2017-2018 Student Handbook

ADMINISTERING MEDICINES TO STUDENTS (JHCD-R)

DISPENSING MEDICATIONS: Dispensing medications on school property or at school activities should be done only when medically necessary and will be done only with signed parent/guardian permission. Medication permissions are good for one school year. Permission forms are available from each school nurse and on the school division’s web site (www.ccpsd.k12.va.us; click-on departments and scroll to student health services). Medications should be given outside of school hours whenever possible. Generally, unless a medication must be administered more than twice a day the doses may be administered at home. The first dose of any new medication should always be administered at home. For prescription medicines which must be taken at school, ask the pharmacist to divide the dose and to provide a separate labeled container for the school. Changes in the original order need a new written order and prescription label. All medications, including over the counter drugs, must be provided by the parent/guardian, as schools do not supply these. Prescription pain medications and controlled (scheduled) drugs will, when delivered to a school, be counted by two people who will document the amount of medication delivered and will sign and date the count. Expired or discontinued medication will not be held at school. The medications will be destroyed two weeks after expiration or discontinue order if not picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication orders or requests which exceed the frequency or dosage recommended in the Physician’s Desk Reference may not be administered by school board employees. Medicines will be secured in a locked area and will be administered by designated staff and recorded on a medication log. All staff administering medications will be trained according to the Virginia Department of Education Manual for the Training of Public School Employees in the Administration of Medication . In addition, in schools with diabetic children there will be at least two staff members who have additional training in diabetes, and in administering insulin and glucagon for students with an order for such medications. This training will be according to the Virginia Department of Education Manual for Training Public School Employees in the Administration of Insulin and Glucagon. Legal Ref. Code of Section 54.1 – 3408 and Section 22.1 0 274E. Because nurses do not accompany students on field trips, parents need to make arrangements for special medication needs, other than oral medication, to be met while their child is on a field trip. UNUSED MEDICATIONS: Attempts will be made and documented (letter and/or phone call) to return medications at the close of the school year or when the dosage is discontinued. Those medications not returned will be destroyed ten days after being discontinued or one day after the close of the school year. A witness is required when medication is being destroyed. Both the school nurse and the witness shall sign the medication log. PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS: Carroll County Public School Personnel may give long term prescription medications to students only with a written order from the licensed prescriber on the Carroll County Public Schools Prescription Medication Permission Form. This order must include the name of the medication, the required dose, the route of administration, time to be given, reason for administration, and length of time the order is effective. The permission form also must have the parent/guardian signature. Changes in the original order require a new permission form. The medication must be in the original pharmacy container which is labeled with the name of the student, the medication, the dose, and the time to be administered. Physician samples must also be labeled with this information. It is requested that the medication be delivered to the school by the parent or guardian. Prescription medications which must be taken after school hours or away from the home school site at school sponsored activities require the same permissions and locked storage as medications which must be taken at school. These will be administered as field trip medications, except in the case of overnight trips. Appropriate administration of prescription medications for overnight trips will be decided on an individual basis with guidance from all applicable law. SHORT-TERM PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION: For short term prescription medications (one month or less) the prescription label on the bottle may be accepted as the licensed prescriber order, provided the medication is in the original pharmacy container and the label includes the student name, medication, dose, time and route for administration, and length of time the order is effective. Parental/guardian consent on the Carroll County Public Schools Prescription Medication Permission Form is still required.

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