5330 - ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS TO STUDENTS

Winneconne Community School District

Bylaws & Policies

5330 - ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS TO STUDENTS

According to Wisconsin Statute 118.29, students requiring medication at school shall be identified by parent/guardian to the District Administrator or designee. School District personnel authorized by the District Administrator or designee may administer medications to students under appropriate instruction approved by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and supervised by the school nurse. Such procedures shall include the following:

Prescription Medication

	A.	Prescription medication will be administered with written orders and instructions from the student's practitioner detailing the name of the drug, dosage, route, times to be administered, precautions, untoward reactions and when the medications is to be discontinued. School District personnel will not administer the medication until a medication authorization form is completed and signed by the practitioner. Any change in dosage, time to be administered or discontinuation of administration must be in writing from the practitioner.

	B.	Prescription medication will be administered with the expressed written consent by the student's parent/guardian to carry out the practitioner's orders and instructions.

	C.	Prescription medications sent to school must be in a pharmacy-labeled container with the student's name, practitioner's name, name of drug, dose the student should take, frequency and time of administration, route, directions, and the date of expiration. Parent/Guardian must hand-deliver prescribed medication to school.

	D.	Students may self-carry metered dose inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors if they have a signed medication authorization form by their practitioner and parent/guardian, have been instructed by their practitioner in the correct and responsible way to use a metered dose inhaler and/or epinephrine auto-injector and have been assessed by the school nurse as having the appropriate self-management skills (Wis. Stat. sec. 118.291, 118.292).


	E.	All medication authorization forms must be renewed annually or anytime a medication is changed. (Annual authorization for prescription and over the counter medications will be valid for students attending summer school). Medication authorization forms are available for parents/guardians in all of the school health rooms.

Nonprescription Medication

	A.	Nonprescription (over the counter) medication shall be administered when a medication authorization form is completed and signed by the student's parent/guardian detailing the name of the medication, dosage, times of administration and when the medication is to be discontinued. All medication authorization forms must be renewed annually or anytime a medication is charged.

	B.	Nonprescription medication that is outside the recommended dosage by the manufacturer, must be signed by both the student's practitioner and parent/guardian in order to administer to the student. (Wis. Stat. sec. 118.29(2)(1)(b))

	C.	Nonprescription medication must be sent in the original labeled container with the student's name written on it. Expiration dates will be checked. Parent/Guardian must hand-deliver over the counter medication to school.

Alternative Medication

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as "group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine" (NCCAM, 2011). Both non-prescription and prescription drugs must be recognized as drugs in the official U.S. Pharmacopoeia and national formulary or official Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States or any supplemental publication to these references. (U.S. Pharmacopoeia: http://www.uspnf.com/uspnf/login; U.S. Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia: https://hpus.com/online_database/register_action.php)

For safety and protection of students, alternative medication will not be given in the school setting unless approved by the FDA or prescribed by a practitioner. The following criteria must be met:

	A.	An original container is provided

	B.	Use for student is indicated

	C.	Appropriate dosing for student is clearly stated on the label/packaging insert

	D.	Possible untoward effects are listed

	E.	Signed parent/guardian statement

	F.	Signed practitioner consent if non-FDA approved

Emergency Medication

School District personnel designated by the District Administrator or designee may administer emergency medications including Epinephrine and Glucagon, to students under appropriate instruction approved by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), Medical Advisor, as well as supervised by the school nurse. Emergency medication training will be reviewed annually under the direction of the school nurse.

	A.	Epinephrine: Authorized staff may use an epinephrine auto-injector to administer epinephrine to any student who appears to be experiencing a severe allergic reaction if, as soon as practicable reports the allergic reaction by dialing "911" and initiates the Emergency Response Team at the respective school. Details outlined in Epinephrine Administration Procedure.

	B.	Glucagon: Authorized staff may administer glucagon to any student who they know is diabetic and who appears to be experiencing a severe low blood sugar event with altered consciousness if, as soon as practicable reports the event by dialing "911" and initiates the Emergency Response Team at the respective school.

Storage and Disposal of Medication at School

	A.	Students may not carry their personal medication at school (except metered dose inhalers and Epinephrine auto-injectors). Medication will be kept in a locked cabinet and administered in the health room. Medications requiring refrigeration shall be stored in a refrigerator in a secure, locked room. Only limited quantities of medication should be sent to school. Access to stored medication shall be limited to persons authorized to administer medication.

	B.	Emergency medications will be stored in a secure but unlocked area. Students may self carry their own emergency medication with appropriate documentation. Expiration dates will be checked.

	C.	No medication will be sent home with a student once it is brought to the health room. All medication not picked up by a parent/guardian one (1) week after discontinuation or one (1) week after the last day of school will be disposed of by the school nurse and witness.

Record Keeping and Medication Errors

	A.	An accurate and confidential record shall be maintained for each student receiving medication. The record shall include the student's name, name of medication, dose the student should take, frequency and time of administration, date, date of starting medication and date the medication should be discontinued, initials of person administering medication, and count of remaining medication left. A list of students requiring medication during the school hours will be kept in each school's health room. At the end of the school year the record should be placed in the student's physical health records.

	B.	In the event of a medication administration error, the parent and school nurse will be notified. The prescribing practitioner will be notified if the parent and school nurse feel it is appropriate or necessary. A written incident report explaining the error shall be completed by the school nurse or school District personnel involved, if any, and such report shall be filed with the student or participant health record and sent to the school nurse.

ADMINISTERING MEDICATION BY MEANS OTHER THAN INGESTION

By law, school District personnel may administer prescribed medication by means other than ingestion to a student, provided that the school District personnel have been given appropriate instruction approved by Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and supervised by the school nurse (Wis. Stat. sec. 118.29(6)). The training involves two (2) components: knowledge and administration skill, in which the staff member will demonstrate or provide evidence of appropriate learning. The trained staff may administer medication that is topical, eye, ear, inhaled, injected or administered rectally or into a nasogastric tube, a gastrostomy tube or a jejunostomy tube. This requirement does not apply to health care professionals including: medical providers, emergency medical technicians, and registered and licensed practical nurses.

Revised 9/15/14