Indiana Administrative Code › Title 412 - INDIANA HEALTH FACILITIES COUNCIL › Article 2 - QUALIFIED MEDICATION AIDES › Rule 1 - General Provisions › Section 1-9 - Scope of practice

Current through July 10, 2024
Authority: IC
				  16-28-1-7;
				  IC
				  16-28-1-11
Affected: IC 16-28-1
Sec. 9.
(a) The
				following tasks are within the scope of practice for the QMA unless prohibited
				by facility policy:
(1) Observe and report to
				the facility's licensed nurse reactions and side effects to medications
				exhibited by a resident.
(2)
				Measure and document vital signs prior to the administration of medication that
				could affect or change the vital signs. Report any abnormalities to the
				licensed nurse that would prohibit medication administration.
(3) Administer regularly prescribed
				medication which the QMA has been trained to administer only after personally
				preparing (setting up) the medication to be administered. The QMA shall
				document in a resident's clinical record all medications that the QMA
				personally administered. The QMA shall not document in a resident's clinical
				record any medication that was administered by another person or not
				administered at all.
(4) Initiate
				oxygen per nasal cannula or nonsealing mask only in an emergency. Immediately
				after the emergency, the QMA shall verbally notify the licensed nurse on duty
				or on call and appropriately document the action and notification.
(5) Obtain oxygen saturation utilizing an
				oximeter that has been calibrated by a licensed or certified professional and
				report results to the licensed nurse.
(6) Apply physician-ordered oral, ophthalmic,
				otic, nasal, vaginal, and rectal medications.
(7) Crush and administer medications if such
				preparation is appropriate per manufacturer's instructions or physician's
				order.
(8) Alter capsules if
				prescribed to be administered in this altered manner by the
				physician.
(9) Count, administer,
				and document controlled substances.
(10) Administer medications per G-tube or
				J-tube.
(11) Administer previously
				ordered pro re nata (PRN) medication only if authorization is obtained from the
				facility's licensed nurse on duty or on call. If authorization is obtained, the
				QMA must do the following:
(A) Document in the
				resident record symptoms indicating the need for the medication and time the
				symptoms occurred.
(B) Document in
				the resident record that the facility's licensed nurse was contacted, symptoms
				were described, and permission was granted to administer the medication,
				including the time of contact.
(C)
				Obtain permission to administer the medication each time the symptoms occur in
				the resident.
(D) Ensure that the
				resident's record is cosigned by the licensed nurse who gave permission by the
				end of the nurse's shift or, if the nurse was on call, by the end of the
				nurse's next tour of duty.
(12) Apply topical medication to minor skin
				conditions such as dermatitis, scabies, pediculosis, fungal-infection,
				psoriasis, eczema, first degree burn, or stage one decubitus ulcer.
(13) Administer medication via metered dose
				inhaler.
(14) Conduct hemoccult
				testing and report result to the licensed nurse.
(15) Conduct finger stick blood glucose
				testing (specific to the glucose meter used), reporting result to the licensed
				nurse.
(16) Apply a dressing to a
				minor skin tear that has been assessed by a licensed nurse.
(17) Provide ordered site care and apply a
				dressing to a healed G-tube or J-tube site.
(18) Empty and change colostomy
				bag.
(19) Instill a commercially
				prepared disposable enema (approximately one hundred twenty (120) milliliters
				or four and one-half (4.5) ounces) after the resident has been assessed by the
				licensed nurse (for bowel sounds and potential impaction) and the licensed
				nurse has instructed the QMA to instill the enema.
(20) Administer a sitz bath, if ordered by
				the physician, and report any unusual observations to the licensed
				nurse.
(21) Apply a cold, dry
				compress as directed by the physician or by the licensed nurse in emergency
				situations requiring first-aid treatment.
(22) Conduct diabetic urine testing, for
				example, tablet, dipstick, or test tape methods.
(23) Collect fecal or urine specimens as
				ordered by the physician.
(24)
				Document in the clinical record the QMA observations, including what the QMA
				sees, hears, or smells and document what is reported to the QMA by the
				resident.