Aged care medication administration procedure
SOP template
Check this template against your local regulations and your own policies before you use it.
| SOP no. | Version | Effective date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Approver | Review date |
Purpose
To make sure each resident or client gets the right medicine, at the right dose, time and route, as prescribed, and that every dose, refusal and error is recorded.
Scope
All staff who give or help residents and clients take medication, in residential care or at home, within the limits of their role and training.
Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Registered or enrolled nurse | Gives medication their role allows, supervises staff, and manages errors and changes. |
| Care or support worker | Helps residents take medication from a dose administration aid, if trained and authorised. |
| Manager | Makes sure staff are trained and competent, and reviews medication incidents. |
Definitions
- Dose administration aid
- A pharmacy-packed blister or sachet pack holding each dose for a set time of day.
- PRN
- A medicine prescribed to be given only when needed, such as for pain.
What you need
- The resident’s current medication chart
- Dose administration aids and the medication trolley
- Gloves and a cup of water
Procedure
Check the chart
Read the resident’s current chart and confirm the medicine is due and hasn’t already been given.
Confirm the rights
Check the right person, medicine, dose, time and route against the chart and the pack. Use the resident’s photo to confirm identity.
Caution: If anything doesn’t match, stop and ask the nurse or pharmacist before you give anything.
Prepare the resident
Explain what you’re doing, sit them upright and offer water. Check for anything new, such as trouble swallowing.
Give the medicine and watch it taken
Stay until each dose is swallowed. Never leave medicines on a table or tray.
Record it straight away
Sign the chart for each medicine given, or record the code for not given and why.
Handle a refusal
Don’t force or hide medicine in food unless the care plan allows it. Record the refusal and tell the nurse.
Give PRN medicines with care
Check the reason, the dose and the last time given. Record why you gave it, and check later whether it worked.
Report any error
If a dose is wrong, missed or given to the wrong person, check the resident, tell the nurse at once and follow the incident procedure.
Records
- The signed medication chart for every round.
- Incident reports for every medication error.
- Staff medication competency records.
Related documents
- Incident management procedure
- Each resident’s care plan
Revision history
| Version | Date | What changed | Approved by |
|---|---|---|---|
