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DoDEA School Health Services Manual 2942.0 Volume 1 Revised: 2016 DRAFT
office. Emergency medications (epinephrine) should be stored in an
unlocked
and
readily accessible in a designated container, cabinet, or closet in the school health
office. Medications needing refrigeration are to be stored in a dedicated refrigerator
where food or food products are not stored. The refrigerator temperature is to be
maintained at 36–46 degrees Fahrenheit. The refrigerator has to be lockable or a
lockable box is affixed to a refrigerator shelf for the storage of both controlled and non-
controlled medications.
All medications are to be in their original containers and clearly labeled with the
student’s name. If there are non-medication items associated with an individual
student’s medication (i.e., peak flow monitors, spacers, diabetic supplies, etc.), those
items should be stored with each student’s medication. Individual student medications
and other items are to be stored together in containers (i.e., clear zip bags, clear boxes,
trays, etc.)
There should be two sets of keys to the school health office and medication
storage container. The school nurse maintains direct control of one set. The principal
maintains the second set in the event the nurse is unavailable to administer
medications. The principal is to be trained on the general guidelines of safe medication
administration and documentation. See
Section F-3-2,Safe Administration of
Medications, above for further information.
Reference:
Selekman, J. (2013).
School Nursing A Comprehensive Text
(2nd ed.).
Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company.
Schwab, N. C. & Gelfman, M. H. B. (Eds.). (2001)
. Legal Issues In School Health
Services: A Resource for School Administrators, School Attorneys, and School
Nurses
. North Branch, MN: Sunrise River Press.
F-3-5
Self-Administration of Medication by Students
For students diagnosed with chronic medical conditions that may necessitate
emergency use medications in the school setting, (e.g. asthma, severe allergies,
diabetes), there could be a decision by the student’s primary health care provider and
sponsor/parent/guardian, that the student is to retain control of their medication during
school hours. The short term goal of self-administration is to immediately treat the
symptoms before there is an unnecessary progression of an acute episode. The long
term goal is to foster self-care as the chronic health condition is most likely a lifelong
condition. A student for whom it has been determined that he or she must retain
control of his/her medication; the school must have on file a written permission signed
by the primary care manager/provider, sponsor/parent/ guardian authorizing the