Download Medication Administration Guidelines

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION
Ideally, medications should be administered at home, by parents; however,
the Troup County Board of Education recognizes that children may be
unable to attend school without medications(s) prescribed or ordered for the
treatment of injuries, illnesses, or chronic conditions. Additionally, these
same children will require assistance to take their medications at school.
The Troup County Board of Education cannot assume the responsibility for
the administration of any medication that is not registered at school in
accordance with the procedures of this policy.
Administration of medication during the school day must follow these
procedures.
1. All prescription and non-prescription medication should be sent or
brought to school by the parent with instructions on giving the
medication at school. *All prescription medication must be
contained in the prescription bottle, properly labeled by the
pharmacist. ( The pharmacist will provide the parent with duplicate
bottles.) *Non-prescription or over-the-counter medication may be
administered if sent to the school in a container showing that the
medication is, in fact, a non-prescription or over-the-counter
medication.
2. A parent or legal guardian must complete and sign a copy of the
Medication Permission Form (see attached) that authorizes the
school staff to administer prescription & non-prescription
medication and serves as documentation of medication
administration.
3. The administration of medication will be supervised by the
principal/designee at the school. The principal/designee should be
familiar with established procedures.
4. Medication must be stored at the school in a secured area except
when the parent or physician specifies in writing that the
medication must be kept on a student’s person.
5. Communication between parents, child’s physician and the school
staff is encouraged to help monitor the effectiveness of medication
therapy and to make necessary adjustments (See attached consent
forms).
MEDICATION POLICY
Review Board Policy and Regulations
PERMISSION FORMS
Permission should exist prior to administration of medication.
Obtain permission from parent on Troup County School System
Medication Permission Form.
You increase exposure to liability when you change a dose of
medication per phone call from parent. Ex: increase Ritalin
Ask parent to have doctor fax new order to school.
MEDICATION
Prescription and Non-prescription medicine must be in original
container.
Prescription medicine must be labeled with the following:
A recent date
Name of patient
Name of physician
Name of pharmacy
Order; how much to give, when
Make sure to check child’s name on bottle; ask their name.
Check dose and give accordingly.
DOCUMENTATION
Must be documented when you give dose.
Include amount given, time, initial.
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS
Guidelines:
Apply these guidelines to any medication. They can also be used as
the basis for training and supervision if non-medical and/or unlicensed
health personnel will be administering medication, in accordance with
school district policy.
1. Wash hands before and after administering medications.
2. Compare labeled medication container with written order.
3. Read label three times—when taking it from the storage area,
before giving it to the student, before returning it to the storage
area.
4. Check expiration date on label.
5. Check student’s identity with name on label.
6. Give the prescribed dose, using the prescribed route, (i.e. by
mouth) and at the prescribed time. Always observe the child as he
takes the medication. This may require having water and cups
available.
7. Record medications given on the medication log, and initial each
time.
8. Relock the storage area at the end of the school day or whenever
left unattended.
Safety Procedures:
1. Medications taken by students needs to be under the direct
supervision of the designated staff member, and recorded
immediately on the medication log.
2. Minimize distractions when medications are being given, as
distractions can cause errors.
3. When administering medications remember the:
Five Rights of Medication Administration
*Right Student
*Right Medication
*Right Dose
*Right Time
*Right Route
4. All medications should be periodically assessed for expiration.
Parents
should be notified, and medications should not be sent home with
students.
5. Under no circumstances should a medication be given in a
different way
than that written on the authorization form.
6. Some medications need to be given either with food or on an
empty
stomach, so timing is always important.
7. Medications should be labeled if special storage is needed (i.e.
dark, or refrigeration).
8. Allergic reactions and other side effects can occur even after the
child has been taking the medication for a while. If any side effect
such as a rash, dizziness, cough or breathing difficulty occur, do
not give another dose, and call the parents immediately. If there is
significant or increasing breathing difficulty, 911 may need to be
called.
9. Notify parent/guardian when medicine supply is running low when
only a few doses are left.
Administration Procedures:
1. Oral Medication
a. Student should be sitting or standing
b. Pour the tablet from the bottle into the lid of the container,
and then into the medicine cup or the child’s hand. Avoid
touching the tablet yourself.
c. Pour liquid medicine by setting the medicine cup on a firm
surface at eye level, and pouring to the prescribed level,
reading the fluid level carefully. Place the lid upside down
on the table to avoid contamination. Wipe the bottle off with
a tissue or clean cloth before replacing the cap.
d. Unless contraindicated, offer a fresh cup of water to aid in
swallowing.
e. Make sure the student swallows the medication.
f. Return medication to the cabinet or refrigerator. Lock
cabinet.
g. Record the medication on the log.
h. Observe the student for any immediate medication reaction
or side effect.
