If a student is 18

Specialties School

Published

If a student is 18 during school.. are you allowed to report any information to their parents as you would a normal student who is under 18?

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

Unless your district has a specific policy on this, HIPAA doesn't actually apply here....FERPA does. And according to FERPA, parents have a right to access school records, and the health record is part of the school record.

So. I allow students to sign for their own OTC medications (because that's our policy). If it's something emergent-y, yes, the parent gets a call unless there is a reason not to, like the student is living on his/her own. Even then, I say that the parent can and may access their clinic record.

Hope this helps.

Specializes in School Nursing.

^^ I was going to write the same thing

Specializes in School.
Unless your district has a specific policy on this, HIPAA doesn't actually apply here....FERPA does. And according to FERPA, parents have a right to access school records, and the health record is part of the school record.

So. I allow students to sign for their own OTC medications (because that's our policy). If it's something emergent-y, yes, the parent gets a call unless there is a reason not to, like the student is living on his/her own. Even then, I say that the parent can and may access their clinic record.

Hope this helps.

Same thing here.

Unless your district has a specific policy on this, HIPAA doesn't actually apply here....FERPA does. And according to FERPA, parents have a right to access school records, and the health record is part of the school record.

So. I allow students to sign for their own OTC medications (because that's our policy). If it's something emergent-y, yes, the parent gets a call unless there is a reason not to, like the student is living on his/her own. Even then, I say that the parent can and may access their clinic record.

Hope this helps.

But in FERPA it states that once the students becomes 18 they are now considered and eligible student which means all the rights transfer to them. However I also read in FERPA that if a student is in post secondary school and they are under 21 a parent has the right to know if the student is under the influences of alcohol or drugs.

Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
But in FERPA it states that once the students becomes 18 they are now considered and eligible student which means all the rights transfer to them. However I also read in FERPA that if a student is in post secondary school and they are under 21 a parent has the right to know if the student is under the influences of alcohol or drugs.

Our interpretation of FERPA (and it may not be 100% correct) is that a parent has the right to access school records unless there has been some sort of termination of that right. What does your policy direct you to do?

Specializes in School nursing.

In my state, any sexual health discussion, referral, or treatment is protected, no matter what age student is.

But over 18, they can sign themselves out of school. However, medical permission for them to leave requires me to call the parent first. Not a district rule until I made it one because it is an excused absence. Usually, parent appreciates the FYI and lets student leave on their own if I have deemed them well enough to do so safely.

A student can sign off on OTC meds if they are 18, but I also try and get parents to sign-off as well because it is on the same form as emergency health info I ask for.

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