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At times, school nurses are asked by parent(s) and guardian(s) to administer supplements or other products purchased online that are not FDA approved with the request for the administration to be at a nonstandard, preferential time during the school day or during school activity. School nurses approach families in an ethical manner without judgement regarding the patient’s choice of treatment (National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 2019). School nurses must also maintain accountability and utilize their professional nursing judgment in their practice to determine whether an over the counter or prescribed drug is safe to administer. A necessary component of knowledge in nursing care includes the availability of moderate to high quality evidence-based research and comprehensive understanding of nursing standards, state and federal laws. School nurse must additionally comply with school policies.
The FDA offers formal, evidence-based evaluation of medications to assist licensed healthcare providers with information on safe dosage, storage, standardized dosing times, possible drug interactions, possible side effects, or toxic effects of a drug to protect the individual who is taking the medication. School nurses follow school district policies regarding medication administration, delegation of medication administration, and maintain accountability for their licensed nursing practice related to the safe provision of clinically competent, evidence-based health services for students in their school or district