This standard applies to LPNs, NPs, RNs, and RPNs.Practice Standards set out requirements related to specific aspects of nurses’ practice. They link with other standards, policies and bylaws of the BC College of Nurses and Midwives and all legislation relevant to nursing practice. Show
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Medication practice standard outlines nurses'1 accountabilities for providing safe nursing care to clients when performing activities involving medication. “Medication” refers to Schedule I, IA, II, III, and unscheduled drugs as defined in the provincial Drug Schedules Regulation under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act (PODSA). Nurses have the authority to administer, dispense, and compound certain medications under the Nurses (Licensed Practical) Regulation, the Nurses (Registered) and Nurse Practitioners Regulation, and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Regulation. Nurses may administer, dispense, or compound medications to or for a client2 by:
Nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses also have the authority
to prescribe certain
medications within their autonomous scope of practice under the Nurses (Registered) and Nurse Practitioners Regulation, and the Nurses (Registered Psychiatric) Regulation. For specific scope of practice standards, limits and conditions related to administering, dispensing, compounding and/or prescribing medications, refer to BCCNM’s:
Employers provide the organizational supports and systems necessary for nurses to meet the Standards of Practice. PrinciplesAll Medication Related Activities
Medication Administration
Dispensing Medications
Preventing Medication Errors
Medication Inventory Management
Applying the principles to practice
Footnotes
back to top For which activity is the nurse responsible during the evaluation phase?Which activity is the nurse's responsibility during the evaluation phase of drug administration? Ongoing monitoring of the patient is necessary to evaluate the effect of the drug. Preparation and planning of outcomes are not done during the evaluation phase, and gathering a history is done before the evaluation phase.
What does the nurse do in each phase of the nursing process when administering medications?Knowledge of, and skill in, the nursing process is required for drug therapy as in other aspects of patient care. The five steps of the nursing process are assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning and establishing goals for care, interventions, and evaluation as it is applied to medication administration.
What are the nursing responsibilities in drug administration?Nurses' responsibility for medication administration includes ensuring that the right medication is properly drawn up in the correct dose, and administered at the right time through the right route to the right patient. To limit or reduce the risk of administration errors, many hospitals employ a single-dose system.
What actions does the nurse take during implementation phase of the nursing process related to drug therapy?In the implementation phase, the nurse intervenes on behalf of the patient to address specific patient problems and needs. This is done through independent nursing actions; collaborative activities such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and music therapy; and implementation of medical orders.
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