Download medication endorsement for enrolled nurses

MEDICATION ENDORSEMENT
FOR ENROLLED NURSES
Administration of Medications by Enrolled Nurses
Only enrolled nurses who have completed a course
approved by the Nurses and Midwives Board may
administer medications including schedule 4 medications
(but not including drugs of addiction in accordance with the
Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act).
In administering medications, enrolled nurses must comply
with the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act and refer to a
valid order.
A valid order is one that satisfies the
requirements of the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act
and relevant NSW Health Department policies. Usually this
will be an order written and signed by a medical
practitioner, nurse practitioner, or dentist. Other forms of
prescription may be valid, for example a telephone order
may be valid if the circumstances satisfy requirements
identified in relevant NSW Health Department policies. A
label or other document prepared by a pharmacist is not a
valid order.
Enrolled nurses practise under the direction and supervision of registered
nurses or registered midwives. The extent and closeness of supervision is
decided by the registered nurse or registered midwife who is responsible for
directing and supervising an enrolled nurse.
In considering the level of
supervision required, the registered nurse or registered midwife will consider
factors such as the needs of the patient/client, the knowledge, skills and
experience of the enrolled nurse, the particular clinical activities being
undertaken, and the environment in which the enrolled nurse is working.
Endorsement by the Nurses and Midwives Board
To assist employers, the Nurses and Midwives Board will endorse the
authority to practise certificates of enrolled nurses who have completed an
approved education program.
Enrolled nurses who have completed
approved education programs will be issued a letter confirming endorsement
to administer medications and words to this effect will be added to their
authority to practise certificates, when next issued.
On completion of a course, which is approved to lead to enrolment and which
includes the specified medications content, applicants will be eligible for
medication endorsement when they are granted enrolment.
Persons
completing the TAFE Certificate IV in Nursing (Enrolled Nurse) course No
314, for which the first intake of students was in October 2003, will be eligible
for endorsement when enrolment is granted on successful completion of the
course.
Enrolled nurses, who completed earlier education programs leading to
enrolment, may undertake a post-enrolment course that is approved to lead to
medication endorsement.
Some courses may be designed for those who
already hold a Certificate IV or equivalent qualification as an enrolled nurse.
Enrolled nurses who were educated in earlier years in hospitals or TAFE
certificate courses will be required to upgrade to Certificate IV level as well as
undertake the preparation for medication administration, in order to be eligible
for endorsement. It is anticipated that one or more courses will be available
for this purpose.
On completion of an approved post-enrolment course, enrolled nurses may
submit an application form together with appropriate documentation certifying
completion of the course.
No fee is required.
Application forms are
available.
Applications under Mutual Recognition
Where an enrolled nurse is permitted to administer medications as part of
practice as an enrolled nurse in another Australian state or territory or in New
Zealand, the nurse will be able to lodge an application for endorsement under
mutual recognition legislation. Applicants must provide an application under
mutual recognition legislation and must provide a current practising certificate
for the other jurisdiction. Generally in these circumstances, the Board will
grant equivalent entitlement to that which the enrolled nurse has in the other
jurisdiction. Sometimes conditions may be applied in order to achieve
equivalence with practice in the other jurisdiction. If applicable, nurses will be
issued with authority to practise certificates with an endorsement such as
“medications endorsement, conditions apply - contact Registrar”. Nurses will
also receive a letter which states that they applied for endorsement under one
of the mutual recognition acts and the letter will state any conditions which
apply. Employers will be able to contact the Nurses and Midwives Board to
confirm the conditions or limitations that apply to an individual nurse's practice
in relation to medications administration.
Where medications endorsement is granted with conditions or restrictions, the
enrolled nurse may have the conditions lifted by successfully completing a
course approved by the Nurses and Midwives Board. In some cases it may be
possible to apply for credit or advanced standing when undertaking a further
course in New South Wales.
Attention Employers
Employers should be aware that, under the mutual recognition legislation, the
Board is required to grant equivalent practising entitlement to that which the
nurse has in the other jurisdiction. However the nurse might have been
granted that practising entitlement without completing an education program
of the standard that has been established in this State. Therefore, while
employers should check that an enrolled nurse has been granted
endorsement for medications administration and any conditions relating to
that endorsement, employers are advised also to ascertain the basis on which
that endorsement was granted and to confirm that the enrolled nurse has
knowledge and skills commensurate with employers' expectations.
Other applications
Where enrolled nurses have completed education programs, including
medication administration, in other states of Australia or in other countries,
applications under the Nurses and Midwives Act will be considered
individually. In order for the Board to consider an individual application for
endorsement, the enrolled nurse must lodge the approved application form
and provide documents clearly showing the relevant content of the education
program completed by the nurse.
The documents must show both that the education program satisfies the
requirements specified in Enrolled Nurse Education: Guidelines for the
Development of Educational Component in the Administration of Medications.
In this regard, documents must show that the curriculum included sufficient
scientific knowledge to enable students to understand the underlying condition
of clients/patients and the likely impact of the medication being administered.
It must also be shown that the curriculum included sufficient theory and
practice to enable students to understand and apply the principles of safe
medication administration by all routes, including drug calculations, relevant
anatomy and physiology, legal aspects, and pharmacology including
pharmacodynamics. Further, it must be demonstrated that there was
appropriate assessment of both theory and practice within the course.
Education Programs
Courses in Medication Administration for Enrolled Nurses.
Enrolled Nurse Education: Guidelines for the Development of Educational
Component in the Administration of Medications
Course Requirements for Enrolled Nurse Education