Jerome Joint School District No. 261

STUDENTS 3510

Student Medicines

This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees or their designee.

Assistance in Self-Administration of Medicines by Students

Any school employee authorized, in writing by the school administrator or school principal:

1. May assist in the self-administration of any drug to a student provided:

A. The student’s parent/guardian has consented in writing; and

B. The drug may lawfully be sold over may lawfully be sold over the counter without a prescription.

Such Administration must be as described in the written instructions, provided in accordance with this policy.

2. May assist in the self-administration of a prescription drug to a student in compliance with the written

instructions of a licensed health care practitioner, if the student's parent or guardian consents in writing.

Administering Medicines to Students

No employee except a qualified health care professional may administer a drug or prescription drug to a student

under this policy except in an emergency situation.

The Board will permit the administration of medication to students in district schools. Pursuant to the written

authorization of the student licensed health care practitioner, as well as the written authorization of a parent or

guardian, the school nurse (who has received direction as to the administration of medication by the student’s

licensed health care practitioner) may administer medication to any student in the school.

Where administration of medication is a routine activity for a particular student, the subject should be addressed

in a student’s health care plan, Section 504 Plan or IEP, as applicable.

Diagnosis and treatment of illness and the prescribing of drugs are never the responsibility of a school employee

and should not be practiced by any school personnel.

The absence of a school nurse for the administration of mediation shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis

considering compliance with Idaho law and the medical needs of the student.

Emergency Administration of Medicines

In case of an anaphylactic reaction or the risk of such reaction, or in the case of a seizure, a school nurse or

delegate may administer 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, the administrator or designated staff member exempt from the nurse licensure

requirements who has completed training in administration of medication, may give emergency medication to

students. There must be on record a medically diagnosed allergic condition which would require prompt treatment

to protect the student from serious harm or death.

Training on emergency administration of medication for the administrator or designed staff member, shall be done

by the school’s nurse or other licensed health care practitioner to ensure such individuals have knowledge on how

to give emergency medication to students. Records shall be retained as to the individuals training, the

identification of the trainer and the date of training activities.

Record of the medication administered in an emergency will be entered on an Individual Student Medication

Record and filed in the student’s cumulative health folder.

Self-Monitoring and Treatment of Diabetes

A student with diabetes, upon written request of the student’s parent or guardian and written authorization from

the student’s treating physician, shall be permitted by the Board to perform blood glucose checks, administer

insulin through the insulin delivery system the student uses, treat hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, and otherwise

attend to the care and management of the student’s diabetes in the classroom and in any area of the school or

school grounds, and to possess on the student’s person at all times all necessary supplies and equipment to

perform these monitoring and treatment functions.

Epilepsy and Seizure Disorder Plans

Upon written request of the parent or guardian of a student who has epilepsy or another seizure disorder, the

District shall authorize implementation of a plan – whether a Section 504 plan, Health or Emergency Care Plan, or

Seizure Disorder Plan, as deemed appropriate for each individual student. The plan will include, but is not limited

to, the following:

1. Providing notice of the student’s condition to all employees who interact with the student;

2. The student’s symptoms;

3. Written orders from the student’s physician on providing care to the student;

4. Whether the student may fully participate in exercise and sports and, if applicable, any accommodations

required;

5. Accommodations for school-related activities, such as school trips and after-school activities;

6. A description of how medical treatment of the condition may affect the student’s education, if applicable;

7. The student’s understanding of and ability to manage the epilepsy or seizure disorder;

8. How to maintain communication with the student, parents or guardians, the student’s health care team,

and the school nurse and/or employee responsible for administering emergency medication; and

9. A list of qualified staff who may administer emergency medication to the student for a seizure.

The plan may be updated annually and as necessary if there is a change in the health status of the student. The

plan must also address the notification of the appropriate staff.

All employees who have received notification that a student they interact with has epilepsy or another seizure

disorder will be provided with information about how to recognize indicators for epilepsy and seizure disorder,

epilepsy, or seizure disorder first aid, when to call for assistant, and a parent or guardian and emergency contact

information for that student. The training shall be provided by the school nurse or another medical professional

selected by the Superintendent or designee. The training may be individualized to each student, if necessary.

Self-Administration of Asthma Medication, Insulin/Diabetic Treatment, Seizure Disorder Medication or Epinephrine

Auto-Injector

Pursuant to Idaho Code covering the self-administration of asthma medication, the following shall apply to

epinephrine auto-injectors, seizure disorder medication, insulin, or blood glucose monitoring supplies if a parent or

legal guardian chooses to have his/her their child self-administer medication:

1. The parents or guardians of the student shall provide to the school board or designee written

authorization for the self-administration of medication.