2. Topical medications (ointments or creams)
a. Gather necessary equipment including gloves or a tongue
blade as needed.
b. Squeeze medication from the tube, or using a tongue blade,
take ointment from jar.
c. Spread a small quantity of the medication, using a tongue
blade, in a thin layer on the skin or on a bandage to be
placed on the skin.
d. If ordered, protect the skin surface with a dressing, and use
tape or gauze to secure in place.
e. Remove gloves and wash hands.
f. Return medication to storage cabinet.
g. Record the medication on the log.
h. Observe the student for any immediate medication reaction
or side effect.
3. Eye medications
Eye Drops
a. Explain procedure to student.
b. Clinic personnel and child should both wash hands.
c. Give student tissue for wiping off excess medicine.
d. Have student tilt head back and look up.
e. Measure the correct amount in the dropper.
f. You can have the child keep his eyes closed and drop the
medicine in the inner corner of his eye (one at a time). Then,
keeping his head back, have child open his eyes slowly, and
the medicine will go in.
g. Or you can gently pull the lower lid down, and instill the
drops in this space.
h. If more than one drop is needed, try one drop at a time in
each eye, then go back and give the second drop in the same
way.
i. Repeat the procedure if the drop falls to the cheek.
j. Remove excess medicine with clean tissue, but ask student
not to rub his eyes.
k. Wash hands.
l. Return medication to storage area.
m. Record the medication on the log.
n. Observe the student for any immediate medication reaction
or side effect.
Eye Ointment – same as above except:
a. Gently pull lower lid down, and have student look up.
b. Apply eye medication along the inside edge of the lower
eyelid.
c. Have child close his eyes, and not rub them.
4. Ear Drops
a. Have the student lid down on his side, with the ear to be
treated “up.”
b. Fill the medication dropper with prescribed amount of
medication.
c. Gently lift the ear upward and outward.
d. Instill drops, holding dropper near the ear canal.
e. Have student lie on that side for one-two minutes to allow
drops to flow down the ear canal.
f. Wash hands.
g. Return medication to storage area.
h. Record medication on the log.
i. Observe the student for any immediate medication reaction
or side effect.
5. Nose Drops
a. Student may be lying on his back or be sitting up, with head
tilted back
b. Fill dropper with prescribed amount of medication.
c. Place dropper just inside the nostril and instill correct
number of drops.
d. Repeat procedure in other nostril.
e. Instruct student to keep head tilted back and not rub the nose
for three-five minutes.
f. Nasal sprays can be instilled with the child sitting up. Spray
or squeeze the prescribed number of times, instructing the
child to gently and slowly breathe in through his nose each
time. Repeat on the other nostril.
g. Wash hands.
h. Return medication to storage area.
i. Record the medication on the log.
j. Observe the student for any immediate medication reaction
or side effect.
6. Inhalers (with and without spacers)
Metered dose inhaler (MDI) with spacer (aerochamber) –
Children using inhalers should have been taught to use them
properly, but still should be monitored to ensure they are not
missing steps.
a. Have the child sit up straight, or stand to use the MDI.
b. Remove the caps from the spacer and inhaler.
c. Shake the inhaler well (for about two seconds).
d. Attach the inhaler to the spacer.
e. Have the child exhale.
f. Have the child place the mouthpiece of the spacer in his
mouth.
g. Press the inhaler to spray the medicine into the spacer.
h. Have the child take a deep breath from the spacer, hold it for
a count of 10, and then exhale.
i. Younger children may need to take another deep breath from
the spacer, hold it, and then exhale, to get all of the
medication.
j. If two or more “puffs” are ordered, wait one minute, then
repeat the above steps from “Press the inhaler.”
k. Wash hands.
l. Return medication to storage area.
m. Record the medication on the log.
n. Observe the student for any immediate medication reaction
or side effect.
Metered dose inhaler without spacer
a. Remove cap from mouthpiece.
b. Shake inhaler well before use (at least two seconds).
c. Have the child breathe out completely.
d. Hold inhaler in upright position with mouthpiece directly in
front of the mouth, about two finger widths away from the
mouth.
e. Open mouth and press top of inhaler firmly to release
medicine. At the same time, take a deep breath in and hold if
for a count of 10.
f. Have the child exhale.
g. Wait one-two minutes before taking a subsequent puff, if
ordered.
h. Wash hands.
i. Return medication to storage area.
j. Record medication on the log.
k. Observe the student for any immediate medication reaction
or side effect.