4010 - (JLCD) Administering Medication to Students

1. General Provisions for Administration of Medication.

Medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter (“OTC”), shall only be administered to or taken by students during the school day in accordance with this policy and the corresponding administrative procedures and record-keeping found in JLCD-R.

This policy shall extend to any school-sponsored activity, event, or program.

Medication is to be administered by a school nurse, as defined in RSA 200:29 (“the school nurse”). The school nurse may delegate the administration of medication to others only as permitted under the New Hampshire Nurse Practice Act, and N.H. Code of Administrative Regulations Nur 404.  If no such person is available, the building principal or the principal’s designee is permitted to assist students in taking required medications by:

1. 1. making such medications available to the student as needed;
       
   2. observing the student as he/she takes or does not take his/her medication; and
       
   3. recording whether the student did or did not take his/her medication.

Whenever possible, medications should not be taken during the school day.   Upon receiving a request from the parent, guardian, or physician relative to a particular student's need for medication during school hours, the school nurse may contact the parent or guardian to discuss whether the student should remain at home or whether the medication should be taken before, during, and/or after school.  The nurse may also inquire about any other medical conditions requiring medications and any special side effects, contraindications, and adverse reactions to be observed.

1. Prescription Medication will be administered in school only after receiving and filing the following in the student's health record:
   
   1. A written statement from the licensed prescriber conforming to the requirements of N.H. Department of Education Rule 311.02 (i)(1). (included in District procedures JLCD-R).
   2. A written authorization from the parent/guardian as provided in N.H. Department of Education Rule 311.02 (i)(2) & (3). (included in District procedures JLCD-R).
2. Over-the-Counter Medication may be administered to a student with previous written authorization from the parent/guardian.  The school nurse may, however, require a licensed prescriber’s order or further information/direction from a licensed health care provider (i.e., physician, advanced registered nurse practitioner, licensed physician’s assistant, or dentist) before administering an OTC medication to a student. The authorization shall contain the same information, with the same access, as is required relative to prescription medications.  
3. Principals and their designees will work with the School Nurse at the start of each school year during their annual medication training to determine the location of written parent permission to give OTC medications within each health office.  In the event that no written permissions are available, the Principal or their designee will contact the parent and obtain a one-time verbal permission to provide said medication.