Administer Medication to Individuals Essay

This governs the manufacture and supply of medicines. This requires that the local pharmacist or dispensing doctor is responsible for supplying medication. He or she can only do this on the receipt of a prescription from an authorised person e.g. a doctor. According to the law (The Medicines Act 1968) medicines can be given by a third party, e.g. a suitably trained care worker, to the person that they were intended for when this is strictly in accordance with the directions that the prescriber has given. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and Amendments 1985, 2001 see more:handling medication This controls dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs designated as Controlled drugs. (CD) The main purpose of this act is to prevent the misuse of controlled drugs. Some CD’s are prescribed drugs used to treat severe pain. Some people abuse them by taking them when there is no clinical reason. The  purpose of the legislation impacts on care homes by requiring special arrangements for storage, administration, records and disposal. The misuse of drugs (Safe custody) Amendment Regulation 2007 This specifies how controlled drugs are stored and is referred to in the Standards for care homes. Controlled drugs must be kept in a Controlled drugs cabinet that complies with these regulations. The regulations specify the quality, construction, method of fixing and lock and key for the cupboard. The safer management of controlled drugs (2006) This specifies how controlled drugs are stored, administered and disposed of. Controlled drugs must be kept in a controlled drugs cabinet that complies with these regulations. Records must be made for all controlled drugs transactions. Care Home Regulations 2001 Regulation 13 states that a registered provider must make arrangements for the recording, handling, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the care home. This applies to all medicines including controlled drugs. Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 To maintain safety for all in the workplace your employer must ensure that anyone administering medication has attended the appropriate training. The risks associated with the handling or administration of any medicine should be assessed for both staff and patients. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) The law requires employers to control exposure to hazardous substances for both employees and others who may be exposed and to ensure employees and properly informed, trained and supervised. Care Standards Act 2000 Regulates and inspects services used by people for care services, provides guidance and information. The Act, has a major impact on the quality of care provided to children and vulnerable adults, and could make the system of regulation and inspection of care in particular simpler, more transparent and navigable. All care including that provided by local authorities falls within the scope of the Act. Its key provisions are: * The creation of a National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) for England to undertake the  regulation of care. * The creation of a General Social Care Council (GSCC) for England and a Care Council for Wales to register social workers, regulate the training of the social care workforce and raise standards in social care through the production of codes of conduct and the maintained of a register of social care staff Access to Health Records Act 1990 The act defines who can see medical records. The individual can see his or her own records, but nobody else can except with the individuals permission. This includes next of kin and friends. Data Protection Act 1998 The Act applies to any organisation that keeps personal records on a computer to register as a data user and they must comply with specific regulations. They must be secure, allow the individual to have access to their records, record only relevant information, only be used for its stated purpose. Hazardous Waste Regulation 2005 Dispensed medication for individual service users either at home or in a care setting can be described as household waste or is covered by the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005. These medications can be returned to the dispensing pharmacist for disposal. However, care situations that provide nursing care not covered by this legislation and must make their own arrangements for the disposal of unwanted medicine through a licensed waste management company. There should be a written policy in place which describes the local procedure for recording of unwanted medication to be returned to the pharmacist. All medication should be recorded and signed for by the receiving pharmacist and a copy kept by the organisation. National Minimum Standards * Standards 9.5 and 20.7 states that controlled drugs should be kept in a designated CD cupboard until staff are responsible for giving them to people. * Standards 9.7 and 20.9 Controlled drugs should be given by care workers who have been trained and designated to do so. Another trained and designated member of staff should witness this process. * Standards 9.8 and 20.11 care homes should keep additional records of receipt  administration and disposal of controlled drugs in a register. Working in line with your organisation’s policies and procedures enable you to