Handbook Articles

Health Services

Self-Administration. Medications shall not be kept on students or in their personal belongings unless advanced approval is given by a District nurse. Students shall not self-administer medications at school, unless approved in advance by a District nurse with written consent of the parent or guardian.

Administration of Medications. The following conditions shall apply to administration of medications (prescription and over-the-counter) by District personnel to students.
a. Written consent of the parent or guardian, which is signed and dated, must be on file in the student health office for the District to administer a medication.
b. Only District nurses or employees who have evidence of completion of an approved course in medication administration shall administer the medication. All requests for administration of new medications shall be reviewed by a nurse for the current usage and dosage before being administered.
c. All medication shall be administered in the student health office when practicable. All medications must be consumed in the presence of the designated school personnel.
d. Medications shall be stored in the student health office or other designated location in secured place in their original containers with detailed labels or authorization forms clearly showing the student's name, the date prescribed, the name of the medication, directions for use, the expiration date, the prescribing physician, the name and address of the pharmacy, if any, any special storage or administration procedures, and a description of any anticipated reactions. The nurse or other designated employee may contact the student's physician if he or she has any questions regarding the administration ofthe medication.
e. A written confidential record shall be maintained showing all medications administered, the dosage, the name, position and signature of the person administering the medication, the name of the student, the date, time, and method of the administration, the prescriber, and any reactions or unusual circumstances to the medication.
f. Acute cases, such as asthma, diabetes, and severe allergic reactions will be handled individually according to administrative rules and regulations.
g. The nurses shall develop protocols for emergency situations involving medication-related reactions.
h. Nurses may exercise their professional discretion in determining not to administer a medication or not to administer a medication in the dosage requested. The parent or guardian shall be notified in such cases and a record signed by the nurse showing reasons for non-administration shall be made.
i. When administration of the medication requires ongoing professional health judgment, any individual health plan will be developed.

Confidentiality. Medication administration consents and records shall be kept confidential in accordance with Policy 535.

Student Health Communicable Diseases Definition. "Communicable disease" shall mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.

Notice. A student who is at school and who has a communicable disease which creates a substantial risk or harm to other students, employees, or others at school shall report the condition to the nurse, principal, or Superintendent any time the student is aware that the disease actively creates such risk.

Attendance. Students with communicable diseases shall be allowed to attend their regularly scheduled classes and activities as long as they are able to perform assigned tasks unless conditions arise in the school that place the infected student at risk of special health hazards and as long as their attendance does not create a substantial health or safety risk to others in the District. The Superintendent or his/her designee may require medical evidence that a student with a communicable disease is able to attend school.

Exclusion. A student will be excluded from school when the student's condition has been determined to be injurious to the health of others or when the student is too ill to attend school or when conditions arise in the school that place the infected student at risk of special health hazards. The health risk to an immuno-depressed student attending school shall be administered by the student's personal physician. The health risk to others in the school environment from the presence of a student with a communicable disease shall be determined on a case by case basis by consultation with public health officials. In the event a student cannot perform the assigned tasks, and/or in the event of health or safety risk to others in the District, the least restrictive alternative educational placement for the student shall be arranged.

See Board Policy 516 - Student Health - Administering Medications at School.

See Board Policy 535 - Student Records.

Handbooks

Handbook PDF

Handbook Sections