Developing a Nursing Protocol for Over-the-Counter Medications in High School

Abstract

Management of medications in school is one of the critical roles that school nurses carry out in the school setting. In recent years, parents have come to question the medication procedures that school districts follow. Parents question why a physician’s order is required for school personnel to provide over-the-counter (OTC) medications to their child at school. How do school districts balance the safety of students with the needs of parents wanting their children to have access to OTC medications at school? Following legal guidelines helps to reduce the risk for school nurses. Through the development and utilization of Nursing Standardized Protocols, high school nurses are able to provide nonprescription analgesics for specific common student complaints such as noninjury headaches and dysmenorrhea. On the basis of nursing knowledge and judgment, school nurses provide this service, which results in students returning to class quickly, feeling better, and being ready to learn.