work in line with best practice and the law (legislation). There must be a policy at your work place for the receipt, recording, storage, handling, administration and disposal of medicines. Check your policies and procedures file which should list the procedures relating to administration of medication with regards to your job role. 2.1 Common side effects from medicines All medicines can potentially cause side effects or adverse reactions and these can vary from person to person. Side effects may be minor or extreme enough to be life threatening. Common side effects include: rashes, stiffness, breathing difficulties, shaking, swelling, headaches, nausea, drowsiness, vomiting, constipation, diarrhoea, weight gain. Side effects can either present as one symptom or as a combination of symptoms. Staff must monitor all medication given and record and adverse reactions in the service users care/support plans. The service users GP must be contacted and the medication stopped until informed otherwise. All medication should come with a description leaflet, which lists possible side effects. These should be retained for future reference. If medication for service users come in MDS packs then the pharmacist should be contacted for information on all medication dispensed in this manner. Older people are particularly susceptible to reacting adversely to medication and are often already taking many different types of medication. Staff should be particularly vigilant with older people. Common adverse reaction symptoms in older people are: restlessness, falls, confusion, drowsiness, depression, constipation, incontinence, and Parkinson’s symptoms. Policies and procedures should be put in place locally, describing the steps to be followed in the event of an adverse reaction to a medicine, whether minor or life threatening. Read more:  Medication to Individuals Essay Common types of medication Types of medication Function Antibiotics To fight infection Analgesics To relieve  pain Anti-histamines To relieve allergy symptoms Antacids For digestion Anticoagulants To prevent blood clots Psychotropic medicines which interact with the nervous system Diuretics Used to get rid of excess fluid Laxatives To alleviate constipation Hormones E.g. steroids or insulin Cytotoxic medicines to treat some forms of cancer Medication Common side effects Hypnotics and sedatives –Temazepam and Nitrazepam Causes drowsiness in the morning Antibiotics such as Erythromycin and Amoxicillin Nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and skin rashes. Analgesics Strong painkillers such as codeine and morphine Nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, confusion and constipation. Antidepressants such as Amitriptyline becoming sleepy and confused. 2.2 Some medication which demands the measurement of specific physiological measurements are as follow: Insulin (blood glucose testing) to ensure the blood glucose is not too high (which prevents healing and increases the risk of damage to the nerve endings among many other effects) or too low (could induce a loss of consciousness for example) and warfarin (a blood thinner) which requires the blood to be checked regularly to monitor how effective the drug is i.e. is it preventing the blood being too â€Å"thin† (which could cause an internal bleed) or under anti-coagulated leaving the patient at risk of blood clots. There is also Digoxin. The pulse should be recorded prior to administration of the drug. Also a test is used to monitor the concentration of the drug in the blood. The dose of digoxin prescribed may be adjusted depending on the level measured. A doctor may order one or more digoxin tests when a person begins treatment to determine if the initial dosage is within therapeutic range and then order it at regular intervals to ensure that the therapeutic level is maintained. Apart from the administration of insulin you may not be expected to have a full knowledge of the others above or to take out the clinical activities but there should be an awareness of the reasons for clinical monitoring and to ensure that these take place as directed by a clinician. 2.3 The individuals you work with may experience unwanted or adverse effects after the administration of medication and you need to recognise this and take action. Adverse effects could be: * Anaphylactic shock – occurs sometimes after the use of an antibiotic. * Swelling of body parts, skin changes, breathing difficulties etc. If you observe any adverse changes you need to follow the laid down procedures at your workplace which you need to write out to support your answer of the appropriate action to take. * Inform the manager and seek professional help immediately. * Observe the individual * Document all adverse reactions and action taken * Treat the symptoms following clinical advice. * Record the medicine and reaction in the care plan and MAR chart. * Inform the individual’s own doctor and the pharmacist as soon as possible. 2.4 Administration Route * Oral – by mouth, tablets and syrups * Aural – ear drops * Rectal – suppositories * Vaginal – tablets, creams * Sublingual – under tongue * Nasogastric – via a nasogastric tube * Buccal – between the lips and gums * Inhaled – into lungs via inhaler or nebuliser * Ocular/ophthalmic – eye drops * Nasal – sprays, drops * Topical – skin creams * Intra venous – directly or via a drip into a vein * Intramuscular – injection into muscle * Subcutaneous – injection into subcutaneous layer of skin * Transdermal – injection under top layer of skin, patches e.g. HRT * Peg – Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy – medicines are introduced via a PEG tube which has been inserted directly into the service users stomach. 