Medication at School

Procedures and appropriate use of prescription and non-prescription medicine

See Washington state law RCW 28A.210.260

Parent/guardian responsibilities

Schools rely on the cooperation of parents/guardians to safely and effectively administer medication to their students at school.

Parents/guardians are responsible for:

• Supplying all medications (schools don’t supply medications for students)
• Transporting medication to and from school
• If your child needs prescription or nonprescription medication during the school day, an authorization to administer medication form must be completed (one form required per medication):
  • Medication administration authorization
  • Epinephrine administration authorization
  • Inhaler administration authorization
  • Seizure administration authorization

Requirements for all medications: prescription, non-prescription and homeopathic

• Parents/guardians must complete the authorization to administer medication form for each medication (see above). The form must be signed by the health care provider and parent/guardian. Medication cannot be given without the completed form.
• Parents/guardians must bring all medications to the school office for the student. Students can’t bring medication to school. Medication can’t be transported on school district buses.
• All medication must be in the original prescription bottle, container or package.
• All non-prescription medication must be labeled by the parent. The label should include:
  • Student name
  • Name of medication
  • Exact dosage
  • Date issued
  • Name of health care provider
  • Time of day medication is to be given
• Directions on the authorization to administer medication form must match the directions on the prescription bottle/container.
• If half doses have been prescribed, the parent/guardian must break medication tablets in half before bringing to the school.
• Medication which is to be given three times a day should be given at home before school, after school and at bedtime.
• Homeopathic medications will only be accepted if the authorization to administer medication form is signed by a health care provider.

Inhalers

• The authorization to administer medication form to be completed for inhalers. If an exception is made allowing the student to carry his/her own inhaler, written permission from parent/guardian, health care provider and school nurse is required.

Insulin

• Parents must complete the diabetes health care provider medication order form to allow their students to take insulin at school

Administering medication at school

• Medications are given between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The school is not responsible for documentation of medication use or monitoring of expiration date, if carried and self-administered by the student. If a student self carries medication at school, they still need a health care provider’s order on file at the school.

Note: Medication left at school will be destroyed the last day of school, according to district policy.