The Fauquier County School Health Program believes in the importance of each student maintaining optimum health, which in turn promotes maximum utilization of educational opportunities. Responsibility for the care of children lies primarily with parents. The school nurse will assist and support their efforts to maintain optimum health for the child and will educate the child in the importance of taking command of their own health care management and knowledge. Academic success is directly related to the good health and emotional well-being of each student.

Medication Policy

According to the FCPS Student/Parent Information, based on state law, the policy for administration of medication in school is as follows: FCPS personnel may give prescription medication to students only with a physicians’ written order and written permission from the student’s parent or guardian. The order must include the name of the medicine, the dosage, the time, the amount, and the duration of the order. Such medicine must be in the original pharmacy labeled container and delivered to the school nurse, principal, or School Division designee by the parent/guardian of the student unless other arrangements have been made. This form must be renewed at the beginning of each school year.

Non-Prescription Medications may be given by FCPS personnel only with written permission of the parent or guardian. Such permission shall include the name of the medication, the required dosage of the medication, and the reason the medicine is to be given. Such medicine must be in the original unopened container and delivered to the school nurse, principal, or School Division designee by the parent/guardian of the student unless other arrangements have been made. This form must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. If your child will need a non-prescription medication to be given for more than 10 consecutive days a written permission from the child’s physician will be required.

FCPS personnel are only allowed to administer the recommended dosage. Any exceptions to the recommended dosage will require a physician’s order.

All medications will be discarded by the school health staff if it is not picked up by the parent on or before the last day of school.

Self-Administration of any medication, with the exception of non-medicated lip balm, sunscreen, and saline solution is prohibited. The clinic does not stock any over the counter medication.

WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD AT HOME?

Students should remain home when they have a fever of 100^o or above, are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, have an undiagnosed rash, have uncontrolled asthma, or have untreated pink eye., or strep. Students should be free of any of these symptoms for a full twenty-four hours before they return to school. They should be fever free without the aid of over the counter fever reducer medication (such as Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil) for a full twenty-four hours before returning to school. This is in the best interest of your child and other children as well. There may be other conditions that would keep or send a child home that will be decided by the school nurse in collaboration with the parent.

Vision and hearing screenings are performed on all seventh grade students and newly enrolled students. If your child does not pass the screening, you will receive a referral letter with the recommendation of seeing your doctor of choice for a more thorough evaluation. This referral should be returned to the school nurse with the doctor’s recommendations.