Our Approach

• Parents of scholars with special needs such as diabetes, severe allergies, asthma, etc., are responsible for providing all necessary documentation and medications to the school nurse by the day that their scholar starts school.  Parents are also responsible for keeping the nurse informed of changes during the course of the year, and for providing all necessary medications and supplies for the scholar. “Necessary supplies” are items required to provide appropriate and adequate medical care for the scholar and may include: snacks, glucose tablets, ketone strips, incontinence items, etc. 
• Medications can only be accepted if the appropriate permission forms have been completed.  School nurses are unable to administer any medication unless completed permission forms are received. Medications may only be delivered to school by an adult over the age of 18 years.
• Medications that are designated as controlled substances (ADHD medications such as Adderall and Ritalin) must be counted by the school nurse in the presence of the adult delivering them to the school.
• All medications will be kept in a secure area in the nurse’s office and may not be carried on campus by scholars. Only the school nurse or principal’s designees will be assisting scholars with medication. Exceptions to this include scholars with permission and proper documentation from a physician to self-carry and self-administer medications such as albuterol inhalers, EpiPens, and insulin.
• The school will not send home any medication with a scholar.  Medications will be released to the scholar’s parent or other designated adult.  The school nurse, in accordance with DHEC requirements, will dispose of any medication not picked up by the end of the school year.

1. A written Physician Authorization order form which includes: (Download form)
   • Scholar’s Name
   • Name of Medication
   • Dosage
   • Time(s) to administer medicine
   • Reason for medication
   • Side effects that would require notification of the health care practitioner
   • Parent/Guardian signed consent
2. A current pharmacy-labeled container.  Pharmacies can provide 2 labeled containers, one for school and one for home.

Medications to be taken in the morning should be given at home. Exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis. 

For antibiotics or other medications that must be given during the school day, the parent/guardian will be responsible for providing the school nurse with the medication and completed permission forms as soon as possible. 

If your child goes on an overnight field trip, the parent/guardian will be responsible for providing completed permission forms to the school nurse, along with all necessary medications. Medications must be in the original, labeled container.
 

Non-Prescription (OTC) Medications can be administered at school if a completed Non-Prescription Medication Permission form is received (Download form) 

Non-prescription medications must be delivered to the school by an adult and be in the original container labeled with the scholar’s name. The school nurses and approved designees will follow the manufacturer dosing instructions on the medication label. 

The school keeps a supply of over-the-counter medications for occasional use by scholars in need. These medications will only be administered by the school nurse if a permission form has been completed by a parent/guardian. A digital version of this form may be completed here.

Scholars who require the immediate availability of medication may be allowed to self-carry and self-administer these medications if the following forms are completed by the physician, parent/guardian, and scholar and delivered to the school nurse.  Self-Medicating Authorization form (Download form)  Self-Monitoring Authorization form (Download form). Parents/guardians of scholars self-carrying medications assume responsibility for assuring that the carried medication is in a pharmacy labeled container, and is neither out-of-date nor empty. Permission to self-carry medication may be revoked at any time if the scholar is found to be misusing or sharing the medication, or any other actions that demonstrate a lack of responsibility. 

For scholars at risk for anaphylaxis, parents/guardians should take the following packet to the scholar’s physician for completion and return to the school nurse as soon as possible: Download Anaphylaxis Packet 

For scholars with asthma, parents/guardians should take the following packet to the scholar’s physician for completion and return to the school nurse as soon as possible: Download Asthma Packet
 

If your child goes on an overnight field trip, the parent/guardian will be responsible for providing completed permission forms to the school nurse, along with all necessary medications. Medications must be in the original, labeled container. You can download medication forms here:
Prescription Medication Permission Form
Non-Prescription Medication Permission Form
Anaphylaxis Packet
Asthma Packet

Scholars may not have medications in their possession without completed self-carry forms that must be approved and signed by the physician, parent/guardian, and scholar (download forms here)