3.1/2 Using a few of the different routes of administration highlight the materials or equipments involved. For example * A service user who has a severe chest condition may require a nebulizer. This devise pumps air through a mask/mouthpiece that contains the medicine in a chamber. The medicine is converted into a fine mist and the service user inhales the medicine. * Oral administration – spoon, pill pot, water, gloves * Topical administration – gloves to avoid cross contamination and potential harm to yourself. 5.3 An example of this would be what to do when you make an error in administration of medication. Anyone can make a mistake but it is important that you report the incident immediately to your manager to avoid any damage or deterioration to the health of the individual. Your workplace should have a policy in place of what to do when an error in administration has been made and why. Read and summarise. If you have administered medicine to an individual and they develop an adverse effect which you are not competent to handle you need to report following the procedures at your workplace. Medication errors happen, but you should report errors immediately. An error in the administration of a medicine can be at best inconvenient or at worst  fatal. Common medication errors include; – * Under administration * Over administration * Incorrect medication * Incorrect prescription * Non administration * Non recording * Administration of wrong medicine to wrong service user * Administration at wrong time. When any error in administering medication occurs, the local procedure must be followed immediately and should include the following steps:- * Report immediately to your line manager and follow directions given * Report immediately to the prescriber/GP/pharmacist and follow directions given * If serious error is made the service user may need hospital treatment * Document error fully All incidents should be fully investigated, the results documented and every possible action taken to prevent the mistake happening again. If serious negligence or an attempt to cover up the mistake is discovered, this should be treated as a disciplinary offence. Failure to record medication errors is a Registration Offence for qualified staff and should be reported to the NMC. The Care Commission and CQC also require to be notified of medication errors. 5.5 Even if an individual wishes to self administer their medication it is still necessary to maintain a record of their current medication as stated in the National minimum standards which states â€Å" The service user, following assessment as able to self administer medication, has a lockable space in which to store medication, to which suitably trained, designated care staff may have access with the service users permission† It is necessary to confirm that the individual actually takes the medication because you are required to complete the MAR (Medicines Administration record) accurately. If the individual passed the medication to another individual, that person  could become seriously ill as could the person who the medication was intended for. You are responsible for the administration and its accuracy and it is your duty of care to protect individuals from harm. 5.7 CONTROLLED DRUGS Special arrangements apply to the disposal of Controlled Drugs (CD’s) in care homes registered to provide nursing care in England and Wales: * If supplied for a named person: denature CDs using a kit designed for this purpose and then consign to a licensed waste disposal company * If supplied as a ‘stock’ for the care home (nursing) : an authorised person must witness the disposal. For all other social care settings, the CDs should be returned to the pharmacist or dispensing doctor who supplied them at the earliest opportunity for safe denaturing and disposal. When CDs are returned for disposal, a record of the return should be made in the CD record book. It is good practice to obtain a signature for receipt from the pharmacist or dispensing doctor. Handling non prescribed controlled drugs and their disposal Sometimes people bring illicit substances into care homes. The care setting should take advice from local police and if necessary the Serious and Organised Crime Agency concerning appropriate procedures for dealing with this. Homecare providers should devise policies and procedures in relation to service users using illicit drugs. This may include a requirement for care workers to vacate the premises if a service user is smoking, consuming or injecting illegal substances. Legal advice should be sought in situations where care workers may be at risk of aiding and abetting a service user to perform an illegal act. DISPOSAL OF MEDICINES All care settings should have a written policy for the safe disposal of surplus, unwanted or expired medicines. When care staff are responsible for the disposal, a complete record of medicines should be made The normal method for disposing of medicines should be by returning them to the