507.2 Administration Of Medication To Students

Students may be required to take medication during the school day. Medication shall be administered only by the school nurse or a qualified designee. A qualified designee is a person who has been trained under the Green Hills AEA Medication Administration guidelines. Training and continued supervision shall be documented and kept on file at school.

Some students may need prescription and nonprescription medication to participate in their educational program. These students shall receive medication concomitant with their educational program. When administration of the medication requires ongoing professional health judgment, an individual health plan shall be developed by the licensed health personnel with the student and the student's parent/guardian.

Medication is administered by the school nurse, or by a person who has successfully completed an administration of medication course through Green Hills AEA. A district nurse will determine skills competency as part of this course. A record of course completion will be maintained by the school District.

Prescription medication will not be administered without written authorization of the health care provider and parent / guardian that is signed and dated. The medication must be in the original container which is labeled by the pharmacy or the manufacturer with the name of the child, name of the medication, the time of the day which it is to be given, the dosage, and the duration. Written authorization will also be secured from a health care provider and parent/guardian for self administration of a prescription medication when the parent requests a student self administers a prescription medication. It is the parent / guardian responsibility to ensure that all medication is current and replaced prior to the expiration date.

A written record of the administration of medication must be kept for each child receiving medication including the date; student's name; prescriber or person authorizing the administration; the medication and its dosage; the name, signature, and title of the person administering the medication; and the time and method of administration and any unusual circumstances, actions or omissions. Medication shall be stored in a secured area unless an alternate provision is documented. Medication information shall be kept confidential.

The school nurse, or in the nurse’s absence, the person who has successfully completed the Green Hills AEA medication administration course will have access to the medication which will be kept in a secured area. With the approval of parents and exception of controlled substances or habit forming medications, students may carry prescription medication. Emergency protocol for medication-related reactions will be in place.

The superintendent is responsible, in conjunction with the district nurse, for developing rules and regulations governing the administration of medication, prescription and nonprescription, including emergency protocols, to students and for ensuring persons administering medication have taken the prescribed course and periodically review the prescribed course. Annually, each student is provided with the requirements for administration of medication at school.

Legal Reference:  Disposing on Behalf of Ultimate Users, 79 Fed. Reg. 53520, 53546 (Sept. 9, 2014).
Iowa Code §§124.101(1); 147.107; 152.1; 155A.4(2); 280.16; 280.23.
655 IAC §6.2(152).

Cross Reference:  Policy 505.1 Student Records
Policy 504.1 Student Health and Immunization
Policy 504.2 Communicable Diseases-Students
Policy 504.3 Injury or Illness
Policy 604.3 Special Health Services

Approved:  01/21/13
Modified:  06/21/21
Reviewed:  06/07/21