Administration of Medications at School

Administration of Medications at School: English/Spanish

If your student requires medication during the school day, Bend-La Pine Schools district policy and Oregon state laws require the following rules to be followed:

1. Authorization Forms
   • A signed permission form (Authorization for Medication Administration by Bend-La Pine Schools Personnel or Authorization for Medication Administration by Self) must be completed. Copies are available on the Bend-La Pine Schools website and at school offices.
2. Medication Necessity at School
   • Prescription and non-prescription medications will be given only if they are necessary for the student to remain in school.
   • The school may request documentation from a health care provider stating the necessity for specific medication administration during the school day.
3. Medication Check-in/Check-out Process
   • All medication must be brought to school by the parent/guardian.
   • Medications brought to school by a student will not be administered.
     • Parents/guardians will be notified to pick up the medication in the school office.
     • Students will not be permitted to take the medication home.
4. Medication Packaging
   • Prescription and non-prescription medications must always be brought to school and remain in the original manufacturer or pharmacy labeled packaging or container.
   • Pharmacies can print duplicate prescription labels so the medication given at home and school can both be kept in prescription labeled containers.
5. Non-Prescription Medication Administration
   • For all over the counter medications, Bend-La Pine Schools follows the manufacturer instructions for administration; however, if the medication frequency and dosing fall outside of these instructions, the student’s health care provider must provide written instructions specifying the medication dosage and frequency via note or signed authorization for medication administration form.
6. Prescription Medication Label Requirements
   • The following information must be printed on the pharmacy issued label.
     • Medication Name
     • Medication Dosage
     • Medication Administration Time
       • The label must indicate the exact administration time (such as 1pm or 9am). Administration times that indicate the time to be given as “in the morning” or “with lunch” are not exact times and will not be accepted dosing times.
       • If you want your student to take their medication at lunchtime, please contact your student’s school to find out the lunch time. Report the specific lunch time to the student’s health care provider so the administration time can be printed on the medication bottle.
     • Medication Expiration Date
     • Prescribing Physician Name
7. Unlabeled or Expired Medications
   • For student safety and compliance with district protocol and state law, school staff may never administer medication sent to school in unlabeled or expired containers. (e.g., baggies, envelopes, non-labeled bottles, expired prescriptions).
   • At the end of the school year, parents/guardians must pick up any unused medication on the last day of school or by 12pm the following business day.
     • Any unused medication remaining after this time will be properly discarded by the school.
   • Empty medication bottles may be sent home with the student per parent/guardian request.
8. Emergency Self-Carry Medications
   • All students may self-carry emergency medications (i.e. albuterol rescue inhalers, epinephrine pens, Glucagon, Solu-Cortef, etc.) with them.
   • All emergency medications must have an accurate current pharmacy label on the medicine container or on the medication box.
9. Non-Emergency Self-Carry Medications
   • Students in grades 6-12 may self-carry (non-emergency) prescription or nonprescription medication.
   • Students may only carry one day's dosage.
   • The medication must be stored in a current manufacturer or pharmacy labeled, non-expired container.
   • In some instances, self-carry medications may need approval from the school nurse and/or school administrator for a student to self-carry their medications.
10. Medication Changes
    • Changes in your student's medication (dosage or new medication) require a new Authorization for Medication Administration by Bend-La Pine Schools Personnel or Authorization for Medication Administration by Self form to be completed.
    • For prescription medication, any change must be noted on a new prescription label or written instructions from the prescribing health care provider must be provided to the school nurse.
11. Medication Tablet Cutting/Scoring
    • For dosages that require medication tablets to be cut, the medication must be pre-cut or scored by the parent/guardian at home before checking the medication in at school.