(A) The School Committee or Board of
Trustees, consulting with the Board of Health where appropriate, may approve a
proposal, developed by the school nurse and school physician, to permit the
administration of prescription medications to be delegated by the school nurse
to unlicensed school personnel. Such delegation may occur only if the school
district registers with the Department of Public Health pursuant to the
applicable provisions of
105 CMR 700.000 and
complies with the requirements of
105 CMR 210.000.
(B) In accordance with the proposal of the
school nurse and school physician, the School Committee or Board of Trustees
may approve categories of unlicensed school personnel to whom the school nurse
may delegate responsibility for prescription medication administration.
(1) Said categories of personnel may include
administrative and teaching staff, licensed health personnel, health aides and
secretaries.
(a) For the purposes of
105 CMR 210.000, health
aide shall mean an unlicensed employee of the school district who is generally
supervised by the school nurse and performs those health-related duties defined
by the school nurse, the School Committee, Board of Health or Board of
Trustees.
(b) For the purpose of
administering emergency prescription medication to an individual child,
including parenteral administration of medication pursuant to 105 CMR
210.004(B)(4), the school nurse may identify individual school personnel or
additional categories. Said school personnel shall be listed on the medication
administration plan developed in accordance with
105
CMR 210.005(E) and receive
training in the administration of emergency medication to a specific
child.
(2) An individual
in an approved category may be authorized to administer prescription medication
if he/she meets the following criteria:
(a) is
a high school graduate or its equivalent;
(b) demonstrates sound judgment;
(c) is able to read and write
English;
(d) is able to communicate
with the student receiving the prescription medication or has ready access to
an interpreter when needed;
(e) is
able to meet the requirements of
105 CMR 210.000 and follow
nursing supervision;
(f) is able to
respect and protect the student's confidentiality; and
(g) has completed an approved training
program pursuant to
105
CMR 210.007.
(3) A school nurse shall be on duty in the
school system while prescription medications are being administered by
designated unlicensed school personnel, and available by telephone should
consultation be required.
(4) The
administration of parenteral medications may not be delegated, with the
exception of epinephrine administered in accordance with
105 CMR
210.100.
(5) Prescription medications to be
administered pursuant to p.r.n. ("as needed") orders maybe administered by
authorized school personnel after an assessment by or consultation with the
school nurse for each dose.
(6) For
each school, an updated list of unlicensed school personnel who have been
trained in the administration of prescription medications shall be maintained.
Upon request, a parent shall be provided with a list of school personnel
authorized to administer prescription medications.
