Educational and Competency Requirements for The Administration and Supply of Medications by Nurses in Rural and Remote Areas

Following are the areas of responsibility that rural and remote nurses must accept if medication management is to become part of their legal practice.

Knowledge of Medicines:
Nurses should have contemporary knowledge of pharmacology for safe and appropriate nursing practice in rural and remote communities. The nurse also must have sound knowledge and skills relating to medications in their facility’s approved medication list. Another requirement is that the nurse should have reasonable access to and familiarity with the resources available for collaboration, consultation/reference in regards to the use of medications.
Relevant and appropriate clinical educational preparation and competency assessment will support best practice in the administration and supply of medication by registered nurses in rural and remote settings.

Knowledge of Law:
The nurse must have knowledge of the statutory and common laws, which govern medication use by registered nurses, for practice.

Civil laws, statutory acts and regulations establish the standard of the delivery of appropriate and safe care to patients. Knowledge of the legislative requirements is essential to ensure registered nurses’ practise within the law.

Assessment of Competency:
The practice of initiating, administering and supplying medications in rural or remote areas should be confined to registered nurses who have demonstrated competency in these areas.
An assessment of competency should include:

• Knowledge and skills for patient assessment and diagnosis
• An examination of medication knowledge.
• A test of competency in medication calculations.
• Knowledge of the medication schedules as they impact on clinical practice.
• A clinical/practical assessment of compliance with protocols in the practice context.

Knowledge of clinical assessment and medication use is essential to enable the nurse to make an informed decision about the initiation of safe and appropriate treatment. Competency in medication/IV calculations may reduce the risk of dose/rate errors. It is the nurse’s responsibility to have knowledge of current schedules to practise in accordance with the relevant legislation. Current literature indicates that a significant number of nursing students have serious numeracy skill deficits and that even if these skills are mastered, they can deteriorate if not continually exercised.