(a) As used in this section, unless the context requires otherwise:
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-50-1603
Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) “Adrenal crisis” means a sudden, severe worsening of symptoms associated with adrenal insufficiency, such as severe pain in the lower back, abdomen or legs, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, low blood pressure, or loss of consciousness;(2) “Adrenal insufficiency” means a hormonal disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough adrenal hormones;(3) “Nurse practitioner” means a nurse practitioner licensed under title 63, chapter 7; and(4) “Physician” means a physician licensed under title 63, chapter 6 or 9.(b)(1) The state board of education, in consultation with the department of health, the board of nursing, the board of pharmacy, and the department of children’s services, shall adopt rules for the administration of medication that treats adrenal insufficiency by school personnel trained in accordance with this section to any student on school premises whose parent or guardian has provided for the personnel the medication in accordance with subsection (e) and who the personnel believe in good faith is experiencing an adrenal crisis.(2) Rules adopted under this subsection (b) must:
(A) Include guidelines on the designation and training of school personnel who will be responsible for administering medication; and(B) Specify that a local education agency (LEA) is only required to train school personnel when the LEA has been notified by a parent or guardian that a student in a school of the LEA has been diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency.(c)(1) Each LEA board shall adopt policies and procedures that provide for the administration of medications that treat adrenal insufficiency.(2) Policies and procedures adopted under subdivision (c)(1) shall be consistent with the rules adopted by the state board of education under subsection (b). An LEA board shall not require school personnel who have not received appropriate training to administer medication.(d) Educational training on the treatment of adrenal insufficiency, as required by this section, shall be conducted under the supervision of a physician or nurse practitioner. The training may be conducted by any other health care professional licensed under title 63 as delegated by a supervising physician or nurse practitioner. The curricula shall include, at a minimum, the following subjects:
(1) General information about adrenal insufficiency and the dangers associated with adrenal insufficiency;(2) Recognition of the symptoms of a person who is experiencing an adrenal crisis;(3) The types of medications that are available for treating adrenal insufficiency; and(4) Proper administration of medications that treat adrenal insufficiency.(e) A person who has successfully completed educational training in the treatment of adrenal insufficiency as described in subsection (d) may receive from the parent or guardian of a student a medication that treats adrenal insufficiency and that is prescribed by a health care professional who has appropriate prescriptive privileges and is licensed under title 63, as well as the necessary paraphernalia for administration. The person may possess the medication and administer the medication to the student for whom the medication is prescribed if the student is suffering an adrenal crisis in an emergency situation when a licensed health care professional is not immediately available.(f) An LEA employee administering the medication or performing healthcare procedures related to the administration of medication that treats adrenal insufficiency and a board of education authorizing the administration of medications or the performance of healthcare procedures related to adrenal insufficiency shall not be liable in any court of law for injury resulting from the administration of such medication or the performance of any related healthcare procedure if administered or performed in accordance with this section.