supplier. The supplier can then ensure that these medicines are disposed of  in accordance with current waste regulations. In England, care homes (nursing) must not return medicines to a community pharmacist but use a licensed waste management company. Additional advice is provided by CQC in safe disposal of waste medicines from care homes (nursing). The situations when medicines might need to be disposed of include: * A person’s treatment has changed or is discontinued – the remaining supplies of it should be disposed of safely (with the persons consent) * A person transfers to another care service – they should take all of their medicines with them, unless they agree to dispose of any that are no longer needed * A person dies. The person’s medicines should be kept for seven days, in case the Coroner’s Office, Procurator Fiscal (in Scotland) or courts ask for them * The medicine reaches its expiry date. Some medicine expiry dates are shortened when the product has been opened and is in use, for example, eye drops. When applicable, this sis stated in the product information leaflet (PIL). All disposals of medicines must be clearly documented. Administer Medication To Individuals Essay The Medicines Act 1968. This governs the control of medicines for human and veterinary use which includes the manufacture and supply of medicines – the Act defines three categories of medicine:- 1. Prescription Only Medicines (POM) These are available only from the chemist /pharmacy if prescribed by GP. 2. Pharmacy Medicines Available from the pharmacy but without a prescriptions 3. General Sales List (GSL) Medicines which may be bought from any shop without a prescriptions. Human Medicines Regulations 2012 These Regulations set out a complex regime for the authorisation of medicinal products for human use, Manufacture, import, distribution, sale and supply of those products. For the labelling and advertising and for drug safety. See more:  Masters of Satire: John Dryden and Jonathan Swift Essay The Misuse Of Drugs Act 1971 This act creates three classes of controlled substances A, B, and C, and ranges of penalties for illegal or unlicensed possession and possession with the intent to supply are graded differently within each class. The lists of substances within each class can be amended by order so the Home Secretary can list new drugs and upgrade or downgrade or de-list previously controlled drugs with less of the bureaucracy and delay The Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 2001. The Misuse of Drugs Act controls the export, import, supply and possession of dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs. In effect the Act largely renders unlawful all activities in the drugs controlled under the act except provided for under the regulations made under the Act. The drugs which are subject to the control of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 Health Act 2006 An Act to make provision of the prohibition of smoking in certain premises, places and vehicles and for amending the minimum age of persons to whom tobacco may be sold, to make provisions in relation to the prevention and control of health care associated infection, to make provisions in relation  to the management and use of controlled drugs, to make provision in relation to the management and use of controlled drugs, to make provision in relation to the supervision of certain dealings with medicinal products and the running of pharmacy premises and about orders under the Medicines Act 1968 and orders amending that Act under the Health Act 1999 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (2012) The main focus of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 was to create a new regulator whose aim and purpose was to provide registration and inspection of health and adult social care services together for the first time, with the aim of ensuring safety and quality of care for service users. The Care Quality Commission was established by statute, with enhanced powers to regulate primary care services, including hospitals, GP practices, Dental practices, Ambulance Services and Care Homes. These powers include failing registration, fines and even closing practices down which do not adhere to the Fundamental Standards in Quality and Safety. This cohesive approach has led to the CQC becoming one of the most powerful regulatory bodies in the UK. Read more: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 made minor changes to the 2008 Act, but for the purposes of Health and Adult Social Care professionals looking at the registration and inspection regime, this only amounted to terminological clarification, a strengthening of the relationship between the CQC and Monitor and the establishment of The Healthwatch England Committee as part of the CQC. In addition to this the following institutions have been abolished: The Office of the Health Professions Adjudicator, The National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care, The National Patient Safety Agency and The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. The Controlled Drugs (Supervision and management And Use) Regulations 2006 The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 divide controlled drugs (CDs) into five schedules corresponding to their theraputic usefulness and misuse potential. A Number of changes affecting