Medication at School
School nurses are equipped to work with students, families, and healthcare providers to administer medications or carry out prescribed medical treatments during the school day.
In order for our nurses to do so, we need the following:
- Any medication must be DROPPED OFF by a parent or designated adult to the school. The medication must be unopened, in original pharmacy packaging with appropriate labels. For safety reasons, students are not allowed to carry medications or deliver them to the nurse. The only exception to this is older students who have been cleared by the school nurse and physician to self-carry certain medications (such as inhalers or epi-pens).
- A written order signed by a licensed prescriber must accompany the medication. If your child’s doctor has questions about what to include on the order, please have them reach out to the school nurse. Allergy Action Plans, Asthma Action Plans, and Seizure Actions Plans are always preferable to simple medication orders if applicable to your child’s condition.
- Written Parent Medical Permission must also be provided.
Please note that school nurses have “Standing Orders” written by the district’s physician that allows them to administer certain over-the-counter medications in school. This includes things such as Motrin, Tylenol, Aquaphor, bacitracin ointment, Benadryl, etc.. Parents must consent to this treatment each year in the “Emergency Form” sent out at the beginning of each school year. Without this consent, we cannot treat your child with these medications at school.