FINAL EXAM Pharmacology for the PSW 204
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS (GRADED A)
The PSW's Tasks - ANSWER Play an important role in giving care
Responsibilities are predicted to grow
More tasks of the RN/RPN will be delegated to the PSW
PSWs should understand clearly how to proceed in an organized way as they plan
care for clients.
Personal Support Worker Scope of Practice - ANSWER PSW Role &
Accountability
The Regulated Health Professions Act only identifies the acts that a non-regulated
health professional (such as a PSW) cannot do - or can only do in specific
circumstances
Under Common Law, all PSWs must act responsibly and exercise duty of care in all
acts
There are also the ethical obligations to avoid harm and promote good health
Medication Administration Issues - ANSWER Administering a medication by
one of the following methods is not a controlled act and may be legally done by a
PSW
Oral
Topical
Eye, ear, nose drops
Transdermal patches
,Exception
The Long Term Care Homes Act does not allow anyone who is not an RN/RPN, MD
to administer any medication in a long term care home
Nursing homes & homes for the aged
Not retirement or rest homes
Remember - ANSWER Even if you are legally able to perform an act, your
employer may not allow you to do it, or to do it only under certain circumstances
Not all potentially harmful acts are controlled acts eg. passive range of motion,
chest clapping
NO act is safe if you have not been trained to do it
NO act is safe if you perform it incorrectly
Your Responsibilities - ANSWER To know what your scope of practise is: As
defined by legislation or regulation
As defined by your employer
To ask for and receive the information you need to assist a client
To ensure that you are: Competent
Current
Comfortable
,Have practiced and had any
questions answered
Medications - ANSWER Medications are drugs and other substances used to
prevent or treat diseases or illness
Self-directed medication management
Taking medications independently
Support workers may be responsible for assisting a client with his or her
medication
This must be specifically in your job description and within your scope of practice
for your province
Scope of Practice - ANSWER Assisting vs Administering Medications
Assisting - involves helping clients to self-medicate
Handing them their medications, opening bottles
Administering - involves measuring medications, getting them into the person's
body
Requires judgement and knowledge
If you are asked to administer medication, it is your employer's responsibility to
ensure that you are formally trained, supervised, and monitored
Scope of Practice depends on
Your provincial or territorial legislation, employer policy, your training and
education
, Support workers are not responsible for monitoring the outcome of drug therapy
Support worker must observe for and report any changes in the client's condition
or behaviour
Nurse or pharmacist teaches the client about the medications
Canadian Acts and Regulations - ANSWER PSWs have a role standard which
says "personal support workers do for a person the things that the person would
do for themselves, if they were physically or cognitively able".
There is a great deal of variation around the kind of care PSW's provide, with
some PSWs providing medical care such as changing wound dressings and
administering medication, and others providing 'only' personal care such as
bathing, transfers from bed and housework. What PSWs can and cannot do varies
based on their training, supervision and employer policies.
REMEMBER - ANSWER Make certain:
The act is routine for the person
The outcomes expected are known
You are competent, current and comfortable with the act and the background
knowledge
Your agency permits you to perform the act
You have received instruction on the act with each client for whom you perform
the act, even if you've done it before
You know when and by whom your performance will be monitored
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