The Enrolled Nurse Scope of Practice free essay sample

This publication is produced by Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) to assist registered, enrolled nurses and midwives understand the scope of practice of enrolled nurses, with particular reference to administration of medications. The information contained in this document is intended as guidance and is not a substitute for proper legal advice. Financial members of the Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) are able to access legal advice as a membership entitlement. Further information is also available on the NMBA website: www. nursingmidwiferyboard. gov. au CONTENTS Page 3 Page 4 Page 4 Page 5 Background Transitional Process Enrolled Nurse Scope of Practice Medication Administration – NMBA Approved Programs and Essentials units of study Medication Administration Qualifications for Enrolled Nurses Course Entry Level Criteria Integrating the Administration of Medicine Competencies into Enrolled Nurse Scope of Practice Course Overview Further Reading Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Background In accordance with changes associated with the shift to national registration, in effect since July 2010, medication endorsement is no longer displayed on an enrolled nurse’s registration. We will write a custom essay sample on The Enrolled Nurse Scope of Practice or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Instead, the public register identifies where an enrolled nurse is unable to administer medicine as part of their scope of practice. 1 It is assumed by the NMBA that: †¢ enrolled nurses graduating from approved pre-enrolment courses run after 2008 have completed the relevant medicine administration units of competence from the national Health Training Package (HTP); and, enrolled nurses graduating from the Diploma of Nursing after 2010 will achieve the relevant education units of competence for administering medicine. In Victoria, prior to the introduction of the national registration scheme, there were several training programs in the administration of medicine available to enrolled nurses. Completion of the associated units of competency enabled enrolled nurses to expand their scope of practice. This resulted in Victorian enrolled nurses having an endorsement to administer medicines placed on their practising certificate. This endorsement notation no longer appears on the regi stration papers of endorsed enrolled nurses. It does so by placing a notation on the national nursing register (public register) against the individual enrolled nurse’s name. The notation states: â€Å"Does not hold Boardapproved qualification in the administration of medicines†. 4 The NMBA states the notation should not be seen as a punitive measure; rather it is a strategy to inform and protect the public. A transitional notation against an individual enrolled nurse’s name will remain in place for five years or until the individual enrolled nurse provides evidence to the NMBA of having completed an approved education in medicine administration. The ANF is advised the NMBA will review the transitional arrangement policy at the end of a five year period . 5 Enrolled Nurse Scope of Practice Because it is assumed, unless otherwise indicated, that all enrolled nurses are able to administer medication there will be no indication of the route of administration the enrolled nurse is authorised to administer medication by, that is orally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously and/or intravenously. It is the responsibility of the employer to sight every enrolled nurse’s qualification to practise, including their qualification to administer medication. nd it is the responsibility of the enrolled nurse to work within their scope of practice. The extended scope of practice for enrolled nurses includes the administration of medication under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009. Under the Nurses Act 1993 and the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006, the enrolled nurse was legally authorised to administer a prescribed drug of dependence, a Schedule 4 poison, Schedule 8 poison or Schedule 9 poison via the route cited in the enrolled nurse’s qualifications. Therefore, each State and Territory has legislation which regulates the management of drugs and poisons. Furthermore, all nurses are subject to the parameters prescribed within organisational policies and guidelines of the respective health departments and health services, and the standards set by the NMBA. 4 NMBA 2010 Explanatory Notes: Enrolled nurses and medicine administration, http://www. nursingmidwiferyboard. gov. au/FAQ-and-Fact-Sheets. aspx 5 NMBA 2010 Explanatory Notes: Enrolled nurses and medicine administration, http://www. nursingmidwiferyboard. gov. au/FAQ-and-Fact-Sheets. aspx 4 Medication administration: NMBA approved programs and essential units study The NMBA has defined the difference between ‘essential requirements’ and ‘units of study’ in their 2010 Explanatory Note for enrolled nurses and medicine administration. 6 The essential requirement enabling enrolled nurses to administer medicines comes when an enrolled nurse who has completed a Certificate IV Nursing has satisfactorily completed the following units of competence from the Health Training Package: †¢ †¢ HLTAP501A – Analyse Health Information; and HLTEN507A – Administer and Monitor Medications in the Work Environment. The ‘essential requirement’ listed above is included in the Certification IV and Diploma in Nursing qualification undergraduate preparation from 2010. Enrolled nurses who have satisfactorily completed the above units of competence may then be offered: †¢ HLTEN519A – Administer and Monitor Intravenous Medication in the Nursing Environment8 an elective unit of competence, included as part of the Diploma of Nursing qualification, or as a separate unit of competence. This elective unit of competence is intended to be left separate from the ‘essential requirements’ for administration of medicine. This enables Certificate IV – Nursing graduates prior to 2008 to obtain competence in administration of intravenous medicine once the required prerequisite learning has been achieved. 6 NMBA 2010 Explanatory Note: Enrolled Nurses and Medicine Administration. http://www. nursingmidwiferyboard. gov. au/FAQ-and-Fact-Sheets. aspx 7 National Training Information Service (NTIS). 2007 Health Training Package 2007 – Enrolled Nurse Units of Competence www. ntis. gov. au/Default. aspx? trainingpackage/HLT07/volume/HLT07_5/unitsector/Enrolled_Division_2_Registered_Nursing_703 8 National Training Information Service (NTIS). 2007 Health Training Package 2007 – Enrolled Nurse Units of Competence www. ntis. gov. au/Default. aspx? /trainingpackage/HLT07/volume/HLT07_5/unitsector/Enrolled_Division_2_Registered_Nursing_703 5 Medicine Administration Qualifications for Enrolled Nurses Medicine administration courses are designed to equip the enrolled nurse with the knowledge, and sk ills to administer medication in a competent manner under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse or midwife. These courses consist of the delivery of units leading to endorsement for the enrolled nurse to administer medication and is classed as a short course comprising two compulsory units of competence. The two compulsory educational units of competence are: HLTAP501A Analyse Health Information (30 hours) This educational unit of competency describes the application of in-depth level of knowledge of anatomy and physiology required to analyse available health information in relation to specific services to be provided. This unit is a prerequisite for unit HLTEN507A. HLTEN507A Administer and Monitor Medications in the Work Environment (104 Hours) This educational unit of competency describes the skill and knowledge required of enrolled nurses to administer and monitor medications and evaluate their effectiveness for clients within a health environment. 10 This unit can only be undertaken by a student who has successfully completed HLTAP501A. The course content hours total 210 hours. The delivery of the course is divided into 134 hours of theory and 76 hours of clinical experience.