(a) A medication aide under Texas Health and Safety
Code, Chapter 242, Subchapter N, may:
(1) observe and report to the facility's charge licensed
nurse reactions and side effects to medication shown by a resident;
(2) take and record vital signs before the administration
of medication that could affect or change the vital signs;
(3) administer regularly prescribed medication to a
resident if the medication aide:
(A) is trained to administer the medication;
(B) personally prepares the medication or sets up the
medication to be administered from a unit dose pack; and
(C) documents the administration of the medication
in the resident's clinical record;
(4) administer oxygen per nasal cannula or a non-sealing
mask only in an emergency, after which the medication aide must verbally
notify the licensed nurse on duty or on call and appropriately document
the action and notification;
(5) apply specifically ordered ophthalmic, otic, nasal,
vaginal, and rectal medication;
(6) administer previously ordered PRN medication, if:
(A) the facility's licensed nurse on duty or on call
authorizes the medication;
(B) the medication aide documents in the resident's
records the symptoms indicating the need for the medication and the
time the symptoms occurred;
(C) the medication aide documents in the resident's
records that the facility's licensed nurse was contacted, symptoms
were described, and the licensed nurse granted permission to administer
the medication, including the time of contact;
(D) the medication aide obtains authorization to administer
the medication from the facility's licensed nurse on duty or on call
each time the symptoms occur; and
(E) the medication aide ensures that the resident's
record is co-signed by the licensed nurse who gave authorization by
the end of the nurse's shift or, if the nurse was on call, by the
end of the nurse's next shift;
(7) measure a prescribed amount of a liquid medication
to be administered to a resident;
(8) break a tablet to be administered to a resident,
if:
(A) the resident's medication card or its equivalent
accurately documents how the tablet must be broken before administration;
and
(B) the licensed nurse on duty or on call has calculated
the dosage;
(9) crush medication, if the medication aide:
(A) obtains authorization to crush the medication from
the licensed nurse on duty or on call; and
(B) documents the authorization on the resident's medication
card or its equivalent; and
(10) electronically order a refill of medication from
a pharmacy, if the refill request is signed by the licensed nurse
on duty or on call.
(b) A medication aide under Texas Health and Safety
Code, Chapter 242, Subchapter N, may not:
(1) administer medication by the injection route including:
(A) intramuscular route;
(B) intravenous route;
(C) subcutaneous route;
(D) intradermal route; and
(E) hypodermoclysis route;
(2) administer medication used for intermittent positive
pressure breathing treatments or any form of medication inhalation
treatments;
(3) administer previously ordered PRN medication, except
in accordance with subsection (a)(6) of this section;
(4) administer medication that, according to the resident's
clinical records, has not been previously administered to the resident;
(5) calculate a resident's medication doses for administration;
(6) crush medication, except in accordance with subsection
(a)(9) of this section;
(7) administer medications or feedings by way of a
tube inserted in a cavity of the body;
(8) receive or assume responsibility for reducing to
writing a verbal or telephone order from a healthcare professional;
(9) order a resident's medications from a pharmacy,
except in accordance with subsection (a)(10) of this section;
(10) apply topical medications that involve the treatment
of skin that is broken or blistered or when a specified aseptic technique
is ordered by the attending physician;
(11) steal, divert, or otherwise misuse medication;
(12) violate any provision of the Texas Health and
Safety Code or this chapter;
(13) fraudulently procure or attempt to procure a permit;
(14) neglect to administer appropriate medications,
as prescribed, in a responsible manner; or
(15) administer medications if the person is unable
to do so with reasonable skill and safety to residents by reason of
drunkenness or excessive use of drugs, narcotics, chemicals, or any
other type of material.
(c) If a practice is not described in subsection (a)
of this section the practice is prohibited for a medication aide under
Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 242, Subchapter N.
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