Course Title: Assist clients with medication

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

Course Code: NURS5206C

Course Title: Assist clients with medication

School: 365T Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Campus: City Campus

Program: C3262 - Certificate III in Aged Care

Course Contact : Susan Russell

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254637

Course Contact Email:susan.russell@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

This unit must be assessed after achievement of the following related unit:
• HLTAP301B Recognise healthy body systems in a health care context

Course Description

This unit describes the knowledge and skills required by care or support workers to assist clients with medication.  The unit addresses the provision of physical assistance with medication or supporting clients with self medication in response to an assessed need identified by the client or their substitute decision-maker for assistance with medication, in accordance with the health/support/ care plan and in line with jurisdictional requirements.  It may involve distribution and administration of prescribed and over the counter medications within a residential care facility, or in a home or community setting.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCCS305A Assist clients with medication

Element:

Assist/support client with administration of medication.

Performance Criteria:

1. Remind and prompt client to take medication at correct time 
2. Assist clients with administration of medications as required in accordance with legislation, organisation policies and the level of support needed as identified in their care / support plan 
3. Supervise and observe clients when taking medication and confirm with them their ingestion or completion 
4. Complete documentation/record of medication administration according to organisation procedures 
5.  Observe client for any changes in their condition listed in the Range Statement and seek assistance from a health professional, supervisor, medical officer or emergency services as indicated in the organisation’s policies 
6.  Discard waste products according to organisation procedures and/or manufacturer’s instructions

Element:

Assist/support medication administration according to prescription/instructions.

Performance Criteria:

1. Prepare medications and administer to the client or support their self administration according to the specific requirements of the form of medication, in strict accordance with defined legislation and organisation procedures and written prescription instructions 
2.  Implement all necessary checks to ensure the right medication is given at the right time, to the right person, in the right amount, via the right route 
3.  Assist the client to take the medications as required, in accordance with their needs and documented procedures 
4.  Supervise and observe the client when taking the medication and confirm with the client their ingestion or completion 
5. Implement documented procedures for medication not being administered or absorbed, such as through expelling/vomiting, refusal or damage to medication and report to supervisor and/or health professional 
6.  Record all required details of medication administration and other details in the appropriate documents according to the legislation and organisation’s procedures 
7.  Observe the client for any possible medication effects listed in the Range Statement and report to a supervisor or health professional 
8.  Collect used equipment, discarded medications / applicators and rubbish and place in appropriate/ designated receptacle according to instructions

Element:

Complete the distribution and administration of medication.

Performance Criteria:

1. Clean and store unused and/or used medications, containers and administration aids in accordance with industry and the organisation’s infection control guidelines
2. Follow the organisation’s arrangements and procedures to replenish dose administration aids and supplies of medications
3. Securely store medication charts/care plans/ treatment sheets according to organisation procedures to ensure safety, security and confidentiality
4. Follow the organisation’s procedures to ensure medication storage complies with legislation and manufacturers instructions, maximises security and prevents medication deterioration

Element:

Comply with organisation's procedures for handling the range of issues/ contingencies which may arise.

Performance Criteria:

1.  Report to supervisor and/or health professional all concerns with the administration of medication (such as: client refusal to take some or all medications, incomplete ingestion, missed or missing doses) according to organisation procedures and protocols
2.  Identify, report, record and address individual’s reactions to medication according to organisation guidelines and health professional’s instructions
3.  Clearly identify contaminated or out of date medication and implement organisation’s procedures for ensuring safe and appropriate disposal
4.  Identify, report and record changes in individual’s condition, including within essential timeframes where relevant, according to organisation guidelines
5. Identify procedures to address / respond to changes in the client’s condition or needs according to the organisation’s guidelines
6. Promptly report to the supervisor or health professional any inconsistencies observed with the medication or client and take action in accordance with the organisation’s procedures or health professional’s instructions
7. Document all inconsistencies and address according to organisation guidelines and procedures

Element:

Prepare the client for assistance with administration of medication.

