Seasons Aged Care: Medication and Carers Provisions
Published: 19 October 2011
Following a meeting of members employed by Seasons, two significant issues on medication management were identified.
1. Residents’ requests for assistance with medications may not meet the criteria in the Carers Provisions
(A copy of the Carers Provisions is attached to this newsletter).
Carers must ensure that they comply with the Carers Provisions contained in the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996, or they risk substantial penalties.
If the client lacks the mental capacity to request assistance, medication should be administered by a registered nurse (or an enrolled nurse with relevant authority).
If that request or capacity is not present, and managers direct carers to give medication, carers should refuse to perform this task on the basis that it is not a lawful direction.
Registered nurses are accountable for the delegation of medication management tasks.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia dictates that registered nurses must ensure that:
- medication tasks delegated to carers are consistent with the Carers Provisions, the Aged Care guidelines, and professional practice.
- delegated staff are suitably educated and have been assessed as competent to perform the task.
Registered nurses must obtain evidence of the above from the employer before they can consider making the delegation.
Delegation of nursing care can only be done by the registered nurse.
An enrolled nurse is not authorised to delegate any nursing care task to any other staff member.
2. Care plans for residents are being formulated by staff who are not registered nurses
Formulation, documentation or amendment of a nursing plan of care is a task which can only be performed by a registered nurse.
Any person who is not a registered nurse and formulates, documents or amends a nursing plan of care is in breach of the legislation which regulates aged care.
If you are not an RN or EN with relevant authority and you need need advice on medication management, call QNU Connect on 3099 3210.
Contact:
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