Medication administration

Published

  1. Should I question?

    • 4
      medication reminder
    • 0
      medication error

4 members have participated

I currently work for an assisted living facility that also has an independent living side. The job I have requires that I do a "medication reminder". This is I go to the independent living side and give medication that has been put in a daily medication box that has been set up by relatives (usually son or daughter). My question is I have no idea what medication I am giving. I do recognize a couple of pills. I brought up this to my DON and she still says it is a medication reminder. Any comments

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You should be fine.You are not dispensing the pills,you are just reminding them to take them.You don't need to know what they are.

Before I was a nurse I worked in the community and we did this all the time.As long as someone else had filled the pill box we could remind the person to take them.We just weren't allowed to get anything out of a bottle for them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i wouldn't touch them, point and remind.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i wanna get a job like yours :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
The job I have requires that I do a "medication reminder". This is I go to the independent living side and give medication that has been put in a daily medication box that has been set up by relatives (usually son or daughter). My question is I have no idea what medication I am giving.

You say you are "giving" them the meds, what do you mean by that? You have to be careful that you aren't administering. You are signing off just that you reminded them to take their meds not that you gave their meds. At my work we have some that self medicate all on their own and we don't have anything to do with it, others we have reminders like you are saying and others we actually fill their weekly medi-pack for them. For those residents we have a MAR that is signed off for each day that was filled, then we have a second person check it and sign off on it as well and then it is given to the resident and they self administer and may or may not have a reminder. Good luck!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

That sounds unsafe and very risky for your license. You cannot possibly know what's in those med boxes if you don't personally fill them, therefore you cannot administer them or sign for them as being 'given'. Residents who want to self-medicate, with or without family assistance need to be responsible for all of it, or none of it---and if you're issuing 'reminders', you still shouldn't be signing anything, as that will be taken to mean that you accept the responsibility for seeing that the meds have been taken. This is a bad deal all the way around. Don't do it. :no:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
i wouldn't touch them, point and remind.

I would not open the box for them either. If they can't open the box, then they are beyond self adminstration.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion