently, and can independently follow prescribed treatment orders; and the expiration date of the order, the name of the prescribed insulin or glucagon, the type of insulin delivery system, the dose of insulin and/or glucagon the student is to self-administer, times when the insulin and/or glucagon is to be self-administered, and the circumstances which may warrant administration by the student. The written permission must also identify the prescribed blood glucose and/or ketone test, the times testing is to be done, and any circumstances which warrant checking a blood glucose and/or ketone level.

b)      Written consent from the student’s parent or person in parental relation.

Upon written request of the student’s parent or person in parental relation, the school will allow the student to maintain extra insulin, insulin delivery system, glucagon, blood glucose meter, and related supplies to treat the student’s diabetes in the care and custody of a licensed nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or school physician.

Students with diabetes will also be permitted to carry food, oral glucose, or other similar substances necessary to treat hypoglycemia in accordance with District policy.

Storage and Disposal of Medication

The District will comply with relevant state laws, regulations, and guidelines governing the District’s receipt, storage, and disposal of medication.

Personal Care Items

Feminine Hygiene Products

Each school building within the District serving students in any grade from six through twelve will provide feminine hygiene products in building restrooms. These products will be provided at no charge to students.

Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

The New York State Education Department (SED) permits the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in schools. The school medical director may approve and permit the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in the District’s schools without a physician’s order. Parents may provide written notification to the school in the event that they do not wish to have their child use this product.

Sunscreen

Students may carry and use FDA-approved sunscreen products for over-the-counter use. The student’s parent or person in parental relation must provide written permission for the student to carry and use sunscreen. This written parental consent will be maintained by the school. A student who is unable to physically apply sunscreen may be assisted by unlicensed personnel when directed to do so by the student, if permitted by a parent or person in parental relation, and authorized by the school.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 USC § 1400 et seq.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 USC § 794 et seq.
Education Law §§ 902(b), 907, 916, 916-a, 916-b, 919, 921, 6527, 6908(1)(a)(iv), and 6909
Public Health Law §§ 267, 3000-a, 3000-c, and 3309
8 NYCRR §§ 136.6, 136.7

 

NOTE:      Refer also to Policy #7521 — Students with Life-Threatening Health Conditions

Adopted:  8/24/11
Revised:  9/22/20