Some school nurses will have to change the way they treat students when they return in the fall. Earlier this year, an Advisory Opinion Statement from the Kentucky Board of Nursing regarding the roles of nurses in school practices was updated. It changed the protocol for medication administration. Angela McDonald is the state school nurse consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education. She said the change went into effect July 1.
“Trained staff and school nurses will no longer be able to administer any medication, prescribed or over the counter, without a medical provider order and a parent signature,” said McDonald.
Changes included the addition of new emergency medications, new competency checklists, and guidance regarding stock and off-label medications. All old training materials will no longer be used at the end of the school year.
“This will also prohibit parents from sending in short-term medications like antibiotics with a parent note unless they have an order to administer,” said McDonald.
McDonald added that while an Advisory Opinion is not a law, it is more than a recommendation and ignoring it can still have consequences, including but not limited to termination. More information can be found in the School Health Service 2025 End-of-Year Webinar.