Administering Medication to Students: JLCD

Prescription and non-prescription medication which must be administered during the school day shall be given by the school nurse or other school personnel designated by the principal and school nurse. This medication shall be kept in a locked cabinet or safe. The medication must be provided by the parent in an individual pharmacy labeled bottle for the student who is to receive it. The label must include the name of the student, name of the medication, the dosage, and the time for administering the medication.

Written parental permission and written authorization of the physician or other health care provider or dentist for giving medication at school shall be provided by the parent and filed in the office for the student who is to receive medicine. Secondary level students on prescribed drugs may be allowed to take their medication and thus relieve adult school personnel of this responsibility. If such is the case, the written parental permission and physician's authorization shall verify that the student is responsible for administering his own medication thus releasing liability against the district.

The school nurse shall organize a practical plan for the administration of medications and maintain accurate recording according to the Nurse Delegation Act. Medication may be given legally only by school personnel whom a registered nurse has trained and delegated the task of giving such medication.

Self-administration of medication for asthma, allergies, anaphylaxis

A student with asthma, a food allergy, other severe allergies, or a related, life-threatening condition, or who is prescribed medication by a licensed health care practitioner may possess and self-administer medication to treat the student’s asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition, or other condition for which the medication is prescribed. Self-administration of such medication may occur during school hours, at school-sponsored activities, or while in transit to and from school or a school-sponsored activity. Student possession and self-administration of such medication must be in accordance with the regulation accompanying this policy.

Authorization for a student to possess and self-administer medication to treat the student’s asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or other related, life-threatening condition, or other condition for which the medication is prescribed may be limited or revoked by the school principal after consultation with the school nurse and the student’s parent/guardian if the student demonstrates an inability to responsibly possess and self-administer such medication.

Use of stock epinephrine auto-injectors in emergency situations

The district will have a stock supply of epinephrine auto-injectors for use in emergency anaphylaxis events that occur on school grounds. Any administration of a stock epinephrine auto-injector to a student by a district employee must be in accordance with applicable state law, including applicable State Board of Education rules.

The district's stock supply of epinephrine auto-injectors is not intended to replace student-specific orders or medication provided by the student's parent/guardian to treat the student's asthma, food or other allergy, anaphylaxis or related, life-threatening condition.

The district will have a stock supply of opiate antagonists to assist a student who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event. For purposes of this policy, an opiate antagonist means naloxone hydrochloride or any similarly acting drug that is not a controlled substance and that is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a drug overdose.

The stock supply of opiate antagonists may also be used to assist a district employee or any other person who is at risk of experiencing an opiate-related drug overdose event.

Administration of an opiate antagonist by a district employee to a student or any other person must be in accordance with applicable state law.

 

Adopted October 14, 1975 

Revised 1978 

Revised to conform with practice: date of manual adoption 

Revised November 13, 1984 

Revised September 22, 1987 

Revised December 10, 1991 

Revised March 12, 1996 

Updated May 2009 

Updated April 2022 

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 12-38-132 (delegation of nursing tasks) 

C.R.S. 12-38-132.3 (school nurses - over-the-counter medication) 

C.R.S. 22-1-119 (no liability for adverse drug reactions/side effects) 

C.R.S. 22-1-119.1 (Board may adopt policy to acquire a stock supply of opiate antagonists) C.R.S. 22-1-119.3 (3)(c), (d) (no student possession or self-administration of medical  marijuana, but school districts must permit the student's primary caregiver to administer  medical marijuana to the student on school grounds, on a school bus or at a school-sponsored  event) 

C.R.S. 22-1-119.5 (Colorado Schoolchildren's Asthma, Food Allergy, and Anaphylaxis Health  Management Act) 

C.R.S. 22-2-135 (Colorado School Children's Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act)

C.R.S. 24-10-101 et seq. (Colorado Governmental Immunity Act) 

1 CCR 301-68 (State Board of Education rules regarding student possession and  

administration of asthma, allergy and anaphylaxis management medications or other  prescription medications) 

6 CCR 1010-6, Rule 6.13 (requirements for health services in schools) 

CROSS REFS.: JICH, Drug and Alcohol Involvement by Students 

JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students (and Other Disciplinary Interventions) JLCDA*, Students with Food Allergies 

JLCDB*, Administration of Medical Marijuana to Qualified Students 

JLCE, First Aid and Emergency Medical Care