When possible, all medication should be given by the parent at home. However, some medication will be dispensed at school according to the following guidelines:
1. Written permission and specific directions for administration of medication are required. Directions must include student's name, date, and name of medication, dosage and time to be given.
2. All medication must be provided by the parent in the original container.
3. All medication must be brought to the clinic upon arrival to school.
4. The student should not carry on him/herself nor administer to him/herself any medication. Exceptions may be made for asthma inhalers, epi-pens and cough drops.
5. The school nurse will supervise the storing and dispensing of medication.
6. Field trip medication: Long-term prescription medication will be given on a field trip provided the parent understands the following:
> Another staff member will give long-term medications during the field trip. The nurse does not attend field trips. One dose of your child's medication will be sent with the designated staff member in a properly labeled container from the pharmacy where the prescription is filled. This must be supplied to the school nurse prior to the day of the field trip. If a separate container is not supplied then the nurse will send all the medication in the bottle from the clinic.
> The parent may elect not to have the child receive medication on a field trip.
> The parent may attend the field trip and administer medication to their child.
7. Permission to carry asthma inhalers, epi pens and equipment to self manage diabetes care will be given to students provided the appropriate forms have been completed. You may obtain these forms from the nurse or school nurse website. The nurse may withdraw this privilege if the student does not demonstrate proper responsibility in regard to medication.
8. Every effort will be made to give medication as close to the specified time as possible. However, students often forget medication or there are emergencies in the clinic. The nurse will make sure that medication is administered within 1/2 hour of the scheduled time. This is standard for hospitals and other facilities where medications are administered.
9. In order to assure the safe delivery to school of controlled medication, the parent should deliver these medications directly to the nurse. However, if this is impossible; the parent must adhere to the following:
> The parent must bring the original prescription container to school initially, with a parent note stating the information in #1 as well as a controlled substance form (available on the website).
> When the medication container is empty it will be sent home with the student.
> A note will also be sent home for the parent to fill out and send back to the nurse with the medication.
> The parent should count out how much medication they are sending in the bottle, fill in the medication name and amount and sign the form.
> The student must bring medications to the nurse on arrival to school.
10. If the dosage of the student's medication is changed, a new parent note or in the case of an inhaler or epipen a new physicians authorization form must be signed. These forms are available in the nurse's office and online.
11. Herbal medications, dietary supplements and home remedies will not be given during school hours since they are not FDA approved.
12. Medication orders may only be received from physicians, dentists, AP nurses and physician's assistants licensed to prescribe medication in Texas.
13. Medication from foreign countries, including Mexico, will not be given during school hours.
14. At the end of the school year, all medication must be picked up by the student or parent from the nurse's office. Any medication left in the nurse's office will be destroyed.