10A NCAC 13G .1004      MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

(a)  A family care home shall assure that the preparation and administration of medications, prescription and non-prescription and treatments by staff are in accordance with:

(1)           orders by a licensed prescribing practitioner which are maintained in the resident's record; and

(2)           rules in this Section and the facility's policies and procedures.

(b)  The facility shall assure that only staff meeting the requirements in Rule .0403 of this Subchapter shall administer medications, including the preparation of medications for administration.

(c)  Only oral solid medications that are ordered for routine administration may be prepared in advance and must be prepared within 24 hours of the prescribed time for administration. Medications prescribed for prn (as needed) administration shall not be prepared in advance.

(d)  Liquid medications, including powders or granules that require to be mixed with liquids for administration, and medications for injection shall be prepared immediately before administration to a resident.

(e)  Medications shall not be crushed for administration until immediately before the medications are administered to the resident.

(f)  If medications are prepared for administration in advance, the following procedures shall be implemented to keep the drugs identified up to the point of administration and protect them from contamination and spillage:

(1)           Medications are dispensed in a sealed package such as unit dose and multi-paks that is labeled with the name of each medication and strength in the sealed package. The labeled package of medications is to remain unopened and kept enclosed in a capped or sealed container that is labeled with the resident's name, until the medications are administered to the resident. If the multi-pak is also labeled with the resident's name, it does not have to be enclosed in a capped or sealed container;

(2)           Medications not dispensed in a sealed and labeled package as specified in Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph are kept enclosed in a sealed container that identifies the name and strength of each medication prepared and the resident's name;

(3)           A separate container is used for each resident and each planned administration of the medications and labeled according to Subparagraph (1) or (2) of this Paragraph; and

(4)           All containers are placed together on a separate tray or other device that is labeled with the planned time for administration and stored in a locked area which is only accessible to staff as specified in Rule .1006(d) of this Section.

(g)  The facility shall ensure that medications are administered within one hour before or one hour after the prescribed or scheduled time unless precluded by emergency situations.

(h)  If medications are not prepared and administered by the same staff person, there shall be documentation for each dose of medication prepared for administration by the staff person who prepared the medications when or at the time the resident's medication is prepared. Procedures shall be established and implemented to identify the staff person who prepared the medication and the staff person who administered the medication.

(i)  The recording of the administration on the medication administration record shall be by the staff person who administers the medication immediately following administration of the medication to the resident and observation of the resident actually taking the medication and prior to the administration of another resident's medication. Pre-charting is prohibited.

(j)  The resident's medication administration record (MAR) shall be accurate and include the following:

(1)           resident's name;

(2)           name of the medication or treatment order;

(3)           strength and dosage or quantity of medication administered;

(4)           instructions for administering the medication or treatment;

(5)           reason or justification for the administration of medications or treatments as needed (PRN) and documenting the resulting effect on the resident;

(6)           date and time of administration;

(7)           documentation of any omission of medications or treatments and the reason for the omission, including refusals; and

(8)           name or initials of the person administering the medication or treatment. If initials are used, a signature equivalent to those initials is to be documented and maintained with the medication administration record (MAR).

(k)  The facility shall have a system in place to ensure the resident is identified prior to the administration of any medication or treatment.

(l)  The facility shall assure the development and implementation of policies and procedures governing medication errors and adverse medication reactions that include documentation of the following:

(1)           notification of a physician or appropriate health professional and supervisor;

(2)           action taken by the facility according to orders by the physician or appropriate health professional; and

(3)           charting or documentation errors, unavailability of a medication, resident refusal of medication, any adverse medication reactions and notification of the resident's physician when necessary.

(m)  Medication administration supplies, such as graduated measuring devices, shall be available and used by facility staff in order for medications to be accurately and safely administered.

(n)  The facility shall assure that medications are administered in accordance with infection control measures that help to prevent the development and transmission of disease or infection, prevent cross-contamination and provide a safe and sanitary environment for staff and residents.

(o)  A resident's medication shall not be administered to another resident except in an emergency. In the event of an emergency, the borrowed medications shall be replaced promptly and that the borrowing and replacement of the medication shall be documented.

(p)  Only oral, topical (including ophthalmic and otic medications), inhalants, rectal and vaginal medications, subcutaneous injections and medications administered by gastrostomy tube and nebulizers may be administered by persons who are not authorized by state occupational licensure laws to administer medication.

(q)  Unlicensed staff may not administer insulin or other subcutaneous injections prior to meeting the requirements for training and competency validation as stated in Rules .0504 and .0505 of this Subchapter.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 131D-2.16; 131D-4.5; 143B-165;

Temporary Adoption Eff. December 1, 1999;

Eff. July 1, 2000;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2005;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. February 16, 2019.