SCHOOL NURSE

MEDICATION

Prescription medications: All prescription medications must be in the original container, properly labeled with prescription and accompanied by a signed form stating:

  1. Name of Medication

  2. Name of student

  3. Amount to be given

  4. Time to be given

  5. Signature of the parent/guardian

  6. Doctor's signature

A change in dosage requires a new prescription or doctor's order and a new form. Sample prescription medications must be accompanied by a doctor's order in lieu of the prescription. Inhalers must also have the prescription attached. Students may carry and self administer inhalers if the parent wishes with the appropriate form signed by both the doctor and the parent/guardian. Life-saving medications such as EpiPens, etc. may also be carried with the above procedure. All other medications are to be kept in the nurses' office. All medication forms and doctor's orders are not transferred from year to year. They must be renewed each school year.

Non-Prescription medications: All non-prescription medication must be provided by the parent/guardian and be accompanied by a signed school form. No aspirin or aspirin containing medications will be given at school unless ordered by a licensed physician. All non-prescription medications must be in the original container and labeled with the student's name. These medications can only be given in accordance with the label directions unless a doctor's order is provided to override the directions. All non-prescribed medications will be kept in the nurses' office and may stay there for use all year. They will be given on an "as needed and only on an occasional basis" to your child. A new form is required each school year. All medications will be thrown away at the end of the school year if not picked up by parent/guardian.

Only medications prescribed by a licensed U.S. physician will be given at school. No homeopathic medications can be given by school personnel. Students may not have medications of any kind on their person or in lockers, etc., except for those specified above. Students may not give or take any medications to or from other students. These situations may be treated as drug offenses. Medications will be given by the school nurse or by designated trained school personnel in their absence. Medication forms are available in the nurses office or on this website. All medications not following these procedures will not be given.

HEALTH TIPS

Stay home if you or your child is sick until at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others. Stay home even if taking antiviral medications.

Cover coughs and sneezes. Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often and especially after coughing or sneezing. Keep sick household members in a separate room (a sick room) in the house as much as possible to limit contact with household members who are not sick. Consider designating a single person as the main caregiver for the sick person.

Monitor the health of the sick child and any other household members by checking for fever and other symptoms of flu. A fever is a temperature taken with a thermometer that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are not able to measure a temperature, the sick person might have a fever if he or she feels warm, has a flushed appearance, or is sweating or shivering. Watch for emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention. These warning signs include:

  • Fast breathing or trouble breathing

  • Bluish or gray skin color

  • Not drinking enough fluids

  • Not urinating or no tears when crying

  • Severe or persistent vomiting

  • Not waking up or not interacting

  • Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

  • Sudden dizziness

  • Confusion

  • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Check with your doctor about any special care needed for household members who may be at higher risk for complications from flu. This includes children under the age of 5 years, pregnant women, people of any age who have chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) and people age 65 years and older.

Have the sick household member wear a facemask- if available and tolerable- when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from flu.

Ask your doctor about antiviral medicines or fever-reducing medicines for sick household members. Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers: it can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Make sure sick household members get plenty of rest and drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, gatorade, or pedialyte) to keep from being dehydrated.