Medication Forms & School/Daycare Policies
Families often have questions about how medication forms should be handled for school, camp, and childcare settings. The guidelines below explain what our practice can complete, what is required by Kansas regulations, and why certain forms cannot be signed.
Prescription Medications
We are happy to complete school or camp medication forms for prescription medications that we prescribe and that may need to be given in those settings.
If your child receives a prescription from another provider—such as an allergist prescribing asthma or allergy medications—that prescriber must complete the required forms for those medications.
Over‑the‑Counter (OTC) Medications
Kansas State Regulations
The State of Kansas does NOT require a physician prescription or note for children to receive over‑the‑counter medications in schools or daycares.
Even for prescription medications, daycares do not require separate physician instructions. The prescription label itself serves as the official instructions for licensed childcare providers.
Daycare Settings
Kansas regulations for preschools and childcare centers do not require a physician note for medication administration.
The state medication form clarifies this at the top of the document.
If your daycare has questions, sharing this information is often helpful. If concerns remain, please contact our office.
School Settings
For detailed guidance, please refer to the 2025 Guidelines for Medication Administration in Kansas Schools.
Key points:
- OTC medications:
- A physician signature is not required. (See page 26 of the state guidelines.)
- Prescription medications:
- A physician note is required for school use.
- Please request this at each prescription renewal if your child will need the medication administered at school.
Why We Cannot Complete Certain Forms
Our malpractice carrier has advised us not to sign blanket authorizations for over‑the‑counter medications in school settings due to liability concerns.
OTC medications can be helpful, but they also carry risks if used incorrectly—whether through inappropriate dosing or choosing the wrong medication. Parents and caregivers can typically assess when OTC medications are needed, but we cannot authorize others to diagnose and treat symptoms on our behalf without evaluating the child ourselves.
Example
A child with a headache may receive acetaminophen at school and return to class. If the headache is actually due to Strep throat, the medication may mask symptoms, delay proper evaluation, and increase exposure risk to others.
If we had signed a blanket authorization, we would be liable for approving treatment without assessing the child.
For this reason, we cannot accept this risk.
If Your School Requests a Doctor’s Signature for OTC Medications
Some school districts encourage nurses to obtain physician signatures for OTC medication forms.
We cannot sign these forms unless we evaluate the child in person for the indication requiring medication on that date.
These requests shift liability to the physician, and our malpractice carrier has instructed us not to sign OTC forms under these circumstances.
Importantly:
- Kansas law does not require a doctor’s signature for OTC medications in schools.
- Schools may legally administer OTC medications without a physician note.
If your school has questions, you may share this information with them.
