What if a student requires insulin administration and no school nurse is available?
Financial burden or other difficulty to a local education agency is not a valid defense for not providing school health services required under a child’s IEP or Section 504 Plan. If no school nurse is available, the district must use reasonable efforts to contract with a registered nurse or licensed vocational nurse from a private agency or registry, or to contract with a public health nurse through the county health department (see Question 4 below). If an LEA has determined that a nurse is not available, then it must train a voluntary school employee to provide such services. • Who may administer insulin to students with diabetes under section 504 and the IDEA? According to the Legal Advisory, only the following seven categories of persons are expressly authorized under state law to administer insulin in schools: • The student, with authorization of the student’s licensed health care provider and parent/guardian. • A school nurse or school physician employed by the LEA. • An appropri
Related Questions
- Should a high school student be allowed to keep her blood glucose supplies as well as insulin syringes in her locker at school?
- Can the school nurse train all faculty and staff to administer epinephrine and glucagon to any student who might need it?
- How can the school nurse help the student and teachers understand the effects of a concussion?