AIMS
To provide guidance for those who Administer Medication in Home Care Environments
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course, you will:
- Know how medication passes through the body
- Understand how the effectiveness of medication can be altered
- Know the precautions for Covert Administration
- Understand how Medication Administration Records are used
- Be aware of procedures relating to the auditing and storage of medication
- Understand the importance of post-administration observations
- Recognise the 'Rights' of Medication Administration
- Know how to prepare medication for administration
- Understand procedures relating to a person being away from their usual setting
- Know how to safely dispose of medication
- Understand the Denaturing process
- Recognise some common Medication Administration errors and how to avoid them
- Understand a Medication Administrator's responsibilities
LESSONS AND TOPICS
Absorption and Interactions
- How Medication Passes Through the Body
- When to take Medication
- Changes in Absorption Ability
- Drug Interactions
- Contraindications
- Swallowing Difficulties
- Covert Administration
- Missed Medication
Ordering, Auditing and Storage
- Ordering Medication
- Stock Medication
- Booking In
- 28 Day Cycle
- Medication Audits
- Storage
- Oxygen
Recording and MARs
- MAR and eMAR
- Completing a MAR Chart
- Recording Missed Medication
- Medication Review
Medication Checks
- Last Line of Defence
- The 'Rights' of Medication Administration
- What to do if a 'Right' is a 'Wrong'
Administering Medication
- Preparation
- Medication Administration in Action
- Administration Observation
- Completion
- Away from the Person's Usual Setting
Disposal of Medication
- Disposal
- Reasons for Disposal
- Denaturing Controlled Drugs
- Disposal of Other Forms of Medication
- Record Keeping
Post-Administration Observations
- Adverse Observations
- Medication Effectiveness Observation
Administration Responsibilities
- Who can Administer?
- Taking Responsibility for all Three Stages
Errors
- Risk of Errors
- Common Errors
- Near Misses
- Reasons Medication Errors Happen
- What to do in the Event of an Error
