This document provides training on assisting clients with medication. It discusses preparing to assist with medication by establishing one's scope of practice and identifying lines of authority. It also covers preparing the client, correctly identifying each client, checking medications, recognizing when administration should not proceed, overseeing ingestion, reporting inconsistencies, completing documentation, and storing records appropriately. The goal is to provide the skills and knowledge to safely and properly assist clients with their medication needs.

1. Assist with medications
Training
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2. WELCOME
Welcome to Assist clients with medication.
 This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare for and
provide medication assistance, and complete medication documentation.
 It also involves supporting a client to self-administer medication.
 This unit applies to community services and health workers with authority
as per state or territory to assist with the administration of medication.
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3.  Prepare to assist with medication
 Prepare the client for assistance with administration of medication
 Support clients with administration of medication
 Handle medication contingencies
 Complete medication distribution and documentation
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4. Disclaimer:
The information contained in these study resources is intended as a general guide only, and the application of
the information should be considered for each person’s individual circumstances. The presentation is intended
for educational purposes only and does not replace independent professional judgment. The materials provided
in this presentation and any comments or information provided by the presenter are only for educational
purposes, and nothing conveyed or provided should be considered legal. Any information given during this
presentation by us does not constitute an endorsement of any product or organisation.
Please note that no responsibility is taken by us for any kind of harm to person or property arising from the
information contained in this presentation and study material. No responsibility is accepted by us for the
consequences of any omission or inaccuracy of information contained in this presentation.
All presentation materials cannot be published, copied or disseminated without prior approval and are for
student and faculty use only.
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5. Medication
 A substance intended to affect the structure or any function of the body
- Prescribed medication
- Over the counter medication
- Complementary medications; homeopathic and naturopathic
Consumers frequently use complementary medicines in combination with
conventional medicines
https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/drug-interactions-with-complementary-medicines-1
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6. Drug interactions
Complementary medicine Interacting drug Possible outcome
Black cohosh Cisplatin ↓ cytotoxic effect
Hepatotoxic drugs e.g. high-dose
paracetamol, alcohol
↑ risk of hepatotoxicity
CYP2D6 substrates e.g. amitriptyline ↑ substrate levels and
drug effect
Calcium Quinolone antibiotics, sotalol,
tetracycline, thyroxine
↓ drug effect
Celery seed Thyroxine ↓ drug level and effect
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7. Medical terminology
• Doctors use lots of medical
terminology and abbreviations
which can be confusing and difficult
to understand if you have no
medical training (think of some of
the conversations you may have
heard in your favourite TV medical
drama!).
• To help reduce the number of
medication errors that occur
because of this, SA Health
developed a document called 'Spell
It Out'. Look in the resources for a
copy.

8. CONFIRM THAT EQUIPMENT AND ALL FORMS OF MEDICATION TO BE ADMINISTERED
ARE COMPLETE, READY FOR DISTRIBUTION AND UP TO DATE
 It is essential that a community services worker confirms that equipment
and all forms of medication to be administered are complete, ready for
distribution and up to date.
 Read the following basic medication terminology such as OD, BD, TDS,
QID, PRN, and practice using this in your day-to-day work related to
medication administration; please click the below link and explore
medication terminology
 https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/Recomm
endations-for-terminology-abbreviations-and-symbols-used-in-
medicines-December-2016.pdf
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9. How
medications
work in the
body

10. Enteric coated medications (EC)
 Enteric coated tablets are tablets that are coated with an enteric coating. Enteric
coatings are polymers that are put on certain tablets to prevent them from
dissolving in acid. Your stomach is very acidic, and some drugs need to be
protected from the acid in your stomach in order to work properly in your bod
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11. Active ingredients vs brand name

12. MEDICATION
While medicines make a significant contribution to preventing
and treating disease, increasing life expectancy and improving
quality of life, they also have the potential to cause harm. It has
been shown that inappropriate or incorrect use of medicines
can have an adverse effect on health.
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13. Schedules of medication
• Have you noticed that you can buy some
medications in the supermarket without
anybody asking any questions or giving you
any advice but there are other medications
that you can only get if you go and speak to
your doctor? Do you know why there is a
difference in how you can buy medications?
• The TGA uses a national classification
system to control how medications are
made available to the public. Medications
are classified into the schedule depending
on the level of control required to keep the
public safe. In South Australia the
availability of medications to the public is

