N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-7.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 3A:52-7.5 - Administration and control of prescription and non-prescription medicines and health care procedures

(a) The center shall inform each child's parent upon enrollment of its policy on administering medication and health care procedures to children, including the provisions specified in (b) to (d) below. The policy shall indicate:

1. Whether the center will administer non-prescription medication or a non-prescribed health care procedure to a child;

2. Whether the center will administer prescription medication or a prescribed health care procedure to a child with a short-term illness; and

3. That the center will provide reasonable accommodations for the administration of medication or health care procedures to a child with special needs, if failure to administer the medication or health care procedure would jeopardize the health of the child or prevent the child from attending the center.

(b) The center shall develop and follow a policy on the administration of medication and health care procedures to children, which shall include the following provisions:

1. Medication and health care procedures shall be administered only after receipt of written approval from the child's parent(s).

2. The center shall:

i. Designate those staff members who are trained as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.8(a)8 and authorized to administer medication or health care procedures to, or to supervise self-administration of medication or health care procedures by, those children whose parents authorize it; and

ii. Ensure that each staff member designated to administer medication and health care procedures is informed of each child's medication and health care needs.

3. All medication and health care equipment shall be kept either in a locked cabinet or in an area that is inaccessible to the children.

i. All medication shall be kept in its original container.

ii. Medication shall be refrigerated if so indicated on the label.

iii. Unused or expired medication and health care equipment shall be returned to the child's parent or disposed of safely in a child-resistant waste receptacle when no longer being administered.

4. All prescription medication for a child shall be:

i. Prescribed in the name of and specifically for the child; and

ii. Stored in its prescription container, which has been labeled with the child's name, the name and expiration date of the medication, the date it was prescribed or updated and directions for its administration.

5. The center shall limit the dispensing of non-prescription over-the-counter medication to the following types of medicines, which shall be dispensed in accordance with the recommended dosage for the age and weight of the child, as indicated on the label:

i. Antihistamines;

ii. Cough suppressants;

iii. Decongestants;

iv. Non-aspirin fever reducers and pain relievers; and

v. Topical preparations, such as sunscreen and diaper rash preparations.

6. The center may permit the dispensing of non-prescription medication other than those listed in (b)5 above, or according to instructions other than those indicated on the label, if the child's health care provider authorizes it in writing.

7. The center shall maintain on file a record of the following:

i. The child's name and parental authorization for the center to administer medication or health care procedures;

ii. The name of the medication or health care procedure;

iii. The condition for which the medication or health care procedure is being used;

iv. The instructions for administration, including the dosage and frequency;

v. The date and time medication or a health care procedure was administered to a child and the name or initials of the staff member who administered it; and

vi. Any adverse effect the medication can have or has had on the child.

8. If a child has a chronic health condition requiring the administration of prescription or non-prescription medication or health care procedures on a long-term basis, the center shall obtain from the child's parent a written statement from a health care provider, indicating:

i. The name of the child;

ii. The name of the medication or procedure;

iii. The condition or indications for administration of the medication or procedure;

iv. The instructions for administration of the medication or procedure; and

v. The name and telephone number of the health care provider.

9. Before administering a health care procedure associated with a child's health condition, such as the use of a blood glucose monitor, nebulizer, or epinephrine pen, the center shall ensure that all staff members who administer the procedure are taught to do so by the child's parent or another appropriately trained person. There shall be at least two staff members present at the center who are trained in such health care procedures.

10. The center shall store prescribed epinephrine pens in their original boxes with the child's name and prescription. A special care plan or other documentation from a health care provider shall accompany the epinephrine pen. If two epinephrine pens are required, both shall be available. Each center under the jurisdiction of N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.5 shall store back-up epinephrine pens on site consistent with the requirements stated at N.J.S.A. 18A:40-12.5.e(1).

11. The center shall inform the child's parent immediately if a child exhibits any adverse effect of a medication or health care procedure.

(c) For early childhood programs, the following shall apply:

1. The center shall ensure that all medication and health care procedures are administered by designated staff.

(d) For school-age child care programs, the following shall apply:

1. Before the center administers or permits a child to self-administer medication or health care procedures, the center shall:

i. Obtain written authorization for self-administration from the child's parent, if applicable; and

ii. Ensure that the medication or health care procedure is administered by or under the supervision of authorized staff.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-7.5

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 413(a), effective 3/6/2017