Requirements
Only individuals administering medications in a skilled nursing facility (SNF), assisted living center (ALC), and hospital are registered.
Nurse Delegation & Supervision Requirements
- A licensed nurse must delegate the tasks of medication administration to a qualified medication aide.
- Prior to delegating medication administration, a nurse must ensure that the medication aide has met all training and competency requirements; and is registered with the Board if in a SNF, ALC, or hospital.
- A licensed nurse is accountable to delegate and supervise the medication aide according to guidelines outlined in ARSD 20:48:04.01:01 and 20:48:04.01:02.
Medication administration tasks a nurse may delegate
- Administering scheduled medications by the following routes: oral, sublingual, eye, ear, nasal, rectal, topical, transdermal, vaginal, and inhalation;
- Measuring a prescribed amount of liquid medication or crushing a tablet for administration, if a licensed nurse, physician, or pharmacist has calculated the dose; and
- Administering schedule II controlled substances that are prescribed and labeled in a container for a specific client.
Medication Aide Requirements
- Must have a minimum of a high school education or the equivalent (GED);
- Must have completed an approved 20-hour Medication Aide Training Program (MATP).
- If administering medications in a SNF, ALC, or hospital, must have passed the Board's medication aide exam and be listed on the Board's Medication Aide Registry.
Employer Responsibilities
- Accountable to maintain documentation of employee training and competency that is accessible to nursing staff.
- Accountable to ensure that if a medication aide administers medications in an ALC, SNF, or hospital, that the medication aide is listed on the Board's Medication Aide registry.