14. S4 Medications
 Schedule 4 substances (prescription-only medicines) that have common
therapeutic uses, but are also liable to abuse, misuse and diversion, warranting
more stringent controls on possession and supply. These substances are referred
to under the Regulation as prescribed restricted substances, and are also more
commonly referred to as Schedule 4 Appendix D (S4D) medicines. Whereas most
benzodiazepines are Schedule 4 poisons; flunitrazepam and alprazolam are
classified as Schedule 8 poisons.
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15. S8 Medications
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16. PREPARE TO ASSIST WITH
MEDICATION
 Establish scope of own ability to provide assistance with medication according to
organisation guidelines and jurisdictional regulatory requirements
Please note: Insuline, subcut inj. anoxaprin
 The term scope of practice refers to providing the level of care, and fulfilling the
roles and responsibilities that you have been trained and deemed competent to
provide.
 A community services worker’s scope of practice differs according to the
jurisdiction (i.e. country or state / territory) in which they practice.
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17.  As a community services or health worker, your scope will also be
determined by the guidelines of your organisation and jurisdictional
regulatory requirements which underpin these.
 Relevant Commonwealth and state/ territory legislation relevant to you,
and which you must work within, may include:
 That regarding medication administration, including the Drugs &
Poisons Act
 Disability Services Acts
 Aged Care Act
 Duty of care
 Work health and safety
 Standard and additional infection control precautions
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18. IDENTIFY LINES OF AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE THE TASK, ACCOUNTABILITY AND
ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO HANDLE CONTINGENCIES
 It is important that community services workers identify ‘lines of
authority’ to delegate tasks related to medication administration.
 The term ‘lines of authority’ refers to the order of people who are able to
authorise certain tasks, including medication administration.
 It is also essential that community services workers recognise
accountability in medication administration.
 In addition to lines of authority and accountability, it is essential that
community services workers are aware of the actions to be taken to
handle contingencies.
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19. PREPARE THE CLIENT FOR ASSISTANCE WITH ADMINISTRATION OF
MEDICATION
 Clarify specific assistance required to address personal needs of each client
 It is important to remember that you have a duty of care which makes you
responsible, within reason, for the wellbeing and comfort of your client throughout
all tasks that you conduct with them
 It is important that community services workers clarify the specific assistance
required to address personal needs of each client
 Clarifying the specific assistance a client may require ensures that you are able to
address their personal needs in a safe and effective way
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20. Prepare the person for assistance with administration
of medication
Prepare the person for assistance with administration of medication Some medication
assistance tasks will be completed quite quickly and with little time or effort. The person
might need to reach a drink or to sit upright and be able to manage this on their own.
Other tasks will involve further consideration of the person’s needs and how you can assist
them. This can include ensuring the person’s comfort, privacy, access to equipment that
they will need, explaining the process and providing reassurance.
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21. CORRECTLY IDENTIFY AND GREET EACH CLIENT, EXPLAIN ADMINISTRATION
PROCEDURES AND PREPARE THEM FOR MEDICATION
 When preparing to assist a client with the administration of medication it is a
standard process to read all documentation and collect all relevant aids, equipment
and medication prior to approaching the client.
 When attempting to identify the correct client you will need to refer to
identification such as photographic identification of the client in client cards and
perform visual recognition.
 Once you have identified and greeted each client, you should explain the
medication administration procedure and prepare the client for medication.
 It is also important that you conduct pre- and post- administration checks of the
client.
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22. CHECK INDIVIDUAL CLIENT MEDICATIONS ACCORDING TO ORGANISATION
PROCEDURES
 It is essential that prior to administering any medication to any client at any time, that the
medication is checked according to organisation procedures.
 Check every medication 3 times prior to administration
 There are five core ‘rights’ that you should check:
 Right patient?
 Right drug?
 Right dose?
 Right time?
 Right route?
5 Rights
Many health care organisations also recognise a sixth ‘right’ of medication administration.
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23. Medication Administration
 Drugs are introduced into the body by several routes. They may be
 Taken by mouth (orally)
 Given by injection into a vein (intravenously, IV), into a muscle (intramuscularly, IM), into the space
around the spinal cord (intrathecally), or beneath the skin (subcutaneously, sc)
 Placed under the tongue (sublingually) or between the gums and cheek (buccally)
 Inserted in the rectum (rectally) or vagina (vaginally)
