Important Update about administering medication by the nurse

State Mandated Change effective August/2024.

Administration of Over-the-Counter and Prescription medications during the school day now requires BOTH: *A medical provider signature AND *A parent/guardian signature.

Recent input from the Board of Nursing (BON) about school nurses administering medication based on parents’ written request can be summarized succinctly: “A parent’s request is not sufficient by itself for nurses to administer medication. This is true for all nurses in every setting.”  WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SCHOOL NURSES: Regardless of what is stated in their district’s Board Policy FFAC or the student handbook, a school nurse should have a signed order (from MD, DO, APRN, PA, dentist, or podiatrist) before administering any medication (prescription or over the counter) to meet the standards of the Nursing Practice Act.