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Medicine Administration for Carers

Learn about the 6 'R's of medicine administration (including medicine administration routes) and understand related legislation.

6,556 enrolled on this course

care staff with resident

Medicine Administration for Carers

6,556 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

Understand the key principles of medicine administration

On this course you will learn about the underlying principles and procedures of medicine administration. You will consider the legislation and guidance surrounding medicines administration, including requirements for medicines storage and record keeping. You will also learn the 6 ‘Rs’ of medicine administration: right patient, right medicine, right route, right dose, right time and resident’s right to refuse.

Through the course you will learn through articles, videos and discussion - giving you the opportunity to collaborate and learn from other carers.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 10 seconds Working in a care home or any social care role will require you to understand the underlying principles and procedures when administering medicines to residents. While the focus of any care role is looking after the resident’s physical, emotional and social needs safe medication, administration is also an important aspect of the job. As a carer is your responsibility to ensure that you understand the resident’s needs and administer the correct drug at the correct dose and time. On this course you will learn about the six Rs of safe medication administration, that’s the right resident, the right medicine, by the right route, at the right dose and right time and let’s not forget about the resident’s right to refuse.

Skip to 1 minute and 1 second You will also become familiar with the laws and guidance on safe administration of medicines, record-keeping requirements and appropriate storage of medicines. This interactive course provides opportunities for you to collaborate with other learners, reflect on your experiences and share your thoughts. If you’re super enthusiastic there are also opportunities to stretch and challenge yourself. Our highly qualified and experienced team will support your learning through each step of the way from gaining basic knowledge, learning new skills, improving your working practice to feeling more confident in administering medicines to residents. If you’re taking this course because you have an interest in becoming a carer we hope this is a useful first step for you

What topics will you cover?

Week 1- Introduction to Medicines

  • Identifying different types of medicines found in care settings
  • Considering laws and guidance associated with medicines in care settings

Week 2 - Residential Care

  • Considering the ‘Right Resident’, the ‘Residents Right to Refuse’ and the ‘Right Route’ of administration
  • Identifying special circumstances for crushing tablets before administration
  • Outlining the principles of good glove hygiene and oral hygiene of residents

Week 3 - Medicines Management

  • Ensuring the ‘Right Medicine’, ‘Right Dose’ and ‘Right Time’ in relation to administering medicines to residents
  • Accurately measuring liquid and topical doses of medicines
  • Considering safe medicines storage

Upon completion of the three weeks, and successfully passing the short assessment at the end of the course, you will receive a certificate.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Engage the 6 R's of safe medicine administration for residents at your care setting
  • Apply your knowledge of the policy and guidance on covert administration of medicines in appropriate instances
  • Demonstrate good hand hygiene and knowledge of good oral hygiene for your residents
  • Identify ways in which you can involve the resident in making shared decisions about their medicines
  • Assess, monitor, administer and review medicines so that residents are receiving medicines in an appropriate form
  • Collaborate with other members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure the resident's medication needs are met

Who is the course for?

This course is primarily for care workers in residential care home and nursing home services in the UK. It will be also be of interest to other people working in adult care services including those working in sheltered housing, supported living services, extra care housing services, adult placement homes and other residential care services.

Who will you learn with?

I am a Lecturer at the University of East Anglia and a Community Pharmacist. I am the Dysphagia MOOC co-ordinator.

I'm an experienced community pharmacist with experience in pharmacy education. I am currently reading for a PhD in pharmacy practice at the UEA.

Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia. Research interests include the management of medicines and their administration to patients with dysphagia

Who developed the course?

UEA (University of East Anglia)

The University of East Anglia is an internationally renowned university providing top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to over 15,000 students from over 100 countries around the globe.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 9 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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