 Placed in the eye (by the ocular route) or the ear (by the otic route)
 Sprayed into the nose and absorbed through the nasal membranes (nasally)
 Breathed into the lungs, usually through the mouth (by inhalation) or mouth and nose (by nebulization)
 Applied to the skin (cutaneously) for a local (topical) or bodywide (systemic) effect
 Delivered through the skin by a patch (transdermally) for a systemic effect
 Each route has specific purposes, advantages, and disadvantages.
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24. Medication Administration
Support worker need to reads the CLIENT MEDICATION CARE PLAN PRIOR to assisting with
medications.
All of the following must be checked:
 Name of the person.
 Allergies
 Name of the drug.
 Dosage prescribed.
 Time/frequency to be taken.
 Route of administration.
 Any special instructions i.e. before meals.
 Doctor signature including expiry of the medications.
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25. Common routes of administration:
Route of Administration Definition Approved Abbreviation
Oral Administration of a drug via the mouth. PO (per oral)
Sublingual Administration of a drug under the tongue. S/L, subling
Rectal Administration of a drug via the rectum. PR (per rectum)
Parenteral Administration of a drug via subcutaneous (into the tissue under the skin) or intramuscular (into a muscle). Im/ S/C
Inhalation Administration of a drug via breathing into the lungs. Respir
Intranasal Administration of a drug via the nose. Nasal
Ocular Administration of a drug into the eye. I-ocul
Aural Administration of a drug into the ear. Otic
Topical Administration of a drug onto the surface of the body. Topic, cutan, ung(ointment)
Pessary / douche Administration of a drug via the vagina. Vagin, PV (per vagina)
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26. DOCUMENTATION
Documentation is an essential aspect of practice for health care
professionals; indeed, completing accurate, comprehensive patient
documentation is a legal, ethical and professional practice requirement for
health care workers in Australia.
It is important to remember that patient records are also legal documents.
In addition to checking medication documentation, you should check the
client’s medications in other ways (as per your organisation’s procedures).
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27. RECOGNISE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION SHOULD NOT
PROCEED AND SEEK ADVICE OF SUPERVISOR OR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
 It is essential that community workers recognise circumstances in
which medication administration should not proceed.
 If you recognise circumstances in which medication administration should
not proceed, it is essential that you seek the advice of your supervisor or
health professional.
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28. OVERSEEING MEDICATION INGESTION
 It is necessary for health and community services workers to oversee and
observe clients when taking medication and confirm with them the ingestion of
medication or completion of medication administration.
 Indeed, there are many reasons that you should watch exactly what goes on
from start to finish when supervising a client’s medication.
 In any case, if you are going to sign a document that states that you are sure the
client did, in fact, take the correct dose at the correct time as required then you
need to be sure that they did.
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29. Medication Allergic Reactions
Medication Triggers of Severe Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis)
https://allergyfacts.org.au/resources/videos-from-a-aa#epiadmin
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30. Severe Allergic Reactions
How to give an EpiPen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROqxy9Gm4OM
How to Administer an Anapen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz5w9iRlh9Q
Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia
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31. PROMPTLY REPORT ANY INCONSISTENCIES OBSERVED WITH THE MEDICATION OR
CLIENT TO THE SUPERVISOR OR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
 When working with a client in order to provide them with assistance in relation
to medication, it is extremely important that if you notice any inconsistencies in
either the medication or the client, you notify your supervisor and the most
appropriate health professional for the situation.
 As noted throughout this unit, inconsistencies related to the client could
include:
 Physical conditions
 Behavioural state
 Demonstrating new symptoms or potential side effects
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32. COMPLETE MEDICATION DISTRIBUTION AND DOCUMENTATION
 Discard waste products according to organisation’s procedures
and manufacturer’s instructions and collect used equipment,
discarded medications/applicators and rubbish and place in
appropriate/designated receptacle according to instructions.
 Health and community services workers must discard waste
products related to medication administration according to
organization’s procedures and manufacturer’s instructions.
 Waste items are placed in an appropriate waste container.
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33. Safe storage of medication
• As we learned earlier it is important to store medications correctly.
Heat, air, light and moisture can damage medication. Medications
must be kept safely locked away out of the reach of children to
prevent accidental ingestion. Each site is unique and consideration
needs to go into the safest most practical place to store
medications.

