New Braunfels ISD now requires a physician’s order for all medications (over-the-counter and prescription) administered at school that must be taken for more than five consecutive days.
The details
This change is in line with updated compliance requirements of the Texas Board of Nursing regulations and the Nurse Practice Act, said Mary Coronado, NBISD nursing director, at a school board meeting on Aug. 12.
The Texas Board of Nursing has passed new regulations prohibiting school nurses from taking medication orders directly from parents. This prompted the district to update its medication administration policies, Coronado said. All medication orders must come from a licensed physician, podiatrist or dentist.
“I know it’s difficult, and I wanted to make it as easy as possible for parents, so we talked to our doctor and added 10 of the most commonly given over-the-counter medications,” Coronado said.
Here are the 10 over-the-counter medications that do not require an additional prescription if taken for less than five consecutive days:
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
- Naproxen sodium
- Guaifenesin
- Midol
- Dextromethorphan
- Calcium carbonate (Tums)
- Diphenhydramine cream
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Throat lozenges
Clarify details
Parents are required to bring medication in its original packaging along with a valid doctor’s prescription and a written request to the school’s clinic, she said. For safety reasons, students are not allowed to bring medication with them.
Prescription medications must be properly labeled and include information such as pharmacy name and address, student name, prescribing physician, date of prescription, drug name, strength, dosage, and directions for use in accordance with NBISD Health Services medication policies.
Parents are encouraged to schedule medication administration to minimize the need for school doses, the guidelines say. Medications that are only needed two or three times a day should be administered at home.
According to the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners guidelines, the school nurse has the right to refuse to administer medication if she believes it is not in the best interest of the student.
