Rasmussen College – School Of Nursing Skill Competencies

RASMUSSEN COLLEGE – School of Nursing Skill Competencies Checklist NUR2407L

Complete this Skills Competencies Checklist by completing each column which includes the following: · Date of when the student practiced the competency. · Date the student was observed demonstrating the competency. Include your initials. · Indication of whether the student needs further practice before final check-off · Date of final check-off and initials. · Indication of whether the student passed (P) or failed (F) the competency. Also, complete the Mid-Quarter and Final Evaluations.

On Final Evaluation, students must “Pass” all required competencies. Skill Competency: focus on medication preparation, routes, administration, legal and ethical parameters, safety, and documentation. Students will:

• Correctly interpret medication orders: Evaluate medications being given (classification, action, side/adverse effects). Recognize side/adverse reactions and identify correct nursing interventions.
• Use MAR/recording: Document medication administration and other pertinent information. Describe medication error reporting.
• Calculate drug dosages: Perform calculations for various drugs.
• Apply the Six Rights of Medication.
• Convert measurement systems: Among metric, apothecary, and household measurements.
• Maintain aseptic practices and universal precautions: Ensure personal and client safety.
• Provide appropriate nursing care: Related to medication type and route.
• Handle medications: Remove tablets, split tablets, prepare liquids.
• Administer medications: Oral (tablet, liquid), sublingual, buccal, transdermal patches, topical, eye drops, ophthalmic ointments, nasal, ear drops, vaginal, rectal, metered dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler.
• Prepare injections: From ampules and vials, administer intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular injections, including insulin mixing and administration based on blood sugars and physician orders.
• Locate intramuscular sites.
• Handle controlled substances: Narcotics counts, documentation.

Complete the Mid-Quarter and Final evaluations, addressing strengths and areas requiring further development. These involve both faculty and student input, including signatures and dates.

Paper For Above instruction

The practice of nursing demands rigorous competencies, especially when it comes to medication management. The Rasmussen College School of Nursing has developed a comprehensive skills competencies checklist that aims to ensure students attain proficiency in medication administration, safety, documentation, and legal-ethical practices. This checklist guides students through essential tasks such as interpreting medication orders, calculating dosages, preparing and administering medications via various routes, and adhering to safety protocols. Achieving competence in these areas is fundamental to delivering safe and effective patient care.

Fundamental to medication management is a thorough understanding of medication orders. Students are trained to correctly interpret orders by evaluating the classification, mechanism of action, and possible side and adverse effects of medications. Recognizing adverse reactions promptly and implementing appropriate nursing interventions is critical to preventing harm and ensuring patient safety. Accurate documentation is another cornerstone, involving the use of Medication Administration Records (MAR) to record administration details and pertinent information while adhering to legal protocols for medication error reporting.

Calculating drug dosages accurately is vital to prevent underdosing or overdosing. The competency checklist emphasizes proficiency in performing different calculation methods, including conversions among measurement systems such as metric, apothecary, and household measures. Such skills reduce the risk of medication errors, which can have serious health implications.

Applying the Six Rights of Medication — Right patient, medication, dose, route, time, and documentation — remains the foundation of safe medication administration. Students learn to implement these principles with precision, ensuring that medications are given safely and appropriately. Proper hand hygiene, aseptic techniques, and universal precautions safeguard both patients and healthcare workers, minimizing infection risks.

The checklist also covers the preparation and administration of medications through various routes. Students practice removing and splitting tablets, preparing liquids, and applying topical and transdermal medications such as patches. They learn to administer eye drops, ophthalmic ointments, nasal and ear medications, vaginal and rectal preparations, inhalers, and more. Competence in these areas ensures students can tailor care to diverse patient needs and medication types.

Injection techniques form a significant component of pharmacology nursing. The competency assessments include administering intradermal, subcutaneous, and intramuscular injections, including the preparation and mixing of insulin. Recognizing proper injection sites and handling controlled substances responsibly, such as narcotics, are also integral to these skills.

Evaluation, both mid-quarter and final, allows for ongoing assessment of student progress. By documenting strengths and areas needing improvement, faculty can provide targeted feedback, fostering continuous learning. Successful mastery ensures that students are ready to provide safe, ethical, and effective medication management in their future nursing practice.

References

• Alexander, M. (2020). Pharmacology in Nursing. Pearson.
• Gahart, B. L. (2019). Medication Administration Passbooks. Elsevier.
• Harding, K. E., & Reidy, J. (2018). Fundamentals of Pharmacology for Nurses. Elsevier.
• Lehne, R. A. (2020). Pharmacology in Nursing. Elsevier.
• McCuistion, L. E. (2019). Pharmacology: A Patient-Centered Nursing Process Approach. Saunders.
• Sheehy, L. (2021). Clinical Calculations for Nurses. F.A. Davis Company.
• Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. (2019). Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, & Management. Elsevier.
• Treasure, T., & Neibert, P. (2022). Safe Medication Administration. Nursing Education Perspectives.
• White, J. (2020). Medication Safety in Nursing Practice. Springer Publishing Company.
• American Nurses Association (ANA). (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. ANA Publishing.