HLTHPS006

Application

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 in their state or territory to assist with the administration of medication.

Unit mapping information

No equivalent unit

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

Foundation skills

Numeracy—to calculate and check correct dosage of medication, expiry dates and client information. This includes basic calculations of ratios and volume.

Reading—to correctly check and interpret client information and dosage instructions.

The remaining foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Unit sector or competency field

None specified.

Prerequisite, co-requisite or interdependent assessment of units

None specified.

Assessment conditions

Skills must have be demonstrated in the workplace unless state or territory legislation prevents this occurring with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations have not been provided in the workplace. The following aspects of the performance evidence must have been demonstrated using simulation prior to demonstration in the workplace/with members of the general public

• consistently adhered to procedures and regulatory requirements for assisting with medication, including:
  • checked the care plan and confirming details
  • checked medication, including expiry dates and dosage instructions
  • confirmed client identity
  • calculated correct dosage
  • conducted pre and post administration client checks
  • cleaned equipment and disposed and stored medications according to organisation procedures
  • completed accurate documentation

The following conditions must be met for this unit:

• use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
  • placebo medication, administration equipment, charts and documentation
  • individualised plan
  • workplace policies and procedures

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

In addition, assessors must be a registered nurse or registered enrolled nurse or registered Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health practitioner.