34. STORE MEDICATION CHARTS, CARE PLANS OR TREATMENT SHEETS ACCORDING
TO ORGANISATION PROCEDURES
 It is important for community services workers to store medication charts,
care plans or treatment sheets according to organisation procedures.
 The Privacy Act in Australia aims to ensure that the privacy and
confidentiality of all sensitive information pertaining to an individual is
protected.
 Amendments to the Privacy Act (1988) – the Privacy Amendment Act
(2000) – describe how services should treat their clients’ personal
information.
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35. Right response/evaluation
HSWs in the community are
expected to assess the health
child or assess the effects of
however staff may make
on what they see.
In a non-emergency staff can seek
advice from a health professional either
by calling the Poisons helpline on 131
126 or healthdirect on the 24 hour
helpline 1800 022 222.
Does your workplace have an incident
reporting process that you need to
follow? Who would you need to inform?

36. SUMMARY
Now that you have completed this unit, you should have the skills and
knowledge required to prepare for and provide medication assistance, and
complete medication documentation.
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37. References
 College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia. (ND). Medications: The nurse’s role in
dispensing, compounding and administering medications in British Columbia. Retrieved from
https://crnbc.ca/Standards/Lists/StandardResources/3Medications.pdf
 Griffith, R. & Davies, R. (2003). Accountability and drug administration in community care. British
Journal of Community Nursing, 8(2), 65-59.
 Hand Hygiene Australia. (2015). Five Moments for Hand Hygiene. Retrieved from
http://www.hha.org.au/home/5-moments-for-hand-hygiene.aspx
 Queensland Government Department of Health. (ND). Guideline: Hand Hygiene. Retrieved from
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhpolicy/docs/gdl/qh-gdl-321-1-1.pdf
 Therapeutic Goods Administration. (2015). The Poisons Standard. Retrieved from
https://www.tga.gov.au/publication/poisons-standard-susmp
 Victorian Government Department of Health. (2014). Drugs and Poisons Regulation in Victoria.
Retrieved from http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dpcs/agedcare-faq.htm
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38. References
 World Health Organization. (2020). Hand Hygiene. https://www.who.int/infection-
prevention/tools/hand-hygiene/workplace_reminders/en/
 SA Health. (2020).
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/Public+Content/SA+Health+Internet/
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2020).
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/
 The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2020). Medication Safety.
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/medication-safety
 The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2020). Patient Identification
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/communicating-safety/patient-identification
 The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2020). National Tall Man
Lettering List. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/medication-safety/safer-naming-
labelling-and-packaging-medicines/national-tall-man-lettering-list
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39. References
 Western Australian Government Department of Health. (2014). Operational Directives and
Information Circulars. Retrieved from
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/CircularsNew/circular.cfm?Circ_ID=13101
 World Health Organization. (2007). Standard Precautions in Health Care. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/EPR_AM2_E7.pdf
 Western Australian Government Department of Health. (2014). Operational Directives and
Information Circulars. Retrieved from
http://www.health.wa.gov.au/CircularsNew/circular.cfm?Circ_ID=13101
 NPS Medicine Wise. (2020). https://www.nps.org.au/
 The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). (2020). https://www.tga.gov.au/
 The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). (2020). Complementary medicines.
https://www.tga.gov.au/complementary-medicines
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40. References
 The Department of Health. (2020). Medicines.
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Medicines-2
 The Department of Health. (2020). Guiding Principle 9 – Disposal of Medicines.
https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/publications/publishing.nsf/Content/nmp-guide-medmgt-
jul06-contents~nmp-guide-medmgt-jul06-guidepr9
 Health Direct. (2020). Medicines. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/medicines
 Australian Resuscitation. (2020). The ARC Guidelines. https://resus.org.au/guidelines/
 Food Standards Australia New Zealand. (2020).
https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
 SA Health. (2020). Poisons.
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/condition
s/poisons/poisons
 SA Health. (2020). Regulations under controlled substances legislation.
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/condition
s/poisons/poisons
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41. References
 SA Health. (2020). Medication Terminology.
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/clinical+resources/clinical
+programs+and+practice+guidelines/medicines+and+drugs/medication+terminology/medication+terminology
 https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/medication-management-procedure.pdf
 Disability and Complex Care – Women's and Children's Hospital
 Access Assistant Program (AAP) – South Australia, Department for Education
 Information about Medicine administration standards – NPS MedicineWise
 Medication management – South Australia, Department or Education
 MSD Manuals
 Guiding Principles about Medication Management in the Community– Australian Government, Department of
Health
 National Medicines Policy Document– Australian Government, Department of Health
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