{"id":354934,"date":"2016-04-04T11:01:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/education\/school-safety\/background-medication-administration.html"},"modified":"2024-03-25T15:15:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T20:15:01","slug":"background-medication-administration","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/education\/school-safety\/background-medication-administration.html","title":{"rendered":"School Administration of Medication to Students FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

School Administration of Medication to Students FAQ<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Mills Richmond, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

School health is an essential aspect of ensuring students’ well-being. Understanding how schools manage and administer medications is important. This includes both over-the-counter medications and prescribed medications. Understanding this process is crucial for parents, school personnel, and students.<\/p>\n

This article explains key points about medication administration in the school setting.<\/p>\n

Medication Administration at School: A Brief Overview<\/h2>\n

Medication administration in schools is critical to managing students’ health needs. It involves a range of medication policies and procedures. Federal agencies create and enforce these policies. These agencies include the U.S. Department of Education<\/a> and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services<\/a>. State school boards also work together with federal agencies. Together, they create rules and policies affecting medication administration at school. These rules help ensure that students get their medication safely and effectively.<\/p>\n

This process includes storing medication securely and the safe disposal of drugs. It also covers maintaining accurate medication logs during school hours. The rules also discuss trained personnel like registered nurses or designated school employees. These school staff members are responsible for administering medication to students.<\/p>\n

The school’s health office plays a pivotal role in overseeing these activities. It ensures compliance with federal law, state regulations, and school district policies. Medication orders must come from licensed health care providers or professional nurses. Parents or guardians must give consent to administer the medications. This is fundamental for administering prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. OTC meds are also called non-prescription medications.<\/p>\n

Here are some frequently asked questions about administering medications in school:<\/p>\n