Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 5:31 AM AWST
22/07/2026 5:31 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Administer and monitor medications in the work environment
Administer and monitor medications in the work environment
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTEN507C
HLTEN507C
State Code
WD139
WD139
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
24/08/2012
Field of Education
060301 - General Nursing
Original Release Date
24/08/2012
Nominal Hours
180
Description
DescriptorThis unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required of Enrolled/Division 2 nurses to administer and monitor medications and evaluate their effectiveness for clients within a health environment
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Minimise potential risk to safe administration of medications
- 1.1 Check client medication chart in relation to timing and route of medication to be administered
- 1.2 Raise issues related to drug and poison administration with appropriate personnel
- 1.3 Check for and identify common contraindications and adverse reactions of prescribed medications and refer to registered nurse
- 1.4 Confirm client identity and check for any known allergies
- 1.5 Refer to drugs and poisons schedules and classifications as determined by law
- 1.6 Ensure infection control methods are applied correctly
- 1.7 Identify pharmacology and substance incompatibilities in relation to specific situations involving medication administration
- 1.8 Check expiry dates of medication prior to administration
2. Prepare for medication administration within scope of Enrolled/Division 2 nurse
- 2.1 Explain the process of medication administration to the client and ensure their readiness
- 2.2 Position the client appropriately prior to administration of medication
- 2.3 Correctly identify administration route for each medication to be administered, using appropriate terminology
- 2.4 Consider the effect of commonly used medications on the body prior to medication administration
- 2.5 Accurately calculate dosages for administration of drugs
- 2.6 Prepare medications in accordance with legislative requirements and organisation guidelines
- 2.7 Apply medication administration techniques and precautions specific to each client situation and as per medication orders
- 2.8 Ensure medication is stored and disposed of in accordance with medical instructions and organisation policy and procedures
3. Administer medications within legal parameters
- 3.1 Administer medications within scope of own role in line with the jurisdictional legislative requirements and organisation policy
- 3.2 Store medications in a safe manner according to legislative requirements and organisation policy
- 3.3 Administer PRN medications within legislative requirements and organisation policy
- 3.4 Apply quality management and risk assessment practices relating to administration of medication
- 3.5 Provide client information and education relating to medication requirements
4. Monitor and evaluate client response to administered medication
- 4.1 Record administration of medications in accordance with relevant policy and procedures
- 4.2 Contribute to information provided to clients and carers on medication administration (including possible side effects) in consultation/collaboration with the registered nurse
- 4.3 Evaluate client understanding of information provided
- 4.4 Recognise acute and delayed adverse reactions to medications and act upon within role responsibility
- 4.5 Implement emergency actions to address acute and delayed adverse reactions within role responsibility
- 4.6 Record and report response to emergency strategies, where appropriate
- 4.7 Assess and manage a client experiencing pain using appropriate medication and non-medication therapies
- 4.8 Record and report effectiveness of pain relieving medication
5. Monitor peripheral intravenous therapy
- 5.1 Identify the purpose and function of intravenous therapy being administered to a client
- 5.2 Check for common fluid and electrolyte imbalances and record and report
- 5.3 Calculate intravenous therapy rates
- 5.4 Recognise and report the risks and complications associated with intravenous therapy
- 5.5 Document observations and monitor peripheral intravenous therapy
- 5.6 Provide nursing care for client with fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance
- 5.7 Monitor action of drugs commonly used in fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance through client responses and record and report
- 5.8 Remove intravenous cannula according to organisation policy and procedure
6. Develop strategies for pain management
- 6.1 Observe and question client to identify signs of pain and/or discomfort
- 6.2 Clarify the location and nature of pain, taking into account factors which may influence a client's perception of pain
- 6.3 Use the pain assessment scale to ensure consistency of interpretation
- 6.4 Undertake comprehensive observations as required to assess pain experienced by client
- 6.5 Identify and apply a range of medication and complementary strategies which may assist in alleviation of pain and discomfort in consultation/collaboration with registered nurse
- 6.6 Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of using these strategies in consultation/collaboration with registered nurse
