Brockton Public Schools

School Committee Policy

ADMINISTERING MEDICINES TO STUDENTS - JLCD

Medication may not be administered to students while at school unless such medicine is given to them by the school nurse acting under specific written request of the parent or guardian and under the written directive of the student's personal physician (see below for exceptions). When the school nurse is not present, a student who needs medication during the school day may be called to the office at the scheduled hour and reminded by the secretary to take the medicine. This provision only applies when the correct dosage of the medication has been placed in an individual container clearly marked with the student's name, the dosage to be administered, and the time and/or conditions under which the medicine is to be taken. In addition, the student must be able to recognize the medicine that he/she or she is taking. No one but the school nurse, and those others listed in the medical administration plan acting within the above restriction, may give any medication to any student.

Exceptions:

The school district shall, through the district nurse leader, register with the Dept. of Public Health and train personnel in the use of epinephrine auto-injectors.

The school district may, in conjunction with the School Physician and the School Nurse Leader, stock nasal naloxone (Narcan) and trained medical personnel and first responders may administer nasal naloxone to individuals experiencing a life threatening opiate overdose in a school setting.

Following consultation with the school nurse, students who fall into the following exceptions may self-administer medications:

  1. Students with asthma or other respiratory diseases may possess and administer prescription inhalers.
  2. Students with cystic fibrosis may possess and administer prescription enzyme supplements.
  3. Students with diabetes may possess and administer glucose monitoring tests and insulin delivery systems.
  4. Students with life threatening allergies may possess and administer epinephrine

Self-Administration of Medications

"Self-administration" means that the student is able to consume or apply medication in the manner directed by the licensed prescriber, without additional assistance or direction.

A student may be responsible for taking his/her own medication after the school nurse has determined that the following requirements are met:

  1. the conditions under which medication may be self-administered the student, school nurse and parent/guardian, where appropriate, enter into an agreement, which specifies;
  2. the school nurse, as appropriate, develops a medication administration plan, which contains only those elements necessary to ensure safe self-administration of medication;
  3. the student's health status and abilities have been evaluated by the school nurse who then deems self-administration safe and appropriate. As necessary, the school shall observe initial self-administration of the medication;
  4. the school nurse is reasonably assured that the student is able to identify the appropriate medication, knows the frequency and time of day for which the medication is ordered;
  5. there is written authorization from the student's parent or guardian that the student may self-medicate, unless the student has consented to treatment under M.G.L. c. 112, s. 12F or other authority permitting the student to consent to medical treatment without parental permission;
  6. if requested by the school nurse, the licensed prescriber provides a written order for self-administration;
  7. the student follows a procedure for documentation of self-administration of medication;
  8. the school nurse establishes a policy for the safe storage of self-administered medication and, as necessary, consults with teachers, the student and parent/guardian, if appropriate, to determine a safe place for storing the medication for the individual student, while providing for accessibility if the student's health needs require it. This information shall be included in the medication administration plan. In the case of an inhaler or other preventive or emergency medication, whenever possible, a backup supply of the medication shall be kept in the health room or a second readily available location;
  9. the student's self-administration is monitored based on his/her abilities and health status. Monitoring may include teaching the student the correct way of taking the medication, reminding the student to take the medication, visual observation to ensure compliance, recording that the medication was taken, and notifying the parent/guardian or licensed prescriber of any side effects, variation from the plan, or the student's refusal or failure to take the medication;
  10. with parental/guardian and student permission, as appropriate, the school nurse may inform appropriate teachers and administrators that the student is self-administering a medication.

APPROVED: June 4, 2019

LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71:54B
Dept. of Public Health Regulations: 105 CMR 210.00
Dept. of Public Health Regulations: 105 CMR 210.100; 244 CMR 3.00