Medication Safety
True or False: Because the pharmacist and nurse have already checked the medication, you do not need to verify the Six Rights.
What is False? The medication technician is the final safety check.
Category C residents are assessed upon admission and at least this often for medication assistance.
What is quarterly?
When giving PRN narcotics, highest number blister or lowest number blister?
What is the highest numbered blister?
A normal adult pulse falls within this range.
What is 60–100 beats per minute?
Residents always have this right regarding medications.
What is the right to refuse medications?
Name the Six Rights.
What are Right Patient, Right Drug, Right Dose, Right Route, Right Time, and Right Documentation?
Residents who can safely self-administer medications should be encouraged to do this.
What is to maintain their independence?
When there are this many pills remaining, notify the team in Pumble.
What is five pills?
An oxygen saturation below this percentage requires further investigation.
What is below 90%?
Medication assistance should always preserve this.
What is the resident's dignity?
You become distracted while passing medications.
Question:
What should you do?
(Correct Answer: Restart your medication check and verify the Six Rights again.)
True or False: Staff may change a medication dose if they think the resident needs less.
What is False?
These staff members count narcotics together every shift change.
Who are the outgoing and incoming medication technicians?
The first thing you should do when abnormal vital signs are obtained.
What is recheck the vital sign and verify the equipment is working correctly?
Residents should know these three things about the medication before assisting with a medication pass.
What the medication is for
Possible risks
Possible side effects/adverse reactions
A resident refuses a medication after you've prepared it. What should you do?
Try another approach, try another person, three attempts. Respect the refusal, document it according to policy, and notify the appropriate supervisor if required.
Name three tasks that medication assistance staff are allowed to perform.
What are:
Remind residents to take medications.
Read medication labels.
Open containers or blister packs.
Observe self-administration.
Assist with approved medication organizers.
When documenting a narcotic administration, this number should be recorded in the binder.
What is the number of pills remaining after the medication is given?
The primary pulse checked in an unresponsive adult.
What is the carotid pulse?
Healthcare providers must honor these legal documents in the event of an emergency.
What are advance directives and POLST orders?
List four ways to prevent medication errors.
What are:
Check the Six Rights
Double-check labels
Never pre-pop medications
Avoid distractions
Document immediately
Know your medications
Clarify unclear orders
OTC medications require this before assistance may be provided.
What is practitioner approval and documentation?
A narcotic count discrepancy is discovered.
Name the first three things you should do
Review previous documentation with another med tech.
Verify it isn't a documentation error.
Notify Team Lead/on-call if unresolved.
(Bonus: Complete an Incident Report under "John Doe" and correct the narcotic log.)
Put these Full Code emergency steps in order:
Check responsiveness
Call for help
Call 911
Check responsiveness
Call for help
Activate EMS/911
True or False: Residents lose the right to make medication decisions after moving into an assisted living facility.
What is False?