School Nurse Training : Medication In Schools

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Hopefully Helpful School Nurse Tip: Medications at school require careful handling—from following state laws and school policies to proper storage and documentation. Training staff to assist safely is key to keeping students protected and things running smoothly.

Medication Administration in the School Setting: What You Need to Know

Administering medication at school involves more than just handing out pills. It requires strict adherence to state nurse practice acts, school policies and procedures, and careful documentation to ensure student safety and legal compliance.

Necessary Forms: Most districts require signed physician orders, parent/guardian consent forms, and medication administration logs. These forms serve as official authorization and track each dose given.

State Nurse Practice Act: Your state’s Nurse Practice Act guides what tasks can be delegated and how to safely oversee medication administration by unlicensed personnel. Be sure you are familiar with these laws to stay compliant.

School Policies & Procedures: Each school or district has detailed protocols regarding medication storage, administration times, emergency plans, and communication with families. Following these policies protects students and staff.

By maintaining solid policies, clear documentation, and proper training, schools can reduce medication errors and keep students safe.
Medication Training for School Staff Made Simple

As a school nurse, one of your critical roles is training unlicensed staff—whether they’re office personnel, teachers, or aides—to safely administer medications. When staff feel confident and prepared, student safety improves dramatically. That’s why having clear, straightforward, and customizable training resources is essential.

Do you have a medication training for staff?

Not long ago, someone asked if I had a school nurse resource designed specifically for medical training in the school setting. Surprisingly, I didn’t—but that didn’t last long! Now, I have not just one, but two options for you to choose from! Here’s the first...

Option One: Comprehensive Medication Training PDF

Understanding medications in the school setting can feel overwhelming, but this FREE PDF is here to help! Whether you’re a new school nurse or just looking for a solid reference, this resource breaks down key topics like policies, procedures, documentation, and more.

Since every school and district has its own guidelines, this PDF is designed to be customizable—so you can add personalized notes and details to fit your specific needs. While I am a district school nurse, I’m not your district’s nurse—but I hope this resource gets you started in the right direction!
Inside, you’ll find sections covering:

✅ Policy & Procedures
✅ Forms
✅ Medications
✅ Inventory
✅ Storage
✅ Administration
✅ Documentation
✅ Resources & References

Download it, make it your own, and let me know if you find it helpful!

Option Two: Editable Google Slides Training Series

This FREE Google Slides training is perfect if you prefer an interactive presentation format. Ideal for school nurses who travel between buildings or districts, these slides can be tailored to your unique school policies.

The slide deck includes 15 ready-to-use slides covering:

Medication statistics & background
How to read prescription and OTC medication labels (with video!)
Safe storage and documentation practices
The “5 R’s” of medication administration
Printable certificates of completion for staff
Poison Control info and printable practice labels
Clickable links to additional resources

This option makes training sessions engaging and ensures staff can review the material as needed.

This Google slide training is available for FREE via Teachers Pay Teachers.

MEDICATION IN SCHOOLS : STAFF TRAINING SLIDE OVERVIEW

✅ Statistics from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
✅ Sample wording for medication guidelines in the school setting
✅ Prescription & Over-The-Counter Medications
✅ How to read a prescription medication label
✅ Linked video teaching how to read a prescription bottle label
✅ Storing medications in the school setting
✅ Documentation for medications in the school setting
✅ The 5 R’s for safely administering medication in the school setting
✅ Review
✅ Printable certificate of completion
✅ Available resources
✅ Poison Control information
✅ Printable practice prescription labels
✅ Clickable resource pages

To Sum Up

Training yourself and your staff on medication administration doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With these free, flexible tools, you can deliver consistent, clear education that protects your students and empowers your team.