Policy
M
5330
ADMINISTRATION
OF MEDICATION
The
Board of Education disclaims any and all responsibility for the diagnosis and
treatment of the illness of any pupil. However,
in order for many pupils with chronic health conditions and disabilities to
remain in school, medication may have to be administered during school hours.
Parents and legal guardians are encouraged to administer medications to
children at home whenever possible as medication should be administered in
school only when necessary for the health and safety of pupils. The Board will
permit the administration of medication in school in accordance with applicable
law.
Medication
will only be administered to pupils in school by the school physician, a
certified or non-certified school nurse, a substitute school nurse employed by
the district, the pupil's parent(s) or legal guardian(s), a pupil who is
approved to self-administer in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.3 and 12.4,
and school employees who have been trained and designated by the certified
school nurse to administer epinephrine in an emergency pursuant to N.J.S.A.
18A:40-12.5 and 12.6.
Self-administration
of medication by a pupil for asthma or other potentially life-threatening
illness or a life threatening allergic reaction is permitted in accordance with
the provisions of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.3.
Medication no longer required must be promptly removed by the parent(s)
or legal guardian(s).
The
school nurse shall have the primary responsibility for the administration of epinephrine. However, the certified school nurse may
designate, in consultation with the Board or the Superintendent, additional
employees of the district who volunteer to be trained in the administration of
epinephrine via a pre-filled auto-injector mechanism using standardized
training protocols established by the Department of Education in consultation
with the Department of Health and Senior Services when the school nurse is not
physically present at the scene.
The
school nurse or designee shall be promptly available on site at the school and
at school-sponsored functions in the event of an allergic reaction. In
addition, the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must be informed that the school
district, its employees and agents shall have no liability as a result of any injury
arising from the administration of epinephrine to the pupil.
The
parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the pupil must sign a statement acknowledging
their understanding the district shall have no liability as a result of any
injury arising from the administration of the epinephrine via a pre-filled
auto-injector mechanism to the pupil and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s)
shall indemnify and hold harmless the district and its employees or agents
against any claims arising out of the administration of the epinephrine via a
pre-filled auto-injector mechanism to the pupil.
The
permission for the emergency administration of epinephrine via a pre-filled
auto-injector mechanism containing epinephrine to pupils for anaphylaxis is
effective for the school year it is granted and must be renewed for each
subsequent school year.
Each
school in the district shall have and maintain for the use of pupils at least
one nebulizer in the office of the school nurse or a
similar accessible location. Each
certified school nurse or other persons authorized to administer asthma
medication will receive training in airway management and in the use of nebulizers and inhalers consistent with State Department of
Education regulations. Every pupil that is authorized to use self-administered
asthma medication pursuant to N.J.S.A.18A:40-12.3 or a nebulizer
must have an asthma treatment plan prepared by the pupil's physician which shall identify, at a minimum, asthma triggers, the
treatment plan and other such elements as required by the State Board of
Education.
All
pupil medications shall be appropriately maintained and secured by the school
nurse, except those medications to be self-administered by pupils. In those instances the medication may be retained
by the pupil with the prior knowledge of the school nurse. The school nurse may provide the Principal
and other teaching staff members concerned with the pupil's educational
progress with such information about the medication and its administration as
may be in the pupil's best educational interests. The school nurse may report to the school
physician any pupil who appears to be affected adversely by the administration
of medication and may recommend to the Principal the pupil's exclusion pursuant
to law.
The
school nurse shall document each instance of the administration of medication
to a pupil. Pupils self-administering
medication shall report each incident to a teacher, coach or other individual
designated by the school nurse who is supervising the pupil during the school
activity when the pupil self-administers.
These designated individuals
shall report such incidents to the school nurse within twenty-four
hours of the self-administration of medication.
The school nurse shall preserve records and documentation regarding the
self-administration of medication in the pupil's health file.
N.J.S.A.18A:6-1.1;
18A:40-3.1; 18A:40-6; 18A:40-7; 18A:40-12.3; 18A:40-12.4; 18A:40-12.5;
18A:40-12.6;18A:40-12.7; 18A:40-12.8
N.J.S.A.
45:11-23
N.J.A.C.
6A:16-2.3(b)
Adopted: 25 November 2002
Revised: 5 December 2005
Revised: 5 November 2007