Administration of medication at school.
1.The physician must submit in writing his/her recommendations. This statement must include the following information: name of drug, dosage of drug to be administered and precise schedule of administration, side effects of drug indicated. This information is to be submitted on a form available at the nurse's office. The parent is responsible for getting this form completed and delivered to the school.
2.The parent should provide written consent for administration of the drug by school personnel. In addition, the parents must provide a telephone number through which either parent may be reached in the event of an adverse reaction to the drug.
3. The child must be instructed by the parent or the physician on how to take his/her medication. Young children and physically or mentally handicapped children should be taught according to their level of capability. It is the responsibility of the child to understand why he/she takes the medicine and to take it according to the prescribed schedule.
4. Older students may be allowed to assume responsibility for administration of their own medications, provided that self-administration is recommended in writing, by the prescribing physician and the parent/guardian.
5. The container with the medication should be labeled with the name of the drug, the strength and correct dosage schedule for administration, the name of the student and the name of the physician. If only one dosage is to be administered, such as an antibiotic, only that dosage should be brought to school, not the entire prescription.
6. The school nurse should be notified of all students taking medications at the school. This notification is the responsibility of the student or parent.
7. Medications must be kept in a central location within a locked closet or cabinet. Keeping medications at the school is an accommodation to the student, and the district is not responsible for loss or damage resulting for theft.
8. All medication shall be dispensed under the supervision of the school nurse who shall also prescribe the procedures and records to be utilized. Medication will be dispensed only according to this policy, and the district shall not be liable for failure to properly dispense medication as the final responsibility lies with the parent and student.
NURSE INFORMATION
With all that we're hearing about illness these days, it's hard to know what to do.
Here are a few simple things that will help keep you and your kids well:
Teach and practice frequent washing (for at least 20 seconds) before eating or using cosmetics or lip balm, before touching contact lenses, and after coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom.
Teach and practice proper "cough and freezing etiquette". that means using a tissue, your sleeve or elbow instead of your hand to contain a cough or sneeze.
avoid close contact with this who are coughing or sneezing.
Get vaccinated against the seasonal flu and the H1N1 as soon as the vaccine is available.
What to do if illness strikes anyway.
If your child feels ill in the morning, check for fever with a thermometer (just a few dollars at Wal-Mart or Walgreens). If there is fever over 100 degrees, especially if it accurse along with a sore throat or cough, keep your child home.
Students and adults who developed symptoms of a flu-like illness should stay home and away from others for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, without using a fever reducing medicine.
Especially if you work, plan ahead for illness by recruiting an emergency caregiver to stay with your child if the need arises.
Call your doctor, or school nurse with any questions.
Sue Chianta, RN
734-5420, Ext.715