Section:5000 Students
Policy Name:Administering Medication
Policy Number:5141.21
Date Approved:10/10/1989
Last Revised:112/8/2014


The Board of Education, with the advice and assistance of the school medical advisor and the school nurse supervisor, or other appropriate representative of the school nursing staff, shall review and revise these policies and procedures concerning the administration of medications as often as needed, but at least biennially. Whenever revised, these shall be forwarded to the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health for review and approval.

Administering Medication

The Board of Education allows students to self-administer medication and appropriate school personnel to administer medication to students in accordance with its established policies and procedures. Self-administration of medication means the control of the medication by the student at all times and is self-managed by the student according to the individual medication plan. Students who are able to self-administer medication may do so provided the requirements of the Administrative Regulations are met.

A school nurse may administer medication to any student pursuant to the written authorization of an authorized prescriber (i.e., physician, dentist, physician's assistant or advanced practice registered nurse) and the written authorization of a parent or guardian of such student.

In the absence of a school nurse, only qualified personnel who have been properly trainedmay administer medication to any student in the school who has provided the aforementioned materials. Qualified personnel for schools means (a) a full-time employee who meets the local or regional board of education requirements as a principal, teacher, occupational therapist or physical therapist; (b) a coach and licensed athletic trainer; or (c) a paraprofessional; who has been trained in the administration of medication. For school readiness programs and before- and afterschool programs, directors or director's designee, lead teachers and school administrators who have been trained in the administration of medication.

Specific and detailed procedures regarding paraprofessionals, coaches and trainers, and before- and afterschool programs are set forth in the Administrative Regulations.

With the permission of a student's parent or guardian, an authorized prescriber's verbal order, including a telephone order, for a new or renewed prescription for medication can be received only by a school nurse. A written order must be sent to the nurse within three (3) school days of every such verbal order.

Handling and Storage of Medication

All medication, except those approved for transporting by students for self-medication, must be delivered by the parent, guardian or other responsible adult and shall be received by the nurse assigned to the school. The school nurse will follow the detailed provisions set forth in the Administrative Regulations regarding medication he/she receives in school.

Disposal of Medications

School personnel must either return to the parent or guardian or destroy (with permission of the parent or guardian) said medication if unused, discontinued or obsolete. Medication which is not repossessed by the parent or guardian within a seven (7) day period of notification by school authorities shall be destroyed by the school nurse in the presence of a witness. Controlled drugs must be destroyed by surrender to the Drug Control Unit of the State Department of Consumer Protection.

Documentation and Record Keeping

Record of the medication administered shall be entered in ink on an Individual Student Medication Record Form and filed in the student's cumulative health folder. Additional requirements for documentation and proper record keeping are listed in the Administrative Regulations.

Errors

The Administrative Regulations provide procedural safeguards whenever any error in medication administration occurs in the schools.

Emergency Administration of Medication

In case of an anaphylactic reaction or the risk of such reaction, a school nurse may administer emergency oral and/or injectable medication to any student in need thereof on the school grounds, in the school building, or at a school function according to the standing order of the chief medical advisor or the student's private physician.

In the absence of a school nurse, such principal, teacher or coach may give emergency medication orally or by injection to students with a medically diagnosed allergic condition which would require such prompt treatment to protect the student from serious harm or death so long as the principal, teacher or coach has completed training in administration of such medication.

With the written authorization of a student's parents, and pursuant to the written order of the student's authorized prescriber, a school nurse and a school medical advisor may jointly approve and provide general supervision to an identified school paraprofessional to administer medication, including, but not limited to, medication administered with a cartridge injector, to a specific student with a medically diagnosed allergic condition that may require prompt treatment in order to protect the student against serious harm or death.

Storage and Administration of Epinephrine

Cartridge injector means an automatic prefilled cartridge injector or similar automatic injectable equipment used to deliver epinephrine in a standard dose for emergency first aid response to allergic
reactions.

Qualified school employee means a principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical or occupational therapist employed by the school district, coach or school paraprofessional.

Qualified medical professional means a licensed physician, optometrist, advanced practice registered nurse, or a physician assistant.

Storage and Use of Epinephrine Cartridge Injectors A school nurse or, in the absence of a school nurse, a "qualified school employee" shall maintain epinephrine in cartridge injectors for the purpose of emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reactions, who were not previously known to have serious allergies and therefore do not have a prior written authorization of a parent/guardian or a prior written order of a qualified medical professional for the administration of epinephrine.

The school nurse or school principal shall select qualified school employees to be trained to administer such epinephrine. There shall be at least one such qualified school employee on the grounds of each District school during regular school hours in the absence of the school nurse. Each school must maintain a store of epipens for such emergency use.

NOTE: THIS REQUIREMENT PERTAINS ONLY DURING REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS AND FOR SCHEDULED SPORTS ACTIVITIES BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

The school shall fulfill all conditions and procedures promulgated in the regulations established by the State Board of Education for the storage and administration of epinephrine by school personnel to students for the purpose of emergency first aid to students who experience allergic reaction and do not have prior written authorization for epinephrine administration.

The school nurse or, in the absence or unavailability of such school nurse, such qualified school employee may administer epinephrine. A qualified school employee must annually complete the required training program in order to be permitted to administer epinephrine utilizing an epipen.

The parent/guardian of a student may submit, in writing, to the school nurse and school medical advisor, if any, that epinephrine shall not be administered to his/her child permitted by statute.

The District's School Medical Advisor shall sign off, via his/her standing orders, on this procedure regarding the use of epipens by trained qualified school personnel.

Legal References: Connecticut General Statutes

§10-212a – 10-212a Administration of medications in schools. (as amended by P.A. 99-2, and June Special Session and P.A. 03-211, P.A. 04-181, P.A. 07-241, P.A. 07-252, P.A. 09-155, P.A. 12-198 and P.A. 14-176

§21a-254-Designation of restricted drugs or substances by regulations. Records required by chapter.

§52-557b- Immunity from liability for emergency medical assistance, first aid or medication by injection. School personnel not required to administer or render.

Connecticut Agency Regulations:

§10-212a-1- §10-212a-7
- Administration of medicine by school personnel.