the prescribing, record keeping and destruction of CDs have been introduced a s a result of amendments to the Misuse Of Drugs Regulations 2001. The Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations 2006 came into effect on 1st January 2007. The Health and Safety at Work Act – The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 is also referred to as JSWA, The HSW Act, The 1974 Act or  HASAWA. This is the primary piece of legislation covering occupational health and safety in Great Britain. The Health and Safety Executive with local authorities (and other enforcing authorities) is responsible for enforcing the Act and a number of other Acts and Statutory Instruments relevant to the working environment. Essential Standards (Regulation 13) 2008.2010 – This is a very small part in Regulation 13 as in, The registered pewrson must have suitable arrangements in place for obtaining and acting in the best interest of the individual. Where they are able to give valid consent to the examination, care, treatment and support they receive. Understand and know how to change any decisions about examination, care, treatment as in medication and support that has been previously agreed, can be confident that their human rights are respected and taken into account accordance with the consent of service users in relation to the care and treatment provided for them. Data Protection Act 1998 – The Act’s definition of â€Å"personal data† covers any data that can be used to identify a living individual. Individuals can be identified by various means including their names and address, telephone number or email address. The Act applies only to data which is held or intended to be held on computers (equipment operating automatically in response to instructions given for that purpose) or held in a relevant filing system. Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 The occupational use of nano materials is regulated under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) is the law that requires employers to control substances that are hazardous to health and includes nano materials. This covers controlled drugs as well The Environmental Protection Act 1990 & The Waste and Contaminated land Order 1997 – place a Duty Of Care on anyone who produces, collects, treats and disposes of waste. This includes feminine hygiene, clinical, sharps, medicines, dental wastes, confidential waste or other waste to be recycled. The main principles of duty of care are about documenting the transfer of waste and checking up on anyone you transfer waste to (e.g. if they are a registered carrier of waste, if they are taking waste to suitably licensed / permitted sites). You should only use a Contractor who can provide proof of compliance with the legislation. Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 – The regulations replaced the special waste regulations 1996 in England and fully meet the requirements of the Hazardous Waste Directive. The regulations  remove the current need to pre-notify the Environment Agency before hazardous waste can be moved off site, and include a simpler method for tracking wastes once they have been moved. The include a new system to ensure that certain sites where hazardous waste is produced are notified to the Environment Agency. This will improve the whole regulation of the hazardous waste chain from source site to waste site. These regulations had previously amended certain clinical, medicinal and dental wastes they are now affected by the new Regulations as well as you must not mix hazardous with non-hazardous waste. Soft/hard Clinical waste, Sharps and pharmaceutical-sharpes This waste may be classed as hazardous, due to its infectious nature. The Department of Health has produced important new guidance in Safe Management of Healthcare waste. Offensive waste-Sanitary, Incontinence, red lidded sharps. Feminine hygiene, nappy and incontinence and fully discharged syringes are not classed as hazardous or special waste and do not require consignment notes. The Guideline policies and procedures in the Care Home I work in In my workplace, I have access Common Types of Medication Effects Potential Side Effects Analgesics. e.g. Paracetamol Analgesics are used to relieve pain such as headaches Addiction to these can happen if taken over a long period of time. Also, irritation of the stomach, liver damage and sleep disturbances as some analgesics contain caffeine. Antibiotics. e.g. Amoxicillin Antibiotics are used to treat infections that are caused by bacteria Diarrhoea, feeling sick and vomiting are the most common side effects. Some people get a fungal infection such as thrush after  treatment with antibiotics for a longer period of time.   