Medication Management {legalities}

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Specializes in Childhood TLC.

Hi Australian Nurses...

I did originally post this over on the Student's tab for nursing assignments but thus far, no assistance, and so thought I"d repost here under Australia/NZ to see if anybody suitably qualified might help me.

I'm really anxious to get on top of this subject.

anyway, here goes

This thread is particularly directed to Australian Standards, but any info might help me.

I'm doing my Enrolled Nursing {LPN} Medication Management Modules under self directed learning.. and well, it appears I missed the gist of my assignment queston of "describe your legal responsibilities as an EN with respect to medication managment"

How far wrong can I go with 'do no harm'?? {seriously, I did put more than that}

anyway, can anybody offer any suggestions as to where I might "find the path" of what I'm really supposed to be addressing, as I made comments about law and it's definition, medication and it's definition, scope of practice, the six principles of ethics and the Nursing code of Ethics...

I have an appt to meet my lecturer, but just wondering if anybody else has ever had this dilema or been unable to get their 'head wrapped around' a subject? :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Hi,

Whilst I did not do my training in Australia, what I take out of it is that it is asking you to describe the legal aspect with enrolled nursing and medication management

i.e, supervision by a RN, working in your scope of practice, reporting, documentation etc. but focusing on the key thing of making sure your practicing legally within your scope.

hope that helps

Good luck

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Specializes in Medical.

I agree with Kiwi - the question seems to be asking for what is legally required of you when administering drugs. This would include things like being appropriately supervised, knowing what you're administering and why, knowing when to withhold drugs and what to do if you make that decision, and a significant emphasis on scope of practice.

You seem to have put a lot of emphasis on ethics, which might be part of the issue. By "the six principles of ethics" did you mean the principles of bioethics (autonomy, justice, beneficence and non-maleficence - do no harm) or the rights of drug administration (right: dose, drug, time, route, patient, clinical scenario)? Because I don't think the former are really relevant in this context, and the latter aren't principles so much as requirements.

Until I did marking of assignments, essays and exams I had no idea how clear it can be that someone either doesn't know an answer or hasn't got a clear picture of the relevant points. It may be that including so many different aspects has caused your marker to think that you couldn't distinguish between what was relevant and important and what wasn't, and that's part of the point of the assignment.

Hope that's helped. Good luck!

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Specializes in Childhood TLC.

Firstly, sorry it's taken so long to return to this medium, it's been a hectic few weeks.

I was focusing on 'ethics' and principles... but it appears that's not what it was about. Aaargh, dumb me.

After review with my lecturer {well the person authorised to mark my paper}... it is confirmed it is the 'legalities' around administration or drugs, scope of practice and in general being a enrolled nurse...

things to follow on were OSH things such as PPE and precautionary measures, self development and ongoing learning, Safe Administration under acts such as poisions, nurses acts and regulatory bodies etc...

We will be having extra review tomorrow, but my general complaint with 'lecturers' was that when I indicated I was having trouble 'wrapping my head around what was wanted' all they did was simply 'shrug shoulders' and indicate couldn't help me. {this has since been addressed}

Thank you for your clarifications...

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Specializes in Community, Renal, OR.

Hi,

Don't feel too bad, self directed learning can be quite tough as you are not receiving any face to face time and often don't have the ability to discuss things with fellow students. But hang in there, endorsed EN's are in big demand in all sectors of the healthcare industry, acute, aged and community. Good luck,

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Specializes in Childhood TLC.

Thanks for that vote of confidence Joanne, I needed that.

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