2. The parents or guardians of the student shall provide to the school board or designee written certification

from the student’s physician of the student that the student has a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis),

asthma or another potentially life-threatening respiratory illness, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, or

diabetes, and is capable of, and has been instructed in, the proper method of self-administration of

medication. In cases where the student has severe or life-threatening allergies, Policy 3515 Food Allergy

Management, and any related procedures shall be followed. For students with a severe allergic reaction,

asthma, or another potentially life-threatening respiratory illness, seizure disorder or diabetes, the

physician or health care provider-supplied information shall contain:

a) the name and purpose of the medicine;

b) the prescribed dosage;

c) the time(s) at which or the special circumstances under which medication should be administered;

d) the length of time for which medication is prescribed; and

e) the possible side-effects of the medicine.

f) Actions to take in the event of an emergency, including if the medication does not improve the child’s breathing.

g) Contact information for the physician and parent or guardian

h) If applicable, a list of the child’s asthma or seizure triggers or allergies.

3. The school’s administration and appropriate teachers and school personnel shall be informed that the student is self-administering prescribed medication. Such notification shall be done in a manner so as to best preserve the privacy of the student and the student’s medical condition to the extent appropriate.

For students with severe or life-threatening allergies this information may be provided in the student’s

Emergency Care Plan.

Additional Requirements for Self-Administration of Medication

The board or board designee will inform the parents or guardians of the student in writing that the district and

its employees or agents shall incur no liability as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of

medication by the student, absent any negligence by the district, its employees or its agents, or as a result of

providing all relevant information provided pursuant to subdivisions of this subsection with the school nurse,

absent any negligence by the district, its employees or its agents, or in the absence of such nurse, to the school

administrator;

The parents or guardians of the student shall sign a statement acknowledging that the district shall incur no

liability as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of medication by the student and that the

parents or guardians shall indemnify and hold harmless the district and its employees or agents against any claims

arising out of the self-administration of medication by the student.

Students who are authorized to carry their medication, supplies or equipment necessary for managing

their diabetes, allergies, asthma, or epilepsy or other seizure disorder may be retested periodically to

ensure they are still capable of correctly using the medication.

As used in this section:

1. "Medication" means:

A. An epinephrine auto-injector;

B. A metered dose inhaler or a dry powder inhaler;

C. Medication for the treatment of epilepsy or another seizure disorder; and

D. Insulin, insulin delivery system and/or supplies or equipment necessary for diabetes monitoring

and/or treatment.

2. "Self-administration" means a student's use of medication pursuant to prescription or written direction

from a physician.

3. A student who is permitted to self-administer asthma oral medication pursuant to this section shall be

permitted to possess and use a prescribed inhaler or oral medication at all times.

Any school employee authorized in writing by the school administrator or principal may assist with self-

administration of medications provided that only the following acts are used:

1. Verbal suggestions, prompting, reminding, gesturing, or providing a written guide for self-administering

medications;

2. Handing a pre-filled, labeled medication holder, labeled unit dose container, syringe, or original marked,

labeled container from the pharmacy to the student;

3. Opening the lid of the above container for the student;

4. Guiding the hand of the student to self-administer the medication;

5. Holding a container of fluid and assisting the student in drinking fluid to assist in the swallowing of oral

medications; and/or

6. Assisting with removal of a medication from a container for students with a physical disability which

prevents independence in the act.

Handling and Storage of Medicines

All medications, excluding those approved for keeping by students for self-administration must first be delivered

by the parent or other responsible adult to the nurse or employee assisting with the self-administration of

medication. The nurse or the employee must:

1. Examine any new medication to insure that it is properly labeled with dates, the name of the student, the

medication name, the dosage and the physician’s name.

2. If administration is necessary, the nurse must develop a medication administration plan for the student

before any medication is given by school personnel.

3. Record on the Student’s Individual Medication Record the date the medication is delivered and the

amount of medication received.

4. Store medication requiring refrigeration at 36F - 46F; and

5. Store prescribed medicinal preparations in a securely locked storage compartment, excluding those

medications approved for self-administration. Controlled substances will be contained in a separate

compartment, secured and locked at all times.

No more than a forty-five (45) school day supply of a medication for a student will be stored at the school. All

medications, prescription and nonprescription, will be stored in their original containers. Access to all stored

medication will be limited to persons authorized to administer medications or assist in the self-administration of

medications. Each school will maintain a current list of those persons authorized by delegation from a licensed

nurse to administer medications.

Disposal of Medication

School personnel must either return to the parent or destroy (with written permission of the parent or guardian)

any unused, discontinued or obsolete medication. Medicine which is not repossessed by the parent or guardian

within a seven (7) day period of notification by school authorities will be destroyed by the school nurse in the

presence of a witness.

Medications to Reverse an Opioid Overdose

Opioid Overdose: the District participates in a program that provides treatment of opioid overdoses, as outlined in Policy 3518.

Legal Reference:

I.C. § 33-520 Policy Governing Medical Inhalers, or Epinephrine Auto-Injectors, Insulin and Blood Glucose Monitoring Supplies

I.C. § 54-1401 Nurses - Purpose- License Required - Representation to the Public

Policy History:

Adopted on: 04/28/2009

Revised on: 02/24/2015

Revised on: 12/19/2023