Parents/guardians and physicians are encouraged to schedule all necessary student medications to be administered during non-school hours whenever possible. If a student must take medication during the school day, medication will be administered in the nurse’s office per the district protocols.

• All medications to be administered during the day must have orders written by a licensed prescriber. The order must be written for the current year and expires at the end of the school year, if not sooner. A new order is required if there is a change in dose, time, or medication. All changes must be documented by a licensed prescriber. Nurses will contact physicians directly if there are any questions about a medication order.

• Both prescription and non-prescription (over-the-counter) medications must have signed consent from a parent/guardian.

• Treatments that are not FDA-approved will not be administered in school.

• Medications must be kept locked at all times, except for emergency medications (epinephrine auto-injectors, inhalers, and glucagon)

• Prescription medications must be delivered to the clinic by an adult. When a parent/guardian deems it necessary for a student to have immediate access to medication, the school nurse must agree that it is safe and necessary for the student to carry and self-administer. An agreement between the school nurse, parent, and student must be entered that specifies the conditions under which the prescription medication will be self-administered.

• All medication must be in the original container labeled with the student’s name, name of licensed prescriber, date ordered, dosing instructions, name of the medication, pharmacy contact information, and expiration date.

• No more than a 30-day supply will be accepted.

• At the end of the school year, ALL medications must be picked up by the parent/guardian from the nurse’s office no later than the last day of school. Any medication left in the nurse’s office will be destroyed.

• Narcotics will not be administered to students during the school day.

• Students who require snacks for medical reasons must have orders written by a licensed prescriber. Parents/guardians will be responsible for providing non-perishable snacks. All snacks must be eaten in the nurse’s office. 

• Sunscreen is not applied unless medically necessary and prescribed by a licensed prescriber. Your student must be able to self-apply.

• Seasonal allergy medication is not administered in schools. We ask that this be managed at home.

• The nurses do not provide cough drops to students due to concerns about choking hazards for younger students and the increased incidence of food allergies.

• Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing all medical documentation and medications, especially emergency medications. Students will be subject to exclusion from field trips if emergency medications or supporting medical documentation are not provided by parent/guardian.

• Field Trips: School nurses are rarely available on field trips. Epinephrine auto-injectors travel on all field trips. Staff are trained to administer epinephrine in the presence of an anaphylactic event. Antihistamines, such as Benadryl can not be administered, and therefore do not go out on field trips per Massachusetts Department of Public Health regulations. When no nurse is present on a field trip, students will receive medications as follows:

  • A staff member delegated by the school nurse will administer the medication if permitted by Massachusetts DPH regulations or

  • If out-of-state field trips, a student may take the medication from a labeled pharmacy bottle if age-appropriate. A staff member will hold the medication for safekeeping when appropriate.

Prescription Medication Form

Medication Prescribed Parent/Guardian permission form

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medication Authorization Form (Tylenol, Motrin, Tums)

Medication administration plan (daily medications)

Medication Administration Form for Chronic Illness (epi, inhalers)