AHL 281 - Medicine Aide Training

8.2 Continuing Education Units (CEU). This course is not for Credit(s).

This course is designed to enable the CNA/GNA to learn how to independently and safely administer medication while working under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Topics to be covered include responsibilities and limitations of the certified medicine aide, drug standards, legislation concerning drug utilization, dosage forms and methods of drug administration, drug solutions and measurements, and drug classifications, related health problems, and patient care responsibilities in a skilled nursing facility.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. explain the state of Maryland regulations for Medicine Aide certification and recertification;
2. review major drug standards and legislation and discuss the legal responsibilities of the healthcare practitioner when dispensing medications ;
3. describe the major drug classification systems and differentiate among the various types of drug names;
4. evaluate the standard and online pharmacological references in use today;
5. classify the sources of drugs, examine their pharmacokinetic processes, and analyze the variables that affect drug actions and effects;
6. compare and contrast various drug forms, roots of delivery, and the supplies and techniques necessary for safe and appropriate administration;
7. interpret medication orders correctly and state the proper procedures for documenting drug administration and for reporting medication errors;
8. calculate and convert between dosages for a range, using the three systems of measurements and propose strategies to reeducate medication errors;
9. apply the principles that support the moral, ethical, and legal responsibilities of the healthcare practitioner in administering medication safely and accurately;
10. use drug abbreviations and symbols;
11. relate the drug administered to the health problem of the patient; and
12. prepare, administer, and document non-parenteral medication safely.