NEW HANOVER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT - SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM-
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS
Our school system has a written policy to assure the safe administration of
medication to students during the school day. If your child must have any
medication during school hours (including over-the-counter medications), you
have the following choices:
1. You may come to school and give the medication to your child at the
prescribed time.
2. You may discuss with your child's doctor an alternative schedule for the
time the medication is needed (for example before or after school hours).
3. Medication may be given by school personnel. In order for this to be
possible, it is critical that the following steps be taken to provide for
your child's safety:
a. Your child's physician must complete a Physician's Authorization for
Medication at School form for prescription medication. Parent signature is
also required. This form is valid for the current school year only. **You may
print off a copy of this form if you go to the
following web site: http://www.nhcs.net, over on the left side of the
site you will see a list of quick links, go down to the FORMS link and click
on that link, then you will see the form called: Physician's Authorization
for Medication at School; click on that link and print a copy of this form.
b. You must bring the medication in the bottle from the pharmacy with
your child's name, medication name, dosage, and date of prescription with
directions for use. Refills are to be brought to the school in the
container in which they were dispensed.
c. The parent/guardian must bring in and pick up all medications. The
student will not be allowed to transport medication.
d. Medicaion will be counted in your presence by school staff and you
will be asked to sign the Medication Check-In Log.
e. Children requiring short-term medication (2 weeks or less), after
consulting a physician, may have the medication administered at school
without a signed Physician's Authorization for Medication at School form.
The medication bottle must have pharmacist's label with student's name, name
of medication, time of medication administration, list of side effects and
other contraindications, and a note from the parent giving permission to
give medications at school.
4. Over-the-counter medications: for specific medical conditions,
parent/guardian may give permission for school personnel to administer
specific over-the-counter medication. The Over-the-Counter Parental
Permission Form must be completed by parent/guardian and on file with the
school nurse. See your school nurse for a copy of this permission form.
5. At the end of each school year, parent/guardian are asked to pick up
their child's medication. Your child will not be sent home with
medication. Any medication left longer than ONE day after the school year
has ended will be discarded, unless other arrangements are made by the
parent/guardian and school.
6. A copy of the Administration of Medication Policy/Procedure is available
for your review at your school.
Please call Nurse Teresa if any questions at 790-2236 ext.111.
