Medication Management in Primary and Secondary Schools

Abstract

Objectives. To identify whether and how pharmacy faculty members are addressing the issue of medication management in primary or secondary schools in their teaching, research, and service activities, and to ascertain the extent to which they think the issue is an important one. Methods. Four hundred ninety-nine faculty members completed a questionnaire inquiring about the research, teaching, and service activities in which they participated that related to medication management in schools. Results. Only 33 subjects (6.6%) addressed the topic of medication management in schools in their courses; only 13 (2.6%) conducted research on the topic; and only 30 (6%) were involved in service in this area. On the other hand, 432 respondents (86.6%) believed that the issue of medication management in schools was either somewhat or extremely important.Conclusions. There is a large gap between the number of subjects that think medication management in schools is an important topic and the number who actually include the topic in teaching, research, and or service.

Family Perceptions of Medication Administration at School: Errors, Risk Factors, and Consequences

“…These results are consistent with the few other studies suggesting that medication administration is a significant issue facing schools, families, and health care providers that requires systematic collaboration to address. Reutzel, Patel, and Myers (2001) reviewed 95% of the literature identified through a thorough search process and concluded that a set of core medication management guidelines are identifiable. More importantly, they found that pharmacists and school nurses must work effectively together to address these issues.…”

Medications at School: Disposing of Pharmaceutical Waste

“…19 Some schools have developed relationships between school nurses and pharmacists to enhance medication distribution and safety. 19,20 Such collaboration between school nurses and pharmacists have the potential to address pharmaceutical waste management and help determine when, how, and where unused and expired medications can be safely disposed. Nevertheless, school districts accumulate many unclaimed prescription and OTC medications.…”

“…Medication use in primary and secondary schools encompasses a variety of steps including medication transfer from the parent to the school, storage at appropriate temperatures, proper administration to a student, and disposal of expired and leftover medications . Some schools have developed relationships between school nurses and pharmacists to enhance medication distribution and safety . Such collaboration between school nurses and pharmacists have the potential to address pharmaceutical waste management and help determine when, how, and where unused and expired medications can be safely disposed.…”

Policy Statement—Guidance for the Administration of Medication in School

“…1 Some schools struggle to balance the need for health care services for increasing numbers of children with special health care needs with the current resources available to provide those services. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The presence in schools of a full-time licensed registered school nurse is strongly endorsed. 13 Registered nurses (RNs) have the knowledge and skills required for the delivery of medication, the clinical knowledge of the student's health, and the responsibility to protect the health and safety of all students.…”