Performance Criteria:

1. Implement all necessary checks to ensure the client and their medications are correctly identified according to organisation procedures and care plan
2. Clarify specific assistance required to address personal needs of each client in line with organisation procedures listed in the Range Statement and within work role responsibilities
3. Correctly identify and greet each client and prepare them for medication
4. Check client medications according to the procedures identified in the organisation guidelines defined in the Range Statement
5. Explain the administration procedure to the client in line with requirements and organisation procedures and ensure their needs are met
6. Prior to giving medication, observe the client to check for any physical or behavioural changes that may indicate a need to report to supervisor or health professional in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
7. Recognise circumstances when appropriate action is to report observed client health status rather than proceeding with administration of medication and seek advice of supervisor or health professional

Element:

Prepare to assist with medication.

Performance Criteria:

1. Establish authority to provide assistance with administration of medication in line with organisation guidelines and protocols and jurisdictional legislative and regulatory requirements
2. Demonstrate an understanding of organisation policy and guidelines relating to assisting with medication within work role responsibilities
3. Identify lines of authority, accountability and actions to be taken to handle contingencies
4. Identify level and type of physical assistance required by the client to address their personal needs in taking medications
5. Identify level and type of supervision required by the client to self administer medications
6. Identify and report to a supervisor and/or health professional if there are any circumstances or changes in the client’s condition or personal needs that may impact on assisting the client with their medication
7. Confirm that all forms of medication to be administered, including dose administration aids are complete, ready for distribution and up to date, confirm with supervisor and obtain authority to proceed
8. Confirm the procedure to be used for medication to be administered
9. Implement personal hygiene procedures according to organisation policy and procedure to minimise cross infection
10. Identify and implement duty of care procedures in relation to addressing individual client needs

Learning Outcomes


This learner will have acquired the esstional knowledge outlined in the elements belonging to this unit, including identifing and manageing administrative procedures for medications, organisation policey and procedures related to medication, including documentation of medication and the use of medication charts, relevant commonwealth and jurisdictional legislative, regulatory, policy and industry guidelines and requirements relating to the provision of assistance with medication administration, appropriate storage  and correct handling of medications, understanding of duty of care in assisting clients with medication administration within scope of own work role, understanding of potential hazards in the environment including use of appropriate cleaning and sanitising procedures in relation to medication residue in containers, standard and additional infection control procedures and basic knowledge of some of the terms and abbreviations used in relation to medication. In addition the learner will have effectively managed the performance criteria of this unit including the ability to skillfully take on the tasks to be able to provide assistance with administration of medications for clients in accordance with the client’s individual support needs, including providing physical assistance to take the medication or supporting a client to self administers medications, including   all work to be in accordance with health professional’s instructions, the learner will be applying standard and additional precautions in infection control, correct documentation of medication administered,  following instructions for assisting with administration of medication as per the client’s health/care/support plan , following occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines,  medication provision including managing and reporting contingencies which may arise and observing, recording and reporting on the client’s state of health and well being.






Details of Learning Activities

Learners will participate in class room discussions, problem solving within individual and team groups. They will be encouraged to express their concerns and ideas both negative and positive. They will participate in role play scenarios in a simulated environment within the frame work of expected outcomes and discuss the reality of the outcomes via their own/trainers experience with in the appropriate work environment. They will participate in questionnaires, case studies and practical placement. All within the contents of this unit.


Teaching Schedule

Learners will participate in class room discussions, problem solving within individual and team groups. They will be encouraged to express their concerns and ideas both negative and positive. They will participate in role play scenarios in a simulated environment within the frame work of expected outcomes and discuss the reality of the outcomes via their own/trainers experience with in the appropriate work environment. They will participate in questionnaires, case studies and practical placement. All within the contents of this unit.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Learning resources are provided via booklets created to cover the essential information referring to the unit applied and are supplied to all learners attending the program. Updated handouts are also given to all students and frequent face to face discussion re dvd’s that may be viewed.


Overview of Assessment

This unit may be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged the expected competencis within this unit shall be assessed using all the relevant resources commonly provided in community and residential care service settings. Observation of work performance, case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to safely support the administration of medication in specific work environments and communities along with written assessment of functional English language, literacy and numeracy skills appropriate to the level of responsibility of the care worker.












Assessment Tasks

A leaner must be able to demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit. Assessments methods have been designed to achieve the competencies of this unit in a flexible manner and over a range of assessment tasks. Learners will participate in 100 hours of practical placement to demonstrate their essential knowledge and skills to meet the competencies and expected outcomes of this unit. Students will need to complete a practical placement competency matrix, signed and witnessed by the appropriate authorities to ensure the ability to perform their expected tasks meet the criteria of competencies for this unit.


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview