Assistance With Self-Administered Medication
Sets when and how a home health aide or CNA of the Agency may help a medically stable patient take his or her own routine medications: the documented request and written informed consent, the registered nurse review and medication reconciliation, the 2 hours of training and label-reading check, what assistance includes and does not include under s. 400.488, F.S., help with glucometers, oxygen cannulas, and other tasks, and how assistance is recorded.
About this policy
- Policy number
- FL-HH-MED-01
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- s. 400.488, F.S.
- Library
- Florida home health · 57 policies
- Category
- Clinical tasks
- Sections
- 20
In short
- You may help a patient take his or her own medications only after the patient asks and signs a consent, and a nurse has reviewed the medications.
- Help only with the medications the nurse listed on your assignment, from the labeled container.
- Never give injections, use tubes, help with rectal or vaginal medications, or decide on "as needed" doses.
- Never fill or empty a pill organizer.
- Write down each time you help. Call the nurse if the patient refuses, misses a dose, or seems unwell.
What's inside
20 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (s. 400.488, F.S.)
- 5. Request, Consent, and Registered Nurse Review
- 6. Aide Training
- 7. What Assistance Includes
- 8. Supervision of Self-Administration by Aides
- 9. What Assistance Does Not Include
- 10. Other Tasks
- 11. Each Time the Aide Assists
- 12. When Assistance Stops
- 13. Responsibilities
- 14. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 15. Staff Training
- 16. References
- 17. Related Policies and Forms
- 18. Approval
- 19. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Show me the written request and informed consent for this patient's assistance with self-administered medication.
- Who decided the patient is medically stable, and where is the medication reconciliation?
See Cura Core with your agency's name on it.
Choose your state and type of agency, buy your Policy Pack online and get your sign-in by email. Already a customer? Sign in to your portal.