Administering Student Medication
New Policy To Be in Place by July 1, 2011 “The passing of House Bill (HB) 1 brought myriad changes for school districts,” writes OSBA management development specialist Donna J. Williams in the current issue of Policy Development Quarterly. The procedure for administering medication to students is one area addressed by the legislation that is of importance to all school employees. In the article, Williams explains that in 1985 all boards of education were required to adopt a policy regarding the administration of medication to students. Legislation at that time permitted school districts to select from two alternatives. Districts were permitted to adopt a policy stating that no person employed by the board could administer any drug prescribed to any student enrolled in the schools of the district, or a policy which stated that designated persons employed by the board were authorized to administer to a student a drug prescribed for the student. The designated person, as Williams explains the policy, could be any employee within the district. “This could be an administrative assistant, teacher, school nurse or any other employee designated by the board,” she continues. However, beginning July 1, 2011, HB 1 permits only employees of the school board who are licensed health professionals, or who have completed a drug administration training program conducted by a licensed health professional and considered appropriate by the board, to administer prescription drugs to students in school districts, cautions Williams. HB 1 allows school boards to opt to disallow any employee, including licensed health professionals, from administering prescription drugs to students. It also allows school boards, if they so choose, to prohibit the administration of medications involving procedures such as injections. Revised Code Section (RC) 3319.073). In the next few months, the Governing Board of the Greene ESC will be studying the implications of HB 1 and will be updating our policy for the administration of medication to students. In helping school boards to revise their policies, OSBA has suggested the following as possible language for an updated policy: The school nurse or an appropriate person appointed by the Board supervises the secure and proper storage and dispensation of medications. The drug must be received in the container in which it was dispensed by the prescribing physician or others licensed to prescribe medication. Written permission must be received from the parent(s) of the student, requesting that the school nurse or an appropriate person comply with the physician’s order. The parent(s) must agree to submit a revised statement, signed by the physician or other licensed individual who prescribed the drug, to the nurse or other designated individual if any of the information originally provided by the physician or licensed individual changes. No employee who is authorized by the Board to administer a prescribed drug and who has a copy of the most recent statement is liable in civil damages for administering or failing to administer the drug, unless he/she acts in a manner which would constitute “gross negligence or wanton or reckless misconduct.” No person employed by the Board is required to administer a drug to a student except pursuant to requirements established under this policy. The Board shall not require an employee to administer a drug to a student if the employee objects, on the basis of religious convictions, to administering the drug. The Ohio School Boards Association also recommends policy language dealing with inhalers and epinephrine autoinjectors: Students have the right to possess and use a metered-dose inhaler or a dry-powder inhaler to alleviate asthmatic symptoms or before exercise to prevent the onset of asthmatic symptoms. The right applies at school or at any activity, event or program sponsored by or in which the student's school is a participant. In order for a student to possess the inhaler, he/she must have written approval from the student’s physician and parent or other caretaker. The principal and/or the school nurse must have received copies of these required written approvals. Students are permitted to carry and use an epinephrine autoinjector (epi-pen) to treat anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions). The right to carry and use an epi-pen extends to any activity, event or program sponsored by the student’s school or activity, event or program in which the school participates. Student possession of an epi-pen is permitted only if the student has written approval from the prescriber of the medication and, if a minor, from his/her parent. Written approval must be on file with the principal and, if one is assigned, the school nurse. In addition, the principal or school nurse must receive a backup dose of the medication from the parent or student. Any employee who would like of offer input as the Governing Board reviews this policy should contact Dr. Ron Anderson at randerson@greeneesc.org. |