- 6.7 Record observations and evaluation of pain management strategies in consultation/ collaboration with registered nurse
RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Health environments may include:
Residential aged care facility
Community settings
Hospitals
Clinics
Short and long stay centres
Clients home
Potential risks may include but is not limited to:
Client identification
Allergic reactions
Immunisation status
Medication incompatibilities
Contraindications for drug administration
Care of sharps
Intravenous therapy
Medication administration routesinclude:
Oral
Intranasal (including nebulised medications)
Topical (including transdermal)
Ocular
Aural
Rectal
Vaginal administration
Subcutaneous/Intramuscular routes
Enteral administration [Percutaneous Gastrostomy (PEG) as well as nasogastric tubes]
Terminology associated with medications may include:
Medication
Administer
Side effect/adverse reaction/allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis
Allergy
Suspension/mixture/syrup/linctus/lozenge
Ointment/cream/lotion
Tincture/emulsion
Tablet/pill
Transdermal patch
Nebuliser/aerosol/volumetric spacer
Legal and regulatory framework include:
State/territory Nurses Act
State/Territory Drugs and Poisons Act
Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulations
State/Territory Nurse Regulatory Authority codes and guidelines
Legal requirements of documentation
Client history may include:
Pre-existing conditions
Admission diagnosis
Allergies
Current history
Current medication
Behavioural characteristics
Nutritional status
Hydration status
Psychological needs
Psychosocial needs
Compliance history
Reports can be verbal or written, and may include:
Individual client records
Pain management plans
Fluid status management
Nutritional status management
Observational documentation
Medication charts
Admission and discharge planning
Referral documentation (allied health team)
Diagnostic reports/results
Clinical progress notes
Hand-over at end of shift
Resuscitation documentation
Medication incident reports
Policies and procedures relating to infection control can include:
Effective hand washing and hand drying techniques
Handling of medication
Relevant client information and education may include:
Medication side effects
Length of treatment
Drug interactions
Consequences of non-compliance
Anatomical positioning for safe drug administration
Client controlled analgesia
Factors influencing medication actions may include:
Rate of absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Drug interactions
Binding to plasma proteins
Excretion
Dosage form
Route of administration
Improper storage
Timing of administration
Client age, height, weight
Previous history
Major medication groups include:
Anaesthetics
Antacids
Antianginals
Antiarrhythmics
Antibiotics
Anticholinergics
Anticoagulants
Anticonvulsants
Antidepressants
Antidiarrhoeals
Antiemetics
Antifungals
Antihistamines
Antihypertentives
Anti-inflammatory
Antineoplastics
Antiparkinsonion
Antipruritic
Antipsychotics
antiseptics
Antiulcer
Antivirals
Anxiolytics
Beta-blockers
Bronchodilators
Contraceptives
Corticosteroids
Diuretics
Electrolyte solutions
Hormones
Hypnotics/sedatives
Laxatives/aperients
Narcotic analgesia
Neuroleptics
Ophthalmic, otic and nasal medications
Hypoglycaemics
Analgesia
Vitamins
Methods of storage, handling and usage of medications may include:
Dry/moist
Refrigeration
Away from light/heat
Separate storage of external use medication from internal use medication
Locked cupboard/trolley
Narcotics - locked, attached to wall
Register for drugs of addiction
Routine checking of narcotic drugs in storage
Pharmacist responsibility for containers and labels
Expiry dates
Administration of oral medications and associated terminology may include:
Legible medication order
Preparation of medication by person administering
6 "Rights" of administration
Special precautions
Medication checking process
Documentation of drug administration
Administration of subcutaneous or intramuscular injection may include:
Needle/syringe size
Angle for insertion
Cleansing and insertion
Vastus lateralis muscle
Gluteus maximus muscle
Ventro-gluteal muscle
Deltoid muscle
Z- track
Common fluid and electrolyte imbalances may include:
Water deficit/excess syndromes
Fluid volume imbalance
Electrolyte deficit/excess
Calculation of medication dosages must include:
Calculation formulae
Use of 1 mL versus 2 mL syringe
Calculation of oral drug dosages
Calculations of dosages of liquid medications
Calculations of dosages of solid medications
Calculation of dosages of injectable drugs (liquid, solid, unit dosages)
Flow rate drops per minute
Flow rate millilitres per hour
Paediatric dosage calculations (body weight, surface area, age related dose reduction)
Frail elderly dosage calculations (body weight, surface area and age)
Drugs commonly used for fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance may include:
Diuretics
Electrolytes
Replacement solutions
Acidifiers/alkalisers
Common terminology associated with fluid and electrolytes may include:
Ions
Intracellular/extracellular
Osmosis/diffusion
Active transport
Fluid shift
Sodium/potassium chloride
Fluid balance (positive/negative)
Fluid balance chart
Over hydration (overload)/under hydration (dehydration)
Oedema
Hypertonic/isotonic/hypotonic
Intravenous therapