Medication Administration: What kind of medicines can a carer administer?
In the UK, carers can administer certain types of medication when it is clearly documented in a care plan, and they have been trained and authorised by a healthcare professional or organisation, such as a care company licensed and regulated by the CQC (Care Quality Commission).
Generally, this will include assisting people in taking tablets, capsules, and oral mixtures; applying a cream/ointment; inserting drops into ears, nose or eyes; and administering inhaled medicines.
Are there any medications carers can’t administer?
There are a few situations where our carers cannot administer medicines.
Primarily, any medication that requires breaking the skin, such as an injection, should be avoided – unless it is an emergency, like using an epi-pen to reverse a life-threatening allergic reaction.
When administering insulin, our carers can prompt and assist the service user in self-administering. However, they should not administer the insulin themselves.
Any other medication that is labelled as a controlled drug and requires administration by injection should only be administered by a Registered Nurse.
What training do carers need to have for medicine administration?
Our Basic medicine administration training covers medication safety, handling and administration, dosage calculations, and record-keeping.
Although not clinically trained, it is essential for carers to follow the guidelines provided by the healthcare professional or organisation and to be aware of any potential side effects or interactions with other medications.
At Premier Community, all of our home care assistants follow guidelines for medicine administration set out by NICE (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence), CQC, and HEE (Health Education England) that provide them with the best practices for administering medication.
The ‘6 Rs’ of Medication Administration
All our carers follow the ‘6 Rs’ of medication administration guidelines to ensure that medication is administered safely and effectively. These guidelines are:
1. Right patient:
Ensure that the medication is intended for the correct patient.
2. Right medication:
Ensure that the medication is the correct drug prescribed for the patient.
3. Right dose:
Ensure that the patient receives the correct amount of medication according to their prescription.
4. Right route:
Ensure that the medication is administered in the correct way, such as orally or intravenously.
5. Right time:
Ensure that the medication is administered at the correct time, according to the prescription.
6. Right documentation:
Ensure that all medication administration is correctly documented on a Medication Administration Record (MAR), including the patient’s name, medication, dose, route, time and date, and the name of the healthcare professional or caregiver who administered the medication.
Following these guidelines helps us to ensure that medication is administered safely and correctly, reducing the risk of medication errors and improving our service users’ outcomes.
What is an EMAR?
As part of Premier Community’s innovative digital care plans, our carers must fill in an EMAR (Electronic Medication Administration Record) where applicable to the service user.
This digital document forms part of a service user’s care plan to record the medications administered to that person. The EMAR is integral to medication management, providing several benefits over paper-based systems.
Firstly, an EMAR can help reduce medication errors by providing real-time information on patients’ medication regimens. This can help prevent medication errors, such as administering the wrong medication at the wrong time or dosage.
Secondly, an EMAR can improve communication between healthcare professionals and caregivers. The system can provide alerts and notifications about medication administration, ensuring that caregivers are aware of any changes to the medication regimen or any potential interactions with other medications.
Thirdly, an EMAR can improve the accuracy and completeness of medication records. The system can automatically record medication administration, reducing the risk of errors or omissions in the documentation.
Overall, an EMAR is an essential tool for medication management that can help improve patient safety, reduce medication errors, and improve communication between healthcare professionals and caregivers.
Are there any risks or side effects associated with medication administration by caregivers?
The risks or side effects associated with medication administration by caregivers may vary depending on the medication administered, the patient’s medical history, and other factors.
Some potential risks or side effects of medication administration by caregivers may include:
1. Medication errors:
If carers don’t follow the ‘6 R’s of Medication Administration, Caregivers may accidentally administer the wrong medication, the wrong dose, or at the wrong time, which can seriously harm the patient.
2. Adverse reactions:
Patients may experience adverse reactions to medication, ranging from mild to severe. Adverse reactions may include allergies, rashes, nausea, vomiting, and more.
3. Drug interactions:
Caregivers may not be aware of potential drug interactions between medications, which can have severe consequences for the patient.
4. Overdose:
Caregivers may inadvertently administer too much medication, which can result in an overdose and serious harm to the patient.
5. Medication non-compliance:
Patients may refuse to take medication or may not take it as directed, which can lead to poor health outcomes.
So, how do we reduce these risks?
To help minimise the risk to our service users, all Premier Community carers must adhere to our strict policy and procedures for medicine administration and follow the recommendations outlined in the individual service user’s care plan.
We review these procedures frequently and require all carers to complete yearly refresher training to keep their knowledge up-to-date.
Furthermore, if medication administration concerns or questions arise, our carers should consult healthcare professionals, such as GPs, Pharmacies or NHS 111, for guidance before administration.
