Nurse

Exclusion from School for Health Reasons
The guidelines below have been developed for the exclusion of students who have communicable or contagious diseases. These regulations are in compliance with the requirements of the local health authority, Plano ISD Administrative Guidelines, and the Board of Trustees’ appointed medical officer.

1. A student with any of the following symptoms will be excluded from school until such time as the student is free of symptoms, has been satisfactorily treated, or submits a signed physician’s statement that he/she is not contagious.
   • Temperature of 100.0 degrees or more. Student must be fever free for 24 hours, without medication, before re-entry.
   • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Student must be symptom free for 24 hours without medication before re-entry.
   • Pain and/or swelling at angle of jaw.
   • Undetermined rash over any part of the body.
   • Undiagnosed scaly patches on the body or scalp.
   • Red, draining eyes.
   • Intense itching with signs and symptoms of secondary infection.
   • Open, draining lesions.
   • Jaundice
2. The Principal or his/her designee, in collaboration with the school nurse, will notify parents that the student must be excluded for medical reasons.
3. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to transport the student from school to his/her home in a timely manner.
4. For readmission, some diseases may require a statement from the student’s physician affirming that the student is not contagious.

Contact your campus nurse if you are unsure whether or not your child should return to school.

Medications at School
Medication Policy and Procedures
1. Any prescription or over the counter medication must be accompanied by a completed Medication Administration Request Form and turned in to the school nurse. 

Medication Authorization Form - English PDF file (288 KB)
Medication Authorization Form- Español PDF file (103 KB)

2. Medications are considered to be any pills, liquids, inhalers, sprays, eye drops, ear drops, cough drops or topically applied creams or ointments that are expected to relieve symptoms.

3. Only medications that cannot be given at home will be given at school.

4. For student safety, all medication should be brought to the clinic by a parent/guardian; however, controlled substances, such as medication for ADD/ADHD and some prescription pain medications MUST be brought to the clinic and counted / signed in by the parent/guardian. Contact your campus nurse if you are not sure.

5. It is recommended that the first dose of any medication be given at home where the parent can monitor the effects.

6. Written permission from parents and physician is required for students to carry and self-administer medications. Only insulin, asthma reliever inhalers or emergency epinephrine, will be allowed as self-carry medications. All other medications must be administered by the nurse.

7. Intramuscular injections (IM) will only be administered in life-threatening situations per physician emergency action plans. Intravenous (IV) medications will not be given.

8. Prescription medication must be in the original labeled pharmacy container and will be administered in compliance with the prescription instructions printed on the label.

9. Dietary supplements and herbal supplements will be given if all of the following requirements are met:

• All the above must be supplied by the parent and accompanied by written permission.
• Medications/supplements must be in their original, properly labeled container.
• Only medications/supplements that cannot be given at home will be given at school.
• A written request will be required from a physician or other healthcare professional with authority to write prescriptions to administer approved non-prescription herbal substances or dietary supplements when such medications are to be administered at school.
• Will be given in compliance with a student's Individual Education Plan or 504 plan in accordance with Federal and State law.

10. Traditional over the counter medications will be given if all of the following requirements are met:

• The medication must be supplied by the parent and accompanied by written permission.
• Medications must be in their original, properly labeled container and labeled for dosage appropriate to the student’s age and / or weight..
• Only medications that cannot be given at home will be given at school.
• A written request will be required from a physician or other healthcare professional with authority to write prescriptions to administer approved non-prescription medications for (10) consecutive school days or more.

11. Expired medications will not be given.

12. Medications stored in the school clinic must be picked up by the parent/guardian before the last day of school. No unused medication will be sent home with a student and any unused medication left at the end of the school year will be destroyed.

For more information about medications and Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) see the Anaphylaxis page.

For more information about medications and Diabetes see the Diabetes page.

For more information about medications and Asthma see the Asthma page.