- Frederick County Public Schools
- Policy Manual
This Policy is under review.
437P - Administration of Medications to Students
Last Updated Date: 06/20/2023
Adoption Date: 08/20/2012
Revision History: 09/04/2012, 09/04/2013, 06/17/2014, 07/19/2017, 09/18/2018, 12/07/2021, 06/21/2022, 06/20/2023
Related Policies:
- Medications Prescribed for Individual Students
Employees of the School Board of Frederick County, Virginia, may administer medication prescribed for individual students only pursuant to the written order of a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse and with written permission from the student’s parent or guardian. The parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student requiring prescribed medication for less than one month shall provide such permission by completing the Parent/Guardian Request for Giving Medication at School (Over the Counter/Short Term Medication Form). The parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student requiring prescribed medication for one month or more shall provide such permission by completing the Request and Authorization/Parental Consent for Administering Long Term Prescription Medication during School Hours. All prescribed medications to be administered by employees of the Board must be in the original container and delivered to the principal, school nurse, or principal's designee by the parent or guardian of the student. No employees of Frederick County Public Schools shall administer narcotics to individual students even if a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse has provided a written order for such medication. - Non-prescription Medications
Employees of the School Board of Frederick County, Virginia, may administer non-prescription medication to students only with the written permission of the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian shall provide such permission by completing the Parent/Guardian Request for Giving Medication at School (Over the Counter/Short Term Medication Form) and include the name of the medication, the required dosage of the medication, and the time the medicine is to be given. Such medications must be in the original container and delivered to the principal, school nurse, or principals' designee by the parent or guardian of the student. Any exceptions to the manufacturer’s recommended dosage shall require a written order from the student’s physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse. - Self-Care and Self-Administration of Medication
Each enrolled student who is diagnosed with diabetes, with parental consent and written approval from the prescriber, is permitted to
- carry and use supplies, including a reasonable and appropriate short-term supply of carbohydrates, an insulin pump, and equipment for immediate treatment of high and low blood glucose levels, and
- self-check his/her own blood glucose levels on school buses, on school property, and at school-sponsored activities.
The possession and self-administration of other medication is prohibited unless the following conditions are met:
- Written parental permission for self-administration of the medication is on file with the school.
- The medication is in the original container and appropriately labeled with the manufacturer’s directions.
- The student’s name is affixed to the container.
- The student possesses only the amount of medication needed for one school day/activity.
- Self-Administration of Asthma Medications and Auto-Injectable Epinephrine
Students with a diagnosis of asthma or anaphylaxis, or both, are permitted to possess and self-administer inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, as the case may be, in accordance with this policy during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or while on a school bus or other school property. A student may possess and self-administer asthma medication, or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, when the following conditions are met:
- Written parental consent that the student may self-administer inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, is on file with the school.
- Written notice from the student’s health care provider is on file with the school, indicating the identity of the student, stating the diagnosis of asthma or anaphylaxis, or both, and approving self-administration of inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, that have been prescribed for the student; specifying the name and dosage of the medication, the frequency in which it is to be administered and the circumstances which may warrant its use; and attesting to the student’s demonstrated ability to safely and effectively self-administer the medication.
- An individualized health care plan is prepared, including emergency procedures for life-threatening conditions.
- There is a consultation with the student’s parent before any limitations or restrictions are imposed on a student’s possession and self-administration of inhaled asthma medications and auto-injectable epinephrine, and before the permission to possess and self-administer inhaled asthma medications and auto-injectable epinephrine at any point during the school year is revoked.
- Self-administration of inhaled asthma medications and auto-injectable epinephrine is consistent with the purposes of the Virginia School Health Guidelines and the Guidelines for Specialized Health Care Procedure Manual, jointly issued by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Health.
- Information regarding the health condition of the student may be disclosed to school board employees in accordance with state and federal law governing the disclosure of information contained in student scholastic records.
- Written parental consent that the student may self-administer inhaled asthma medications or auto-injectable epinephrine, or both, is on file with the school.
- Epinephrine
Pursuant to an order or standing protocol issued by the prescriber within the course of his professional practice, any school nurse, School Board employee, employee of a local appropriating body or employee of a local health department who is authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine may possess epinephrine and administer it to any student believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction on school premises during the academic day. The superintendent shall promulgate regulations concerning the administration of epinephrine to any student believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction. - Albuterol Inhalers
Albuterol inhalers and valved holding chambers are stocked in each school in the division to be administered by any school nurse, licensed athletic trainer under contract with the school division, employee of the School Board, employee of a local appropriating body, or employee of a local health department who is authorized by the local health director and trained in the administration of albuterol inhalers and valved holding chambers for any student believed in good faith to be in need of such medication. - Naloxone
School nurses, School Board employees or employees of a local appropriating body who have completed a naloxone administration training program may possess and administer intranasal naloxone to students in schools in accordance with defined protocols. - Recommendation of Medication by School Personnel
School personnel are prohibited from recommending the use of psychotropic medications for any student. School health staff, classroom teachers, or other school professionals may recommend that a student be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner with the written consent of the student’s parent. In addition, school personnel may consult with a medical practitioner who is serving the student with the written consent of the student’s parent.
For the purpose of this policy, “psychotropic medications” means those medications that are prescribed with the intention of altering mental activity or state, including, but not limited to, antipsychotic, antidepressant, and anxiolytic medication and behavior-altering medication.
Legal Reference(s):
Code of Virginia, as amended, Section(s) 22.1-78, 22.1-274, 22.1-274.01:1, 22.1-274.2, 22.1-274.3, 54.1-2952.2, 54.1-2957.02, 54.1-3408.
Policy References: