CBI Nursing Practice Standard Assignment 2022

Title of Nursing Practice Standard
Management of Medication in Aged Care
Background
Medication management for the elderly signifies a potential complex challenge
to health care practitioners. Majority of the people in residential aged care
facilities- RACFs need medication due to the various health conditions. RACFs
often need continuous support and management of each an individual medicinal
need, thus ensuring safety during medication management is essential (Sluggett
et al., 2017).
The elderly population are often at a greater risk of adverse drug reactions which
is increase don the occasion of drug being used. Patient s often discharged in
residential aged care centres are often at risk of developing a number of issues
related to medication management. Studies have shown that an average of 5-7
medication regimes occur during the hospitalization process this include
cessation and initiation of new medication regimes. There are various problems
related to medication management among the elderly. These entail factors such
as patient transfers, multiple drug prescriptions, poor quality transfer and
discharge of medications, delays in the supply of medication and lack accurate
drug chart information (Elliot & Booth, 2014).
Medication management in aged care entails the prescription of medicines which
complements health care products. The guiding principles which have been in
practice entails the principles management in residential aged care facilities
developed from the previous editions of the Australian National Medicines Policy
(Koria et al., 2018). The policy aimed at streamlining medication-related issues
and to enable health optimization and to facilitate quality use of medicines.
Quality use of medicines entails the use of medication to select the best
practices in maintaining the residential health state, managing any illness,
choosing suitable medicines and using medicines safely and effectively
(Pouranayatihosseinabad et al., 2018).
Medicines often make a critical contribution of prevention and managing
diseases and increasing the life expectancy thus improving the quality of life,
paradoxically, they can cause harm. Inappropriate usages of medication can
cause significant health effects on the general health care and there is a need for
CBI NURSING PRACTICE STANDARD ASSIGNMENT

quality use of medicine to minimize these harmful effects (Hillen, Vitry &
Caughey,2015).
The guiding principles of medication management in residential aged care aims
at the promotion of safe, quality use of drugs and effective medication
management. The crucial role of developing, implementing and evaluating local
polices and guidelines if often paramount to offer guidance.
The guiding principles in the development and advocating for partnerships and
systems is essential in achieving safe and quality use of medication
management. Engaging in stakeholder involvement is essential towards roles
and responsibilities in managing medication management. System approach
entails the development of behaviors and environment which supports quality
use of medicine. Medicinal use needs to be interlinked to residential aged care
management for continuous improvement of quality and risk management
initiatives and procedures for use. The principles laid need to focus on the
current basic practice and evidenced-based practices which apply to the
residential aged care settings. This account needs to realign on territorial laws
and regulations, professional practice guidelines and aged care quality standards
and requirements (Elliott & Ramachenderan et al., 2017).
Current Practice
Management of medicine regimens- Administration
Registered nurses are the appropriate person able to manage medicine
regime of older persons receiving aged care services and is essential
towards managing the quality of administration. Registered nurses are
competent and well trained to understand the therapeutic action of
medicines including reason for use, effects and recognition of adverse
reactions. Registered nurses use clinical judgment in assessing ho
medicine should be administered or with held based on consumer family
history, diagnosis, co-morbidities and health state. Under the supervision
registered nurses, enrolled nurses can administer medicines unless there
is notation on their registration which is contrary.
New Suggestion for Practice
Medication management for the aged care needs to ensure that registered
nurses and enrolled nurses need to administer drugs to the elderly as they have
comprehensive training, knowledge, and experience which is vital on the same
CBI NURSING PRACTICE STANDARD ASSIGNMENT

thus streamlining on specific role is essential in aged care services. In this
recommended practice the role of registered nurses and enrolled nurses entail;
Registered nurses
- They are educators and are aware of benefits and harm related to the use
of medicine and administration of safe medicine ad to monitor efficacy
and any adverse effects on the patient (Nantsupawat et al., 2016).
Enrolled nurses
- Enrolled nurses need to work under the supervision and direction of
registered nurses and need to practice within the required legislative
guideline (Lee et al., 2015).
All partners in the aged care drug management
- There is a need for medication use through appropriate problem existence
of when and where
- Identification of factors contributing to problems and initiating the needed
interventions
- Enhancing interventions on risks and benefits
- Fostering informed debate on the role of medicines
- Working in close partnerships with all those involved towards ensuring the
quality use of medicines for the aged care (Freund et al., 2015).
Rationale
The key research rationale for the aged care medication regime entails the
recognition of continuing and developing changes in the aged care sector with
regards to medicinal use and medication management. The elderly are frailer
especially when they are in the aged care facilities. Life expectancy is increasing
and more people need more support by outreach services to stay and live
longer. Statistics obtained in 2010, showed that 55% of the permanent cares
were above 85 years and 48 % were residing in respite care were above 85 years
(Lalic et al., 2016). Residents have been shown to require more care needs as
they experience complex health challenges. The increase and prevalence of
chronic diseases lead to the requisition of more complex health care needs. A
critical example is the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and dementia which
affect the majority of the complex care needs and affects the majority of
residents aged care residence (Wimmer et al., 2016). This call for increased
specialized services management on aspects of pain management increased
palliative care and end of life care management. In this way, the majority of the
CBI NURSING PRACTICE STANDARD ASSIGNMENT