JLCDMEDICINES / ADMINISTERING
MEDICINES TO STUDENTS
JLCDUnder certain circumstances, when it is necessary for a student to take medicine during school hours, the District will cooperate with the family physician and the parents if the following requirements are met:
A. There must be a written order from the physician stating the name of the medicine, the dosage, and the time it is to be given.
B. There must be written permission from the parent to allow the school or the student to administer the medicine. Appropriate forms are available from the school office.
C. The medicine must come to the school office in the prescription container or, if it is over-the-counter medication, in the original container with all warnings and directions intact.
The Governing Board directs the Superintendent to prescribe and enforce regulations and procedures for the emergency administration of auto-injectable epinephrine by a trained employee of the School District pursuant to section A.R.S. 15-157 and subsequent to the adoption of rules by the State Board of Education on or before January 1, 2014 pertaining to annual training in the administration of auto-injectable epinephrine, recognition of anaphylactic shock symptoms and the procedures to follow when anaphylactic shock occurs and the requirements of A.R.S. 15-203(A)(40).
The Governing Board recognizes that the prescribed annual training is optional during any fiscal year in which sufficient monies are not appropriated by the legislature during that fiscal year to provide for the purchase of two (2) juvenile doses and two (2) adult doses of auto-injectable epinephrine at each public school in this state and if the school does not stock two (2) juvenile doses and two (2) adult doses of auto-injectable epinephrine at the school during that fiscal year.
Exceptions:
A. Students who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis may carry and self-administer emergency medications including auto-injectable epinephrine provided the pupil's name is on the prescription label, on the medication container or device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian is provided that authorizes possession and self-administration. The student shall notify the school office secretary as soon as practicable following the use of the medication;
B. For breathing disorders, handheld inhaler devices may be carried for self-administration provided the pupil's name is on the prescription label, on the medication container, or on the handheld inhaler device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian is provided that authorizes possession and self-administration.
C. Students with diabetes who have a diabetes medical management plan provided by the student's parent or guardian, signed by a licensed health professional or nurse practitioner as specified by A.R.S. 15-344.01, may carry appropriate medications and monitoring equipment and self-administer the medication.
District employees may volunteer to be a student's diabetes care assistant, subject to approval by the student's parent or guardian, in an emergency situation as described in 15-344.01. The Superintendent may develop regulations for implementing this provision.
The District reserves the right, in accordance with procedures established by the Superintendent, to circumscribe or disallow the use or administration of any medication on school premises if the threat of abuse or misuse of the medicine may pose a risk of harm to a member or members of the student population.
The Governing Board directs the Superintendent to prescribe and enforce regulations and procedures for the emergency administration of naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration by an employee of a school district pursuant to Section 36-2267, Administration of opioid antagonist; exemption from civil liability; definition, which, in part states the following:
A. A person may administer an opioid antagonist that is prescribed or dispensed pursuant to section 32-1979 or 36-2266 in accordance with the protocol specified by the physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist or other health professional to a person who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose.
B. A person who in good faith and without compensation administers an opioid antagonist to a person who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose is not liable for any civil or other damages as the result of any act or omission by the person rendering the care or as the result of any act or failure to act to arrange for further medical treatment or care for the person experiencing the overdose, unless the person while rendering the care acts with gross negligence, willful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing.
C. "Person" includes an employee of a school district or charter school who is acting in the person's official capacity.
The School District is not required to purchase the drug or request a doctor or pharmacist to supply it with the drug.
If a student or parent supplies the school nurse with naloxone but does not provide the doctor's prescription or pharmacists protocol, the school nurse will not administer the opioid antagonist.
The definition of "administer" means "the direct application of medicine to the body of a patient," while "prescribed" means "to order a medication" and "dispense" means "to package, label, and deliver one (1) or more doses or a prescription-only medication in a suitable container for subsequent use by a patient." The scope of work for a Registered Nurse (RN) includes "Administer[ing] prescribed aspects of care including . . . medications." [R4-19-402(c)(4)] The scope of work for a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) includes "Administering treatments, medications, and procedures." [R4-19-101(D)(3)] Giving naloxone to a student is administering not prescribing or dispensing it and is within a school RN or LPN scope of practice.
An LPN is not allowed to diagnose problems, but RNs are allowed to "Make independent nursing decisions and formulate nursing diagnoses." [R4-19-402(c) (2)]
This policy and any related policies or amendments to such policies shall be forwarded to the District liability insurance carrier for review.
Adopted: February 14, 2017
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
15-157
15-158
15-203
15-341
15-344
15-344.01
32-1601
32-1901