School Nurses: What They Do, How They Use Medications, and Why They Matter

When we talk about school nurses, licensed healthcare professionals who provide medical care and health education in K-12 schools. Also known as school health nurses, they’re often the only medical professional students see daily—handling everything from bandaging scrapes to managing chronic conditions like diabetes and epilepsy. These aren’t just office clerks with a first aid kit. They’re trained to recognize signs of poisoning, administer injectable meds, interpret lab results, and make life-or-death calls when a child has a seizure or anaphylactic reaction.

medication management, the systematic process of ensuring students receive the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time is one of their core duties. In many schools, nurses are responsible for storing, tracking, and giving out prescriptions like albuterol, ADHD meds, and insulin. They follow strict protocols to avoid errors—double-checking names, dosages, and times—because one mistake can send a child to the ER. And they’re not just handing out pills. They teach kids how to use inhalers correctly, remind teens to take their antidepressants, and work with parents to adjust doses when side effects pop up.

student health, the broader physical, mental, and emotional well-being of children in school settings is their real focus. A kid with uncontrolled asthma won’t focus in class. A teen skipping meds for anxiety might skip school entirely. School nurses connect the dots between health and learning. They spot early signs of eating disorders, track outbreaks of lice or flu, and even help families navigate insurance or find low-cost prescriptions. They’re often the first to notice a child is being bullied, abused, or falling behind because of untreated depression.

And it’s not just about the kids. Nurses also advise teachers on how to handle seizures in the classroom, train staff on using epinephrine auto-injectors, and make sure school policies match state laws. They’re the ones who know which student needs a quiet space after a panic attack, which one can’t run laps because of sickle cell disease, and which one’s mom just lost her job and can’t afford refills.

The system isn’t perfect. Many schools have one nurse for 700+ students. Some nurses spend half their day filling out paperwork instead of treating kids. And with rising rates of mental health issues, diabetes, and food allergies, the load keeps growing. But the ones who stay? They’re the quiet heroes who make sure a child with a chronic illness doesn’t fall through the cracks.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how medications are handled in schools, what parents need to know about legal rights, how nurses manage drug shortages, and what to do when a child’s prescription doesn’t work. These aren’t theoretical discussions—they’re based on the daily struggles and wins of the people keeping kids safe while they learn.