Content Outline

North Carolina - Medication Aide (Nursing Home)

Authorized Duties (10% of test content)

A. Roles, responsibilities, legal aspects, and limitations of Medication Aides:

1. Authorized duties for a Medication Aide, including:
Permitted routes of medication administration: oral, eye, ear, nasal, inhalant, transdermal, topical, vaginal, and rectal.
Prohibited routes: subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, and intravascular injections and medications via tubes and ostomies.
2. Medication Aide's responsibility for reporting to a nurse.
3. How to address conflict with role and authorized duty issues.

4. Medication Aide role under state regulations:

Completed an NC Board of Nursing approved course
Completed a state-approved competency examination
Listed on NC Medication Aide Registry

Medication Administration (80% Of Test Content)

A. Administering and charting medications:
1. Medication packaging
2. Preparation and administration of medications by approved routes

3. Special Circumstances for administering medications:

Liquid medications
Cutting medications
Crushing medications
Difficulty swallowing
Administering medications to children
Allergies

4. Correct medication administration procedure (Six rights)

Right client
Right medication
Right dose
Right route
Right time
Right documentation

5. Client medication rights, including the right to confidentiality and the right to know and refuse medications

6. Client safety and error prevention

7. Appropriate communication with supervising licensed nurse

8. Infection control procedures including standard precautions

9. Use of Medication Administration Record (MAR) to:

Administer medications; and
Document medication administration

10. Medication errors and reporting techniques

11. Auditing and inventory systems

Controlled substance counts
Disposition of unused or contaminated medications

Medication Concepts (10% of Test Content)

1. Concepts in administration of medications
Commonly used abbreviations
Terminology and definitions