Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0940-05-46-.10 - MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

(1) Medications must be administered by licensed medical or licensed nursing personnel or other qualified staff under a protocol approved by medical staff. Qualified personnel under these rules means a certified or registered respiratory therapist, a radiological technologist, or certified physician assistant practicing within the scope of their professional license or certification.

(2) Qualified personnel must have access to medications at all times.

(3) Evidence of the current prescription of each medication taken by a service recipient must be maintained by the facility.

(4) The facility must ensure that prescription medications are taken only by service recipients for whom they are prescribed, and in accordance with the directions of a physician.

(5) All medication errors, medication reactions, or suspected inappropriate medication use must be reported to the Medical Director of the facility who will then report to the prescriber, if known.

(6) All direct service staff must be trained about medications used by the service recipient. This training must include information about the purpose and function of the medications, their major side effects and contraindications, and ways to recognize signs that medication is not being taken or is ineffective.

(7) Discontinued and outdated medications and containers with worn, illegible, or missing labels must be disposed of according to law.

(8) Schedule II medications must be stored in two (2) separately locked compartments at all times and be accessible only to staff in charge of administering medication.

(9) All medications and other medical preparations intended for internal or external human use must be stored in sanitary and secure medicine cabinets or drug rooms. Such cabinet or drug rooms must be kept securely locked when not in use and the key must be in the possession of the supervising nurse or other authorized staff. Locks in doors to medicine cabinets and drug rooms must be such that they require an action on the part of staff to lock and unlock.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0940-05-46-.10

Original rule filed July 31, 2008; effective October 14, 2008.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-4-103, 4-5-202, 33-1-302, 33-1-305, 33-1-309, 33-2-301, 33-2-302, 33-2-403, 33-2-404, and Executive Order Number 44 (February 23, 2007).