More serious side-effects of antibiotics include kidney problems, blood disorders, increased sensitivity to the sun and deafness. However, these are rare. Antidepressants. e.g. Citalopram Antidepressants work by changing the chemical balance in the brain and that can in turn change the psychological state of the mind such as depression Common side effects include blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, increased appetite, nausea, restlessness, shaking or trembling and difficulty sleeping. Other side effects include, dry mouthy, constipation and sweating Anticoagulants. e.g. Warfarin Anticoagulants are used to prevent blood clotting A side effect common to all anticoagulants is the risk of excessive bleeding (Haemorrhages) This is because these medicines increase the time that it takes clots to form. If clots take too long to form, then you can experience excessive bleeding. Side effects may include passing blood in your urine or faeces, severe bruising, prolonged nosebleeds (Lasting longer than 10 Minutes) Blood in your vomit, coughing up blood unusual headaches, sudden sever back pain and difficulty breathing or chest pain. Some Side effects with warfarin include rashes, diarrhoea, nausea (Feeling sick) and vomiting Identify Medication Which Demands The Measurement of Specific Physiological Measurements Describe The Common Adverse Reactions To Medication, How Each Can Be Recognised And the Appropriate Action(s) Required Unexpected adverse reactions can happen for any drug potentially that an individual is taking. For example one individual I work a person may have an adverse reaction to penicillin, anaphylactic shock; the signs of this are the swelling of for example the lips or face, a skin rash and the individual may also have breathing difficulties. This is why it is important that all information about an individual is recorded in full in their care plan and on the MAR sheet. Other severe adverse reactions could include a fever and skin blistering; if adverse reactions are not treated they could fatal. These usually occur within an hour of the medications being administered. Sometimes adverse reactions can develop a few weeks after and may cause damage to the kidneys or liver. If a service user at my place of work happened to have an adverse reaction to a medication, I would notify the Nurse on duty and/or House Manager. It would be up to them to contact the local GP for advice, and if necessary to make arrangements to get the service user to hospital for treatment. Explain the Different Routes Of Medicine Administration Routes Of Administration Explanation Inhalation Inhalers and nebulisers are used for individuals who have respiratory conditions as these deliver the medication directly to the lungs. Conditions such as Asthma and COPD Oral This medication is taken via the mouth. This can be in the form of tablets and capsules. If am individual finds it difficult to swallow tablets oral medication is also available in liquids, suspensions and syrups. Sub lingual medications are for example when tablets are placed under the tongue to dissolve quickly Transdermal Transdermal medications come in the form of patches that are applied to the skin normally to the chest or upper arm. They work by allowing the medication to be released slowly and then absorbed. For example, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) patches and nicotine patches. Topical Topical medications come in the form of creams and gels and are applied directly to the skin surface usually to treat skin conditions. Instillation  Instillation medications come in the form of drops or ointments and can be instilled via the eyes, nose or ears. Drops can be used for ear or eye  infections. Nose sprays are used for treating for example hay fever. Intravenous Intravenous medication enters directly into the veins and absorbed quickly. This route can only be done by a doctor or trained nurse Rectal/Vaginal Rectal medications are absorbed very quickly. Suppositories are available and are given into the rectum. Pessaries are given into the vagina. Only after training can these medications be administered. Subcutaneous Subcutaneous medications are injected just beneath the skin i.e. insulin is administered in this way. Only after training can these medications be administered. Intramuscular Intramuscular medication is injected directly into the large muscles in the body, i.e. the legs or bottom. This route can only be done by a doctor or trained nurse. Administer medication to individuals Essay Current legislation, guidelines, policies and protocols relevant to administering medication are:- The Medicines Act 1968 – requires that local pharmacist or dispencing doctor is responsible for supplying medication. The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 – controls dangerous and harmful drugs, I.e. controlled drugs (CD’s) The Misuse of Drugs and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2007 – specifies about handling, record keeping and storing controlled drugs correctly. The Safer Management of Controlled Drugs Regulations 2006 – specifies how controlled drugs are stored, administered and disposed of. Common types of medication include:- Medication Effects Side effects PareacetamolIt is commonly used for the relief of headaches and other minor aches and pains Mild to no side effects. Prolonged daily use increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal complications such as stomach bleedingOmeprazole suppresses gastric acid secretion by specific inhibition of the H+/K+-ATPase in the gastric parietal cell. By acting specifically on the proton pump, omeprazole blocks the final step in acid production, thus reducing gastric acidity headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, trouble awakening and sleep deprivation Levothyroxine Levothyroxine is approved to treat hypothyroidism and to suppress thyroid hormone release in the management of cancerous thyroid nodules and growth of goiterrs. See more:  