Course Code: REL-PAC-0-PMA-C
Hours: 1
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 12/31/2025
Learning Objectives:
Define the terminology related to medication assistance.
State the types of medication orders.
Recognize what is written on a pharmacy label.
Identify the medication forms and routes for medication taken by residents.
List common side effects of medications.
Recognize the proper steps for assisting with self-administration of medication.
Identify the correct ways to store medications.
List the six "rights" of medication management.
Outline:
I. Introduction
II. Terminology and phrases
A. Independent administration
B. Adverse effect
C. Assisting with medication administration
D. Medication administration
E. Medication reminding
F. Authorized person
G. Controlled substance
H. Enabler
I. Error
J. Medication administration record(MAR)
K. Medication organizer
L. Legend drug
M. Narcotic medication
N. Over-the-counter(OTC)medication
O. Prescribed medication
P. Prescriber
Q. PRN medication order
R. Side effect
III. What is a medication?
A. Generic names
(1) Given by manufacturer
(2) Usually chemical name of drug
(3) One generic name for each drug
B. Brand names
(1) Given by drug company that produces the drug
(2) Identify medications by brand or generic name
(3) Use a medication resource book for information
C. Controlled substances
(1) Numeric system to identify level of abuse and/or addiction potential
(2) Secure storage
(3) Shift to shift accountability
(4) Wasting and partial dose
(5) Verbal orders
(6) Learning engagement:multiple choice questions
D. Schedule 1
(a) High-abuse potential and are illegal in U.S.
(i) Examples:heroin
E. Schedule 2
(a) High-abuse potential, but are legal in U.S.
(i) Example:Medications for pain, such as Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone, Dilaudid
F. Schedule 3
(a) High-abuse potential though not as high as schedule 2; legal in U.S.
(i) Examples:Hydrocodone, Tylenol with codeine
G. Schedule 4
(a) Less abuse potential than Schedule 3
(i) Examples:Ativan, Xanax, Valium
H.Schedule 5
(a) Minimal abuse potential
(i) Examples:Lomotil
(ii) Usually not double locked or counted
b) Learning engagement:True/False questions
IV. Forms and routes of medications
A. Forms
1. Aerosol
2. Caplet
3. Capsule
4. Cream
5. Elixir
6. Extract
7. Liniment
8. Lotion
9. Ointment
10. Paste
11. Pellet/bead
12. Pill
13. Solution
14. Spray
15. Suppository
16. Suspension
17. Sustained release
18. Syrup
19. Tablet
a) Scored
b) Enteric-coated
20. Tincture
21. Transdermal
V. Routes for medication delivery
1. Buccal
2. Ear
3. Eye
4. Inhalation
5. Injectable
6. Nasal
7. Oral
8. Rectal
9. Sublingual
10. Topical
VI. Orders for medications
A. Who can prescribe
B. Regularly scheduled medication
C. PRN medication
1. Prescription medication
2. Non-prescription medication
VII. Medication Labels
A. Information on a prescription medication bottle
1. Prescription
2. Prescriber
3. Resident name
4. Name of medication
5. Exact dose of medication
6. Route of delivery
7. Instructions
8. Refills
9. Warnings
B. Labels for PRN medications
1. Name of resident
2. Name of medication
3. Exact dosage
4. Route of delivery
5. Reason for medication
6. Minimum hours between doses
7. Maximum hours between doses
8. Maximum doses to be given in a 24-hour period
C. Information on OTC medication labeling
1. Active ingredient
2. Purpose or type of drug
3. Uses (symptoms or diseases being treated)
4. Warnings
D. Do not alter the label
VIII. Medication Services
A. Regulations
1. Differ by state
2. Differ by care environment
3. Documentation of training
B. Administering versus assisting
a) Transferring medications from containers
b) Injectable medications
c) Medication alteration
2. Learning engagement activity:true/false
IX. Steps to medication assistance
A. Prescription order/physician authorization
B. Order to pharmacy
1. Dispensed and delivered
C. Receipt and storage of medication
1. Maintain log of centrally stored medications
a) Conduct count of medication received
b) Compare with order
c) System for refills
2. Medication storage
a) Central and locked
b) Not accessible to others
c) Storage of non-prescription medication
D. Documentation of self-administration of medications
1. Medication administration requirements
2. Regularly scheduled
3. PRN
E. Prepared for self-administration at correct time
1. Order and label/prescription verification
2. Removal from container
3. Transporting medication to resident
4. Respecting privacy
5. Document on the MAR
F. Wasting Medications
G. Refusal of medications
H. Destroying, disposing, donating medications
1. Medication log
2. Medication errors
I. PRN medications
1. Able to communicate
2. Unable to communicate
X. Promoting medication safety
A. Requirements for safe medication assistance and management
1. Prescription
2. Report problems and concerns
3. Provide all medications as ordered
4. Know why person is taking medications(reason it was prescribed)
a) Monitor for medication effectiveness
(1) For example, blood pressure medication; measure blood pressure, monitor for reduced or elevated blood pressure, side effects
5. Side effect versus adverse effect.
a) Examples of an adverse effect
b) Examples of a side effect
6. Learning engagement activity:Questions(multiple choice and true/false
XI. Case studies
A. Case:John Jones
1. Wears nitroglycerin patch
B. Case:Bessie Burton
1. Has Parkinson's disease, uses eye drops
C. Learning engagement activity:Case study questions true/false
D. Case:Marjorie Maxwell
1. Forgetful
E. Self-administration with assistance
1. Opening containers
2. Reading labels
3. Applying or instilling(skin, nose, eye, ear)
4. Placing in person's hands
5. Alteration of medication
6. Active participation
7. Right to refuse
8. Learning engagement activity:Questions true/false
F. Case:Frank Ford
1. Unable to remember meds or why taking them, not able to self-administer
a) Medication Administration
(1) If cannot safely self-administer
G. Case:Alberta Callahan-multiple medication service needs
1. Administer
2. Assist
3. Independent
XII.The six rights
A. The six rights
1. Right person
2. Right drug
3. Right dose
4. Right time
5. Right route
6. Right documentation
XIII. Conclusion and summary
Instructor: Holly Carlson, MS, RN, CCRN
Holly Carlson, MS, RN, CCRN, was a subject matter expert for Relias. She has 25 years of healthcare experience in both acute and post-acute healthcare environments. Her experience includes leadership and management across the healthcare spectrum. She has owned and operated an assisted living business. Carlson's clinical practice includes acute care, long-term acute care, home health and hospice. Carlson has served for over a decade in various board positions for State Nursing Associations, including president. She has been a nurse planner for multiple continuing education events and has experience as a leader in the design and implementation of an ANCC-CNE accredited approver unit for a multi-state nursing consortium. Carlson is certified as Critical Care Registered Nurse.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Direct Care Staff.
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All courses offered by Relias Learning, LLC are developed from a foundation of diversity, inclusiveness, and a multicultural perspective. Knowledge, values and awareness related to cultural competency are infused throughout the course content.
To earn continuing education credit for this course you must achieve a passing score of 80% on the post-test and complete the course evaluation.
Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.