Medication safety is of the utmost importance in Harlingen CISD. The district provides nurses on each campus to provide care for students, including medication administration. In the event that a nurse is not available, trained school staff are available to provide medications, per policy.

Medications should be given at home, whenever possible, especially those medications that are ordered once or twice daily. All medications require a parent and physician signature. Controlled substances, such as Ritalin must be delivered to school and picked up by a parent or guardian and a count and signature of the nurse and parent will occur with each medication delivery.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications will be given according to instructions on the original label with a parent written request and physician signature. All medications will be stored securely in the campus health office, unless the student is authorized to self-carry emergency asthma or anaphylaxis medication. (See Self-Carry Considerations.)

Self-Carry Considerations

Students may be allowed to self-carry certain medications while on school campus or at a campus related event such as diabetes and asthma medications. The student must demonstrate to the student's physician or other licensed health care provider and the school nurse, the skill level necessary to self-administer the prescription medication, including the use of any device required to administer the medication. 

A student with asthma, anaphylaxis, or diabetes may possess and self-administer prescription medicine while on school property or at a school-related event or activity if the following conditions are met:

1. the prescription medicine has been prescribed for that student as indicated by the prescription label on the medicine;

2. the student has demonstrated to the student's physician or other licensed health care provider and the school nurse, the skill level necessary to self-administer the prescription medication, including the use of any device required to administer the medication;

3. the self-administration is done in compliance with the prescription or written instructions from the student's physician or other licensed health care provider; and

4. a parent of the student provides to the school a written authorization, signed by the parent and licensed health care provider on the Authorization for Self-Administration form/ En Espanol , stating

   • that the student has asthma or anaphylaxis and is capable of self-administering the prescription medicine;

   • the name and purpose of the medicine;

   • the prescribed dosage for the medicine;

   • the times at which or circumstances under which the medicine may be administered; and

   • the period for which the medicine is prescribed.

5. The physician's statement must be kept on file in the office of the school nurse of the school the student attends or, if there is not a school nurse, in the office of the principal of the school the student attends.

Please note that a student requiring medication for sports must also register the medication with the school nurse.