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Assistance with Self-Administration of Medication

Sets out what aides may and may not do when helping a client take his or her own medication, how the registered nurse decides whether a client can self-administer, how the medication list and allergies are kept, how assistance is recorded, and what staff do about refusals, missed doses, errors and missing medication.

Preview: full text with a package
About this policy
Policy number
DC-HC-SVC-03
Version
1.0
Main rule
22-B DCMR §9918.4(d)
Library
Washington, DC home care · 50 policies
Category
Clinical tasks
Sections
19

In short

  • You may remind, bring the container, open it, read the label aloud, and watch the client take it.
  • Never give medication, fill pill boxes, crush pills, or decide whether or how much to take.
  • Record every assistance, refusal or missed dose on the Medication Assistance Record before you leave.
  • Tell the nurse the same day about refusals, new medicines or side effects.
  • Wrong medicine or double dose: call the nurse at once, or 911 if the client is unwell.

What's inside

19 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.

Full text with a package
  • Terms of Reference
  • 1. Purpose
  • 2. Scope
  • 3. Definitions
  • 4. Policy Statement (22-B DCMR §9918.4(d))
  • 5. Deciding Whether a Client Can Self-Administer
  • 6. What Aides May and May Not Do
  • 7. Medication List and Allergies
  • 8. Recording Assistance
  • 9. Refusals, Missed Doses and Other Medication Events
  • 10. Storage and Safety in the Home
  • 11. When the Client's Needs Change
  • 12. Responsibilities
  • 13. Records and Compliance Monitoring
  • 14. Staff Training
  • 15. References
  • 16. Related Policies and Forms
  • 17. Approval
  • 18. Revision History

An inspector may ask

  • Show me this client's medication list and allergy record (22-B DCMR §9914.2(i), (j)).
  • What exactly may your aides do when they assist with self-administration of medication, and what may they never do?

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