Bill to allow use of 'any available epinephrine' draws nurse-practice concerns
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Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 5,240 would let a school nurse or designated trained staff administer 'any available epinephrine' on school property when a student has a prescription on file and require reimbursement for owner‑supplied medication. School nurses warned the change could conflict with the Nurse Practice Act, risk depleting prescribed medication, and urged stock epinephrine standing orders as an alternative.
Substitute Senate Bill 5,240 would expand circumstances under which school nurses and designated trained school personnel may administer epinephrine in response to suspected anaphylaxis. Under staff briefing, if a student has a prescription on file, either a school nurse or designated trained personnel could administer "any available epinephrine" on school property — including non‑school‑supplied medication — and the district would have to reimburse the owner if epinephrine not owned by the recipient student was used.
That phrase — "any available epinephrine" — drew sustained concern from school-nurse witnesses. Taylor Mason, a school nurse with the School Nurse Organization of Washington, told the committee that allowing staff to use another student's prescribed medication on a different student could violate the Washington Nurse Practice Act, creating legal and ethical risk for school nurses even if the bill offers civil- and criminal-liability protections.
Nurses also raised implementation details such as dosage, concentration, and how reimbursement would be handled in practice. Advocates and independent‑school representatives pressed for broad training and for alternatives: multiple witnesses recommended expanding standing orders or stock epinephrine at school sites and cited successful programs that supply low-cost or free stock devices.
The committee deferred further action; staff noted there are standing orders and existing statutory mechanisms, and witnesses asked the legislature to consider alternatives that would avoid requiring use of another student's prescribed medication.
