Medication may not be administered to students while at school unless such medicine is given to them by the school nurse acting under specific written request of the parent or guardian and under the written directive of the student's personal physician (see below for exceptions). No one other than the school nurse, may give or administer any medication to any student, unless the unlicensed staff has attended the appropriate training course that is required per the DPH regulations, has approval by the district’s nurse leader, and the parent/guardian has given written consent authorizing that an unlicensed staff is permitted to administer their child’s prescribed medication. The nurse leader must also verify, via demonstration and in writing, that an unlicensed staff has the capability and competency level needed to administer prescribed medications. (These are all state regulatory requirements for medication delegation to unlicensed staff.)
Exceptions: The school district shall, through the district nurse leader, register with the Dept. of Public Health and delegate to unlicensed personnel in the administration of a prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors. Only staff that have documented competency and have approval from their school nurse can be delegated and administer a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector.
The school district may, in conjunction with the School Physician and the School Nurse Leader, stock nasal naloxone (Narcan). Trained medical personnel and officially-trained unlicensed staff may administer nasal naloxone to individuals experiencing a life-threatening opiate overdose in a school setting.
If the school district wishes medical personnel to train non-medical staff in the administration of nasal naloxone, the School Committee shall vote to approve such training and the Superintendent shall ensure that medical personnel have a written protocol which complies with medical directives and regulations from the Dept. of Public Health.
Following consultation with and approval from the school nurse, students who fall into the following exceptions may self-administer medications with parental consent:
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Students with asthma or other respiratory diseases may possess and administer prescription inhalers. These students must also have a second rescue inhaler in the school nurse’s office ~ per state regulations.
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Students with cystic fibrosis may possess and administer prescription enzyme supplements.
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Students with diabetes may possess and administer glucose monitoring tests and insulin delivery systems. However, all diabetic care that requires the use and disposal of needles and/or sharps must be performed in a controlled environment, which the school nurse will be involved in creating. All diabetic care must be completed under adult supervision that is arranged by the school nurse.
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Students that have prescribed epinephrine can carry and self-administer their epinephrine as long they have attended and passed the self-administration course that is provided by the school nurse, and has approval from that school nurse. These students must also have a second set of the prescribed dual pack of epinephrine in the school nurse's office ~ per state regulation requirements.
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Students with other medical conditions may be allowed to self-administer medications with parent request and school nurse approval, on a case by case basis. In an effort to maintain and protect our drug-free school system and workplace, self-administration of controlled substance medications will not be permitted. All controlled substance medications must be administered under the supervision of the school nurse.
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When the school nurse is not present during an out of state and/or overnight field trip, a student who needs medication and has an order that authorizes self administration of medication may be requested during the scheduled hour and REMINDED by the staff member to take the medicine. This provision only applies when the correct dosage of the medication has been placed in an individual container clearly marked with the student's name, the dosage to be administered, and the time and/or conditions under which the medicine is to be taken. In addition, the student must be able to recognize the medicine that he or she is taking.
SOURCE: MASC March 2016
LEGAL REF.: M.G.L. 71:54B
Dept. of Public Health Regulations: 105 CMR 210.00; 244 CMR 3.00
Adopted by Burlington School Committee: 1/10/17
Revision Adopted by Burlington School Committee: 5/28/19