First Poem for You Essay Levothyroxine may increase the effect of blood thinners such as warfarin. Therefore, monitoring of blood clotting is necessary, and a decrease in the dose of warfarin may be necessary. AsprinUsed to relive minor aches and pains such as headaches. It can be also used to thin the blood to reduce the possibility of a blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. Aspirin use has been shown to increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding2 Medication that demands the measurement of specific psychological measurements includes :Spironolactone – blood pressure Furosemide- blood  pressure Digoxin – blood pressure Warfarin – INR blood test 3 Common side effects to medication include: Side effects How can be recognised Actions required Weight gain Visual and my weighing Diet control Constipation Not being able to pass a bowel motion LaxitivesDrowsiness Person being very sleepy Rest until drowsiness wears off Rashes Visual appearance on the skin Stop medication and consult GP Vomiting Person is vomiting Consult GP DiahorreaPerson having loose bowlesSeek advice from GP Swelling Swelling of limbs face ectStop medication and consult GP Breathing difficulties Person finding in difficult to breath Ring 999 4 Different routes of medicine administration: Oral – tablets, capsules, liquids etc. These are swallowed by the person. Sublingually – tablets or liquids are administered under the tongue for speed of absorption. Inhalation administration – this is breathed in through the nose or mouth so its delivered straight into where it is most needed i.e. the lungs. Intramuscular (IM) injection administration – injected into large muscles onto the body e.g. legs, bottom. Can only be performed by a trained doctor or nurse.Intravenous (IV) injection administration – administered directly into the veins so it is rapidly absorbed into the body.Subcutaneous injection – medicine is injected directly under the skin, most common type of medicine injected in this way is insulin. Instillation administration – these can be a suspension or liquid and can be administered in a number of ways via ear nose or eyes. Rectal Administration – these are usually suppositories and are absorbed into the body quickly by this route. Vaginal administration – only really used to treat conditions in the vagina such as thrush Topical application administration – creams, ointments and gels are applied to the skin. Transdermal patch – this is applied the skin for slow absorption into the body. Explain the types, function and purpose of equipment and materials used when administering medication. Type Purpose and function Gloves They protect the skin and stops cross contamination Aprons They protect cloth and create a barrier which helps prevent cross contamination Sharps bin This is used for the safe disposal of needles etc. Needles These are available in an array of sizes so they are specific to the function and resident using them. They are used to inject insulin into diabetics Syringe These are available in different sizes and are used to obtain the correct amount on medication. Medication pots These are used to safely transport and hold the medication before being administered to the resident. Monitored dosage system (MDS) This is system pharmacists use to dispense medicines and must be used with accordance to the MAR record. inhalers You can also compliance aids such as Aerochambers to aid to inhale the medicine correctly. The required information on prescriptions and medications charts include: The name or names and address of the patient or patients. The name and quantity of the drug or device prescribed and the directions for use. The date of issue. Either rubber stamped, typed, or printed by hand or typeset, the name, address, and telephone number of the prescriber, his or her license classification, and his or her federal registry number, if a controlled substance is prescribed. Strength The time the medication should be administered. Outcome 4 In order to ensure I follow standards to prevent infection control I must make sure that I wash mu hands before and after each resident. You should always wear gloves if you run the risk of handling them inadvertently if they are cytotoxic. Medicines should always be stored in a clean and tidy environment. All medication a resident takes will be recorded on the MDS chart and all staff trained in administering medication will know how to record and understand the MAR charts. If resident B requests some pain relief you should always refer to the MDS chart to see what type of pain relief medication they are taking. It will also state how often they can have the medication and by what route the medication should be given. When preparing medication you should always refer to the MDS chart as it will tell you the exact time that the resident had their last pain relief. If it is ok to give the resident the medication then you should prepare the medication and then take it straight to the person. You should then immediately record the transaction onto the MDS chart either by signing it to say that the medicine has been taken or recording the reason for non-administration. This is done be a code described on the MDS chart. You have to obtain the residents consent before administering them their medication. They must know what the medication they are taking and have the right to refuse medication. The resident may ask what their medication is for and I must give them this information. If a resident is not capable of making an informed choice i.e. the resident has got a mental illness and it is essential that that resident has their medication then it may have to be administered covertly (hidden or disguised in food) this must only be done after discussion with a doctor. All medication for each individual resident will be stored in MDS and are clearly labelled so selecting to correct medication is easier. After selecting all the correct medication with accordance to the MDS chart you should then check you have the correct type and dosage against the MDS chart. If any medicines have to be prepared for example having 10mls of lactulose you should ensue you prepare the correct amount them double check the amount against the MDS chart. There are different routes for administering medication. You should always read the label of medication to ensure that are administering it in in the correct way. If you are giving insulin to a resident it is important to  alternate sites of injection, so you must look in their insulin record book to see which site was used for the last injection. You must also make sure that the site is clean before you inject. You must ensure that you give the correct medication at the correct dose by the correct route at the correct time with agreed support. You must always use the medication system in place at the home and make sure that medication is given as stated on the MDS charts. My doing this you will stay in line with legislation and the homes policies. There may be immediate problems when administering medication which have to be resolved and reported such as: Missed medication – the medication may have been missed as the resident was asleep, or because they go out regular social events. If they miss their medication on a regular occasion that you should talk to their GP or pharmacist to see if their medication regime can be changed so it is more suited therefore they do not miss medications. Spilt medication – this may occasionally happen you may knock over a resident dispersible aspirin, if this happens you should give them the last dose from the MDS blister pack and record to say why this is missing. A person decides not to take prescribed medication – you must find out why the person is choosing not to take their medication. You can explain the side effects if the person does not take their medication but you cannot force then to take it. You must inform their GP of their wishes not to take the medication. Wrong medication used – mistakes can happen in social care especially if poor systems are in place. If a medication error has been made you must follow the correct procedures. You must seek advice from a doctor to make sure the medication that has been given in error does not react with any other medication that the resident is taking. You must them fill out an incident report. Adverse reaction – these may occur when a resident takes any medicine. They may have been taking the medication for a short or long time before that reaction happens. It is important to document the reaction when it occurs and inform the doctor. All of the above must be reported to the senior member on shift and also recorded in their care notes. When administering medication you must monitor the resident throughout so you can observe if any adverse reaction are taking place. If any adverse reactions are taking place you must take the appropriate action depending on the type of reaction. This must then also be recorded in their care notes and their doctor will also have to be informed. It is necessary to confirm that the resident has taken their medication and does not pass it on to others as the medication if taken by another resident may be harmful to them. The resident if they have mental health issues may not realise that the medication is only for them to take and may believe them to be sweets. You must also ensure they take them so that you can sign the MDS chart or else you cannot correctly sing the chart as you are signing to say they have took the medication. You should only leave medication with a resident if a risk assessment has been carried out. All medication must be stored in a locked dry room. The room must not be above 25 °Ã¡ ¶Å" to ensure that they are stored within their product licences and their stability is maintained. The MDS chart must also be stored in a locked cupboard as all information about a resident medication is confidential. The drugs trolley’s whilst in use must be kept in good vision in order to maintain security. After each medication round the trolleys must be locked up in the locked cupboard at the senior member on shift should hold the keys to this room in order to maintain security. Any out-of-date and part used medication must be sent back in the correct way in accordance to your MDS. All medication must be counted and recorded on the medication returns record. You have to record which resident’s medication it is, what strength, the amount being returned and the reason for disposal. Two members of staff have to sign and count the medication being returned, the pharmacist then collects the medication and will return the receipt that the homes keeps to record that the medication has been returned.