1.
|
Nurses perform only those medication-related activities as allowed by:
|
|
|
a.
|
Relevant provincial or federal legislation or regulations,
|
|
|
b.
|
BCCNM standards, limits, and conditions,
|
|
|
c.
|
Organizational/employer policies and processes, and
|
|
|
d.
|
The nurse’s individual competence.
|
|
2.
|
Nurses follow relevant provincial or federal legislation or regulations, organizational/employer policies and processes, and BCCNM standards, limits, and conditions when performing any
medication related activity3.
|
|
3.
|
Nurses use current evidence to support their decision-making about medications and their medication practices.
|
|
4.
|
Nurses follow infection prevention and control principles when performing medication-related activities.
|
|
5.
|
Before performing any medication-related activity, nurses know the medication’s:
|
|
|
a.
|
Therapeutic use/indications,
|
|
|
b.
|
Expected effects,
|
|
|
c.
|
Dosage(s),
|
|
|
d.
|
Precautions,
|
|
|
e.
|
Contraindications,
|
|
|
f.
|
Form (e.g. tablet, liquid), and route for administration,
|
|
|
g.
|
Interactions,
|
|
|
h.
|
Side effects, and
|
|
|
i.
|
Adverse effects.
|
|
6.
|
Nurses assess the appropriateness of the medication for the client before administering, dispensing, or prescribing a medication.
|
|
7.
|
Nurses assess and respect the client’s values, beliefs, personal preferences, language, learning needs, abilities, mental state, and level of understanding, to support the client (or their substitute decision-maker) to be an active participant in making informed decisions about the medication.
|
|
8.
|
Nurses educate the client (or their substitute decision-maker) about the medication they are receiving, including, as applicable:
|
|
|
a.
|
The reason the client is receiving the medication,
|
|
|
b.
|
The expected action of the medication,
|
|
|
c.
|
The duration of the medication therapy,
|
|
|
d.
|
Specific precautions or instructions for the medication,
|
|
|
e.
|
Potential side-effects and adverse effects (e.g. allergic reactions) and action to take if they occur,
|
|
|
f.
|
Potential interactions between the medication and certain foods, other medications, or substances,
|
|
|
g.
|
Handling and storage requirements,
|
|
|
h.
|
Recommended follow-up.
|
|
9.
|
Nurses identify the effect of their own values, beliefs, and experiences on their clinical decision-making about medication-related activities; recognize potential conflicts and take action for the client’s needs to be met.
|
|
10.
|
Nurses take action when a medication does not seem:
|
|
|
a.
|
Appropriate, because the client’s condition, needs, or wishes have changed,
|
|
b.
|
Evidence-informed, or
|
|
c.
|
Reflective of the client’s individual needs, characteristics, values/beliefs, or personal preferences.
|
11.
|
Nurses collaborate, communicate, and/or consult with the health care team in making decisions about medication-related activities, including:
|
|
a.
|
Consideration of the broader plan of care for the client developed by the health care team,
|
|
b.
|
The follow-up needed with respect to medication when the client’s care is transferred to another health professional, or when the client transfers to another clinical or care setting or to their home,
|
|
c.
|
When the client’s care would benefit from the expertise of other health care professionals,
|
|
d.
|
When the needs of the client exceed the nurse’s individual competence or scope of practice, and
|
|
e.
|
Documenting the plan of care.
|
12.
|
When a pharmacist has not reviewed and verified a medication’s pharmaceutical and therapeutic suitability, or if it is unclear whether this has occurred, nurses take steps to ensure pharmaceutical and therapeutic suitability before administering or dispensing a medication by:
|
|
a.
|
Reviewing the client’s best available medication history and other personal health information,
|
|
b.
|
Assessing the client’s known allergies and ensuring medication allergy information is documented,
|
|
c.
|
Considering potential medication interactions, contraindications, therapeutic duplications, side effects, adverse effects, and any other potential problems,
|
|
d.
|
Using current, evidence-informed resources to support their clinical decision-making, and
|
|
e.
|
Considering the client’s ability to follow the medication regimen.
|
13.
|
Nurses administer, dispense, or prescribe medications only for clients under their care, except in an emergency.
|