MEDICATION POLICY

The following are guidelines for the safe administration of medications at school during school hours.  Administering medications at school is for long term use not short-term use. Parents should contact school nurses with any questions or concerns with their children or services assigned to their child’s school.)

The parent or guardian shall:

• Provide the school with a written order from the physician detailing the name of the drug, dosage, and time interval medication is to be taken at school for each medication required.  They must provide new doctor orders every time dosage is changed during the year and meet with the school nurse with each change.  A medication form order may be obtained at the school on intranet or the parish website.
• Go to the school to meet with the school nurse and sign a permission/release form allowing school personnel to comply with the physician’s orders.  This must be done before any medication can be accepted or administered at the school.
• Bring medication to the school in a container appropriately labeled by a pharmacy with privileges to practice in the State of Louisiana with the child’s name, dosage, and time by the pharmacy or physician.  Parents or legal guardians must bring the doctors’ orders and medication together to meet with the school nurse. The school nurse will implement the student’s plan of treatment as ordered by the physician and train the district personnel on each student’s plan.
• Review drug action and possible side effects of medications, and complete and sign the care/emergency plan or an individual accommodation plan/health plan with the nurse.  They will also provide working phone numbers for the school in case of an emergency.
• Bring medication to school before the child is out of medication to assure continuance of care and count the pills and sign with school personnel.
• Be allowed to administer medication to their child during school hours.  This excludes current medications that have already been accepted by the school nurse.

The parent or guardians shall not:

• Send medication to school with the child.
• Bring medication to school that is in an envelope, bag, or a bottle that is not for the student.  

The school will:

• Provide a school nurse to receive the doctor’s orders.
• Start a plan for each student after assessing the child’s needs.
• Inspect properly marked medication bottle for agreement with doctor’s orders.
• Administer medication at the doctor’s ordered time.  Medication is to be given by the school nurse or designated trained unlicensed school personnel under the supervision of the school nurse.
• Notify the parent or legal guardian when medication supplies become low.