30510109Medication Assistant
Course Information
Description
This competency-based program is for certified nursing assistants who will, upon completion, be involved with administration/distribution of medications to residents in a skilled care nursing facility. Employer approval, proof of work experience and a pre-enrollment assessment are required for participation in this course.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
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Adhere to to the scope/practice of a medication assistantAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration-Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriayou work within the medication assistant's scope of practice and the limits of training (administer approved routes only, ask RN/LPN questions)you practice under the supervision of a nurseyour behaviors are in compliance with resident rights (respect, dignity, privacy, grievances, access, transfer or discharge and self-determination).you explain medication information to the resident within the scope of practice (you inform the resident of the medication name, intended purpose, and side effects)you maintain resident confidentiality (HIPPAA)you report abuse or suspected abuse to appropriate person following the chain of command (nurse, charge nurse, nursing supervisor)you follow standards, regulations, statues, and administrative rules (Federal and State)you maintain professional boundaries (no personal relationships with residents, no gifts given or accepted, etc.)you demonstrate professionalism (arrive on time, work entire shift, avoid chemical influence, no texting, clean uniform)
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Apply legal/ethical administration practicesAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration-Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriacomply with the Federal Controlled Substance Act.comply with the Wisconsin Controlled Substance Act.adhere to the Seven Rights of medication administration in your practice.comply with the Wisconsin Pharmacy Practice Act.comply with the Nurse Practice Act.comply with the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970comply with HIPPAA regulations
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Follow standard practices for infection controlAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriautilize appropriate hand washing techniques (when to wash and what to wash with)follow facility and OSHA policies for maintaining medical asepsis (gloves, gown, goggles, and mask)
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Access information using drug referencesAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriause a drug reference that reflects the most current informationcheck for the “black box” warningslocate usual dosagelocate usual routeidentify any special administration instructionsidentify the desired effectidentify the most common adverse effectsidentify possible drug interactions
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Analyze the medication administration record (MAR)Assessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriaidentify whether the resident has allergiesidentify the prescribed route of administrationdefine abbreviations on the MARidentify what time the medication is ordered to be administeredconfirm your understanding of the medication order with the RN when necessarydiscern when to follow verbal medication administration instructionsfollow written instructionsidentify any discrepancies/issues on the MARreport any discrepancies/issues on the MAR to the nurse
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Document all aspects of medication administrationAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriachart in a manner that follows facility policyfollow standard principals of chartingrecord pulse and blood pressure, as appropriate to medication administrationverify the name of the drug, strength and/or amount of the drug, time at which the drug was given, and route by which the drug was giveninitial/sign the chart entrydocument when you have skipped a medication dosage and provide the reasoncomplete an incident report, per facility policy, if you make a medication error
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Apply standards/regulations to store/stock medicationsAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriause most current drug references to identify storage requirements (e.g., refrigerated medications, narcotics, or items that require special lighting)follow the facility's storage and disposal policies (ex. if not in front of cart it must be locked, locked receptacle for disposal)check expiration dates of medicationsnotify the nurse when a medication is expired/expiringfollow the state disposal regulations for destruction of medications per nurse instructions
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Report effects of drug on residentAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriagather information from the resident to determine whether the desired effects of the disbursed medication were metgather information from the resident to determine if there were side effects and/or adverse reactions from the medicationsverbally notify the nurse of adverse changes in the resident's conditiondocument, in the resident’s record, that you notified the nurse of adverse changes in the resident’s conditiondocument the resident’s response to the medication in the resident’s record
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Set-up for a medication passAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriaset up medications for one resident at a timeuse appropriate metrics for measurementsdetermine correct dosing when the available dosage differs from ordered dosefollow the practices from the "seven rights of drug administration" related to set-up (Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Dosage, Right Route, Right Time, Right Reason)follow infection control policies and practicesfollow standard procedure to pour liquid medication (palm the label, tip away from label, and measure at eye-level)follow standard procedure to prepare a unit dose tablet (place the packaged tablet directly into the medicine cup)follow standard procedure to prepare a dose from a stock bottle (pour the required number of tablets directly into the bottle cap and transfer them to a medicine cup)determine when medication should be mixed with liquid/food prior to dispensingidentify appropriate food/liquid to use when mixing medicationsdetermine when a medication is/is not to be crushedidentify the resources and equipment used to safely set-up medications (pill crusher, MAR, water, spoons, internet, etc.)
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Administer medications as prescribedAssessment StrategiesSkill Demonstration—Practicum (Simulation in given scenarios)Written examClinical Evaluation—Pass/FailCriteriaselect the medication listed on the MARexplain purpose of the medicationexplain medication/dose abbreviationsidentify the standard dosage for a medicationidentify the standard routes of administration of a medicationidentify the desired and adverse effects of a medicationexplain why the resident is receiving the medication(s)follow standard practice for infection controluse drug references as neededset up medications for med passfollow standard procedure for administering the medicationdocument medication related informationreport effects of medication on resident/patient