Medication administration in nursing homes is a complex process that requires careful
oversight by registered nurses (RNs) to minimize risks of errors and adverse effects.
However, the declining number of RNs in nursing homes requires RNs to delegate some
aspects of medication administration to other nursing staff members, including unlicensed
assistive personnel (UAP). Delegating medication administration allows RNs to focus
on all aspects of the medication use process, including communicating with physicians
about residents’ conditions and medication therapy needs as well as assessing and
evaluating residents’ responses to medication therapy. With a carefully supervised
delegation process, UAP should be able to administer medications safely, and RNs can
oversee the complex needs of frail, vulnerable nursing home residents.
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References
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Medication Administration in Nursing Homes: RN Delegation to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
Learning Objectives
- •Describe medication administration in the nursing home.
- •Recall steps of the delegation process.
- •Identify the role of unlicensed assistive personnel in medication administration.
- •Discuss how a registered nurse can appropriately delegate medication administration.
Ce
CE Posttest
Medication Administration in Nursing Homes: RN Delegation to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel
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Contact hours: 1.4
Posttest passing score is 75%.
Expiration: October 2014
Posttest
Please circle the correct answer.
- 1.What is the average number of medications a nursing home resident receives daily?
- a.2 to 4
- b.5 to 6
- c.7 to 8
- d.10 to 12
- a.
- 2.Excluding wrong-time errors, the percentage of doses administered to nursing home residents that is wrong is:
- e.2%.
- f.5%.
- g.10%.
- h.12%.
- e.
- 3.The stages of the medication use process include:
- a.monitoring.
- b.checking.
- c.counting.
- d.reporting.
- a.
- 4.Which statement about responsibilities in the medication use process in nursing homes is correct?
- a.Unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) are responsible for ensuring timely administration.
- b.The physician communicates directly with the pharmacy.
- c.The on-site pharmacist is responsible for verifying dosages.
- d.The registered nurse (RN) must evaluate residents’ responses to medication therapy.
- a.
- 5.The average medication pass in the nursing home involves how many medications?
- a.48
- b.52
- c.73
- d.81
- a.
- 6.Which statement about licensed health care professionals and the medication use process in nursing homes is correct?
- a.RNs are only responsible for administering medications.
- b.RNs are involved in the entire process.
- c.Physicians play a more active role in medication administration.
- d.Pharmacists closely evaluate residents for adverse effects.
- a.
- 7.RNs account for what percentage of nurses in nursing homes?
- a.24%
- b.35%
- c.Less than 9%
- d.Less than 14%
- a.
- 8.What term is defined as “an RN and in some states LPNs [licensed practical nurses] having the authority to direct another individual to perform nursing tasks and activities they would otherwise not be assigned”?
- a.Delegation
- b.Monitoring
- c.Assigning
- d.Prescription
- a.
- 9.The step in the delegation process that includes follow-up to problems or a changing situation is:
- a.evaluation and feedback.
- b.surveillance and supervision.
- c.communication.
- d.assessment and planning.
- a.
- 10.The step in the delegation process that includes determining the need to adjust the plan of care is:
- a.evaluation and feedback.
- b.surveillance and supervision.
- c.communication.
- d.assessment and planning.
- a.
- 11.Which “right” of delegation includes available resources?
- a.Task
- b.Supervision
- c.Circumstances
- d.Direction
- a.
- 12.Which “right” of delegation includes objectives, limits, and expectations?
- a.Task
- b.Supervision
- c.Circumstances
- d.Direction
- a.
- 13.Which statement about medication-aide training is correct?
- a.Application requirements, training, testing, and continuing education vary widely.
- b.Application requirements and training vary widely, but testing and continuing education are standardized.
- c.Retraining is required every 2 years.
- d.Retraining is required every 4 years.
- a.
- 14.According to research, which statement about medication aides’ roles and responsibilities is correct?
- a.Medication aides are not permitted to administer topical medications.
- b.Medication aides do not administer as-needed medications without prior assessment.
- c.Many medication aides have little to no supervision.
- d.Most medication aides have contact with a supervisor twice a shift.
- a.
- 15.Which statement about RNs and medication aides is correct?
- a.RNs should focus on transcribing and dispensing, while medication aides should focus on administering routine medications.
- b.RNs should focus on medication assessment, monitoring, and evaluation, while medication aides should focus on administering routine medications.
- c.RNs should focus on medication assessment, monitoring, and evaluation, while medication aides should focus on administering complicated medication regimens.
- d.RNs should focus on dispensing and calculating, while medication aides should focus on administering oral, intramuscular, and intravenous drugs.
- a.
- 16.Nursing home administrators should:
- a.ensure UAP who administer medications meet the state competency requirements.
- b.directly supervise UAP who administer medications to reduce errors.
- c.keep job descriptions and role responsibilities for RNs and UAP who administer medications general in scope.
- d.keep off-site documentation of the competence of UAP who administer medications.
- a.
- 17.Which statement about the regulatory issues related to UAP administering medications is correct?
- a.State boards of medicine should assume responsibility for UAP regulation.
- b.State boards of nursing (BONs) should not list what drugs UAP cannot administer.
- c.Each state BON should create a unique training program.
- d.State BONs should define what is needed in training programs.
- a.
Evaluation Form (required)
- 1.Rate your achievement of each objective from 5 (high/excellent) to 1 (low/poor).
- •Describe medication administration in the nursing home.1 2 3 4 5
- •Recall steps of the delegation process.1 2 3 4 5
- •Identify the role of unlicensed assistive personnel in medication administration.1 2 3 4 5
- •Discuss how a registered nurse can appropriately delegate medication administration.1 2 3 4 5
- •
Rate each of the following items from 5 (very effective) to 1 (ineffective):
- 2.Were the authors knowledgeable about the subject?1 2 3 4 5
- 3.Were the methods of presentation (text, tables, figures, etc.) effective?1 2 3 4 5
- 4.Was the content relevant to the objectives?1 2 3 4 5
- 5.Was the article useful to you in your work?1 2 3 4 5
- 6.Was there enough time allotted for this activity?1 2 3 4 5
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© 2011 National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
