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Policy
P 5330
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION
M
The Board of
Education disclaims any and all responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment
of the illness of any pupil. At the same
time, the Board recognizes that a pupil’s attendance may be contingent upon the
timely administration of medication duly prescribed by a physician. The Board will permit the dispensation of
medication in school only when the pupil’s health and continuing attendance in
school so require and when the medication is administered in accordance with
this policy.
Definitions
For purposes of this policy,
"medication" means any prescription drug or over-the-counter medicine
or nutritional supplement.
For the purposes of this
policy, "self-administration" means carrying and taking medication
without the intervention of the school nurse, approved through the school
district policy and restricted to pupils with asthma and other life-threatening
illnesses.
For the purposes of this
policy, "life-threatening illness" means an illness or condition that
requires an immediate response to specific symptoms or sequelae
(an after effect of disease or injury) that if left untreated may lead to
potential loss of life, i.e. adrenaline injection in anaphylaxis.
For the purposes of this
policy, "a pre-filled single dose auto-injector mechanism containing
epinephrine" means a medical device used for the emergency administration
of epinephrine to a pupil for anaphylaxis.
For the purposes of this
policy “a non-certified school nurse” means a person who holds a current
license as a registered professional nurse from the State Board of Nursing and
is employed by the district, and who is not certified as a school nurse by the
Department of Education.
For the purposes of this
policy “a substitute school nurse” means a person who holds a current license
as a registered professional nurse from the State Board of Nursing and who has
been issued a county substitute credential
to serve as a substitute for a certified school nurse in accordance with
N.J.A.C. 6A:9-6.5.
For the purposes of this
policy “a school physician” means a physician with a current license to
practice medicine or osteopathy from the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners
who works under contract or as an employee of the district. This physician is referred to as the medical
inspector in N.J.S.A. 18A:40-1.
No medication will be
administered to pupils in school except by the school physician, a certified or
non-certified school nurse, a substitute school nurse employed by the district,
or the pupil’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s). A written request for the
administration of medication at school must be approved by the Principal. Medication must be delivered to the school
nurse by the pupil’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The medication must be brought to the school
nurse in the original container labeled by the pharmacy or physician. Written orders signed by the pupil’s private
physician or an advanced practice nurse for the use of a pre-filled single dose
auto-injector mechanism containing epinephrine, must be provided stating the
name of the medication, the purpose of its administration to the specific pupil
for whom it is intended, its proper timing and dosage, its possible side
effects, and the time when its use will be discontinued. If written orders for use of a pre-filled
single dose auto-injector mechanism containing epinephrine are provided, the
orders must say the pupil requires the administration of epinephrine for
anaphylaxis and does not have the capability for self-administration of the medication. These written orders must be reviewed by the
school physician prior to school approval for self-administration of any
medication. The school physician may
also issue standing orders to the school nurse regarding the administration of
medication. 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 a pre-filled single dose
auto-injector mechanism containing epinephrine.
However, the certified school nurse may designate, in consultation with
the Board or the Superintendent, another employee of the district trained by
the certified school nurse in accord with the "Training Protocols for the
Implementation of Emergency Administration of Epinephrine" issued by the
New Jersey Department of Education, to administer the pre-filled single dose
auto-injector mechanism containing epinephrine when the school nurse is not
physically present at the scene. The
pupil’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must consent in writing to the
designated person if applicable. In
addition, the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must be informed that the school
district has no liability as a result of any injury arising from the
administration of a pre-filled single dose auto-injector mechanism containing
epinephrine, and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must sign a statement that
shall indemnify and hold the district and employees harmless
against any claims arising from
the administration of a pre-filled single dose auto-injector mechanism
containing epinephrine. The permission
for the emergency administration of epinephrine via a pre-filled single dose
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.
Self-administration of
medication by pupils is permitted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.3. A pupil is only permitted to self-administer
medication for asthma or other potentially life-threatening illnesses as
defined by the Department of Education, New Jersey Statutes Annotated and New
Jersey Administrative Code. Permission
for self-administration of medication must comply with the conditions set forth
in Regulation No. 5330.
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 Department 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 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)
New Jersey Department
of Education, Training Protocols for the Implementation of Emergency Administration
of Epinephrine, 16 November 1998
Adopted 24, May 2006