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Student Medication Administration Policy

Lauderdale County School System Medication Administration

  • All medications to be administered at school will be brought to the appropriate office by the parent and safeguarded in a locked area. 
  • The State Department of Education School Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form must be used for all medication administered in the school setting, including over-the-counter medications.

                     Click here for the Parent Authorization Form.

  • The Lauderdale County Lead School Nurses work with our schools to establish safe and effective guidelines for medication administration.

Other medication administration policy details and restrictions:

MEDICATION PROCEDURE per the Lauderdale County Student Handbook, page 50
  1. All medications to be administered at school will be brought to the health room or the appropriate office and safeguarded in a double-locked area, as designated by the nurse supervisor and principal, per the State Department of Education Medication Curriculum guidelines.  
  2. The parent/guardian must sign the Alabama State Department of Education School Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization form (PPA) granting permission for the child to receive medication at school. 
  3. The Alabama State Department of Education School Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization form must be used for all medication administered in the school setting, including over-the­-counter (OTC) medications.
  4. Parents should administer daily medications before and/or after school hours unless the medication must be given during school hours with meals, snacks, or other specific times during the school day.
  5. The parent/guardian or a designated responsible adult shall deliver all medication to be administered during the school day to the school nurse or personnel designated by the school nurse. Medications should never be brought to school by the student or be on the student’s person unless they are emergency medications and the proper forms have been completed. This is to ensure the health and safety of all students.
  6. The parent/guardian must provide the school with medication that is in a correctly labeled prescription bottle/container.  The pharmacy prescription label information must be identical to the prescriber/parent authorization (PPA) form information (dose, frequency, specific times, etc.)  Any mismatch of information will not be accepted.
  7. The parent/guardian must provide the school with a completed Alabama State Department of Education School Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization form (PPA) for each medication to be administered at school.
  8. The PPA must be completed each school year and anytime medication orders are changed.  Only the prescriber (MD, NP, PA) can change a medication order (dose, frequency, specific time, etc.)  Cutting, crushing, or sprinkling a pill/tablet/capsule can be done only with a written prescriber order.  Changes to the medication orders by a parent/guardian will not be accepted.
  9. The physician shall provide a list of side effects for prescription medications and over-the-counter medications.
  10. The parent/guardian shall give the first dose of a new medication at home in case of a possible allergic reaction.
  11. Over-the-counter medication guidelines: 
    • Over-the-counter medications administered according to the manufacturer’s recommendations will require completion of the over-the-counter PPA signed by the parent/guardian.  
    • Over-the-counter medications may only be administered for a 14-day period.  Over-the-counter medication needed for longer than 14 days requires a PPA signed by the medical provider and the parent.
    • A parent order for the same over-the-counter medication will only be accepted twice a school year.
    •  Over-the-counter medication prescribed in excess of the manufacturer's recommended dosage will require completion of the PPA form signed by the medical provider and the parent. 
    • Over-the-counter medication must be provided by the parent/guardian in the original sealed container identifying the medication name, dosage, and manufacturer’s labeling.
  12. Lauderdale County Schools will allow siblings to share one bottle of over-the-counter medication.
  13. No aspirin or aspirin (salicylate) containing medications will be given to children or teenagers under the age of 18 years of age, unless prescribed by a physician. 
  14. Natural remedies, herbs, and nutritional supplements may not be administered by school personnel without an explicit order of an authorized prescriber, parent authorization, verification that the product is safe to administer to children in the prescribed dosage, and reasonable information regarding therapeutic and untoward effects (SDE Medication Curriculum and Schwab & Gelfman).
  15. Student self-administration of medication for a documented chronic health condition will be authorized if conducted in compliance with the State Department of Education, Alabama Board of Nursing, and Lauderdale County Board of Education guidelines.  Student self-administration of medication will be determined on an individual basis.
  16. The parent/guardian shall pick up the student's medication(s) by dismissal time on the last day of school.  All daily medications and as-needed medications left at school will be destroyed by the school nurse in the presence of a witness per the Alabama Board of Nursing and State Department of Education Medication Curriculum Guidelines.  Emergency medication(s) that are not expired may be kept in the health room for summer programs (Example: Epi-Pen auto injector, Inhaler, Seizure emergency nasal medication, and Glucagon).  
  17. Expired medications are not allowed to be administered in the school setting.  Expired medications that have not been picked up by the parent within 14 days will be destroyed by the school nurse in the presence of a witness per the Alabama Board of Nursing and State Department of Education Medication Curriculum guidelines.