Administer and monitor medications

What will I learn?

1. Access and read information to enable identification of substance incompatibilities based on care plan and delegation
2. Identify environmental and time management issues that may impact on or contraindicate administration of medication
3. Report potential risks related to medication administration to delegating health professional
4. Confirm client identity and if any allergies exist
5. Identify drugs and poisons schedules and classifications as determined by law
6. Pro-actively identify any limitations in own capability in relation to undertaking delegated medication administration function and report to delegating health professional
7. Confirm delegating health professionals authority to proceed with delegation of medication administration according to organisation policies, guidelines and protocols and jurisdictional legislative and regulatory requirements
8. Clarify own role and limitations in providing assistance with medication administration with delegating health professional
9. Check that all equipment, including dose administration aids, are complete, ready for use, up to date and tamper free before proceeding
10. Follow infection control procedures
11. Confirm medication administration route and procedure
12. Confirm purpose and function of prescribed medications from care plans and delegating health professional
13. Accurately calculate medication dosages according to authorised documented request
14. Prepare medications according to delegated role and in line with legal and environmental guidelines
15. Greet and identify client according to organisation procedures and prepare for medication administration
16. Check client medication according to organisation guidelines and the delegation from the health professional
17. Accurately explain the administration procedure to the client
18. Prior to the administration of medication, check the client for any physical or behavioural changes that may indicate the need to report to delegating health professional
19. Administer medications as delegated within role responsibility
20. Administer medications according to “rights of medication”, specific requirements from the form prescribed and in accordance with defined legislation, organisation procedures, professional standards and prescriber€™s written instructions where available
21. Assist the client taking the medication as required and according to documented procedures and professional standards
22. Oversee and observe the client when taking medication and confirm ingestion or completion of administration
23. Dispose of all used and unused medication, containers, according to organisation procedures
24. Identify signs from client “when necessary” medications might be required, then inform delegating health practitioner and act in accordance with organisation€™s policies, procedures, delegation and role responsibility
25. Record administration of medications according to organisation policy
26. Provide accurate information to clients and carers on medication administration, including possible side effects as per instructions of the delegating health professional
27. Identify possible acute and delayed adverse reactions to medications, respond within role responsibility and report to supervisor or health professional
28. Implement emergency response for identified acute and delayed adverse reactions within role responsibility
29. Record and report response to emergency strategies
30. Identify signs of a client experiencing pain and report to health professional
31. Observe and record client response to pain relieving medication and report to health professional
32. Report medication refusal or incomplete ingestion to supervising health professional according to organisation€™s procedures and protocols
33. Clearly identify contaminated or out of date medication and implement organisation€™s procedures for safe and appropriate disposal
34. Observe and record changes in the client€™s condition according to the organisation€™s guidelines and report to supervisor and health professional
35. Record and report any inconsistencies according to delegation and organisation guidelines and procedures
36. Manage medication equipment and used containers according to infection control guidelines
37. Complete arrangements and procedures to replenish dose administration aids and supplies
38. Store medication charts, care plans and treatment sheets according to the organisation€™s procedures
39. Complete medication storage procedures in compliance with legislation and own role responsibility