HLTENN007 Administer And Monitor Medicines And Intravenous Therapy

Administer and Monitor Medicines and Intravenous Therapy

Mariam

[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

Author Note

Administer and Monitor Medicines and Intravenous Therapy

Question 2

2.1

The Dangerous drug act (DDA) defines dangerous drugs to be the use or possession of any prescription narcotic. The ‘Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1927) defines the various kinds of drugs legally classified as dangerous, such as crude cocaine, medicinal opium, morphine, ecgonine, diacetylmorphine and othersCITATION NSW17 \l 1033 (NSW Health, 2017). Only a medical practitioner who is legally qualified is able to make use of such substances, when it is prescribed by an authorised practitioner and administer it in strict compliance with the directions CITATION Leg15 \l 1033 (Legislation Gov, 2015).

2.2

Legal requirements for storage of dangerous drugs of addiction include having restricted access to drug safes, cabinets and strong-rooms. No one is allowed to access the storage key other than authorised personnel CITATION SAH12 \l 1033 (SA Health, 2012). Any health service facility must ensure to store any drugs of addiction in a storage cabinet that is securely locked. The controlled substances legislation requires the transport and storage of drugs of addiction to comply with the ‘Code of Practice for the Storage and Transport of Drugs of Dependence’ CITATION NSW18 \l 1033 (NSW Health, 2018). 

2.3

Legal requirements for the documentation of dangerous drugs of addiction includes mentioning the correct packaging, labelling, and storage requirements to make sure that it is safely used and transported CITATION SAH17 \l 1033 (SA Health, 2017). Moreover, they should be contained within a package that clearly labels ‘SCHEDULE 8 – PLEASE CHECK CAREFULLY’. In addition, a packing slip, a multi-part document, which documents the package’s contents must also be properly attached with the package CITATION SAH12 \l 1033 (SA Health, 2012).

2.4

To administer Intra-Venous (IV) medications, each territory or state has its own legislation which outlines the management of poisons and drugs in different healthcare disciplines CITATION McE08 \l 1033 (McEwan, 2008). Enrolled Nurses cannot administer intravenous medicines if they have a notation, whereas those ENs without notation are allowed to administer IV medication if they have completed the educational requirements for IV medication administration. In certain cases, the EN's scope of practice can be expanded by pursuing further education CITATION NMB16 \l 1033 (NMBA, 2016).

2.5

In the case of Intramuscular Injections (IM), most states allow EN’s that are medication endorsed to administer drugs and substances through IM Injections CITATION Que05 \l 1033 (Queensland Nursing Council, 2005). Furthermore, medications by IM injections by ENs have to be done in close proximity to a medical practitioner or a registered nurse CITATION McE08 \l 1033 (McEwan, 2008).

2.6

EN’s who are medication endorsed are allowed by most states to administer drugs and medication through subcutaneous injections. Similarly, administration of substances through subcutaneous injections have to be done when a medical practitioner or registered nurse is in close proximity CITATION McE08 \l 1033 (McEwan, 2008). In the ACT, for example, EN’s are allowed by the Nursing Board to administer only Schedule 2 to 4 medication through subcutaneous injections CITATION ACT05 \l 1033 (ACT Nursing and Midwifery Board, 2005).

Question 3

In Victoria, substances classified under the drugs and poison legislations are regulated in the descending order of their legislative control, such as in Schedule 8, 4, 2 and 3 Poison standard. The Schedule 8 drugs and poison include strict legislative controls for medicines which include morphine, pethidine, fentanyl or other opioid analgesics. The Schedule 3 and 2 poisons are classified as pharmacist only medicine and may include over-the-counter local analgesics and anesthetics CITATION Hea184 \l 1033 (Health Vic, 2018). Any permits and licenses are regulated under the Drugs, Poisons, and Controlled Substances Act 1981. Only registered medical practitioners to use and possess medicine under lawful professional practice CITATION Hea182 \l 1033 (Health Vic, 2018).

Question 4

4.1

In the state of Victoria, poisons and drug legislated apply to those substances which are listed under the ‘Australian Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons’. These are classified as scheduled substances in which various legislative controls are formulated depending upon the risk they carry CITATION Hea183 \l 1033 (Health Vic, 2018).

4.2

The objectives of the State drugs and poisons act include regulating the prescription, use and supply of scheduled substances, laying authorisation rules for those allowed to possess particular scheduled substances, and providing requirements for storing these scheduled medicines CITATION Hea183 \l 1033 (Health Vic, 2018).

Question 5

The NSQHS provides guidelines and clear criteria's for controlling and preventing healthcare-associated infection standards. They require senior managers and clinical readers to implement these safety systems in their health facilities to manage these infections. The criteria for this purpose defined by the NSQHS include: Systems and governance for infection control, prevention and surveillance, control strategies for infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, managing patients with colonisation or infections, sterilisation, disinfection and cleaning, as well as communicating with carers and patients CITATION ACS12 \l 1033 (ACSQHC, 2012).

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY ACSQHC. (2012). National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. Sydney: Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. Retrieved from https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NSQHS-Standards-Sept-2012.pdf

ACT Nursing and Midwifery Board. (2005). Regulation Policy 5: Medication administration by enrolled nurses. Canberra: ACT: ACT Nursing and Midwifery Board.

Health Vic. (2018). Medicines and poisons regulation. Retrieved from Department of Health and Human Services Victoria State Government: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/drugs-and-poisons/drugs-poisons-legislation

Health Vic. (2018). New Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2017. Retrieved from Department of Health & Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Australia: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/drugs-and-poisons/drugs-poisons-legislation/regulation-guidance

Health Vic. (2018). Scheduled medicines. Retrieved from Department of Health & Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Australia: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/drugs-and-poisons/scheduled-medicines

Legislation Gov. (2015, December 2). Dangerous Drugs Act 1927. Retrieved January 28, 2019, from Australian Government: Federal Register of Legislation: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2015Q00116

McEwan, B. (2008). Defining the scope of practice of enrolled nurses in medication administration in Australia: A review of the legislation. Collegian, 15, 93-101. Retrieved from https://www.collegianjournal.com/article/S1322-7696(08)00026-7/pdf

NMBA. (2016, October). Fact sheet. Retrieved from Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/documents/default.aspx?record=WD10%2F1737%5Bv8%5D&dbid=AP&chksum=kGZLk7skelMKbw36%2Bv3Arg%3D%3D

NSW Health. (2017, August 7). Schedule 8 drugs - Drugs of addiction. Retrieved from NSW Government: Health: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/pages/drugs-of-addiction-sch8.aspx

NSW Health. (2018, November 23). Storage of a Schedule 8 medicine (drug of addiction) requiring refrigeration. Retrieved from NSW Government: Health: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pharmaceutical/Pages/refrigeration-s8s.aspx

Queensland Nursing Council. (2005). The scope of Practice Framework for Nurses and Midwives. Brisbane: Queensland Nursing Council.

SA Health. (2012). Code of Practice for the Storage and Transport of drugs of dependence. Department for Health and Ageing: Government of South Australia. Retrieved from https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/9c2649804ddcb87b901efe6d722e1562/CPSTDD%2Bfinal_20140416.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-9c2649804ddcb87b901efe6d722e1562-mgrkr7B

SA Health. (2017, February 27). Regulations under the controlled substances legislation. Retrieved from Government of South Australia: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/about+us/legislation/controlled+substances+legislation/regulations+under+the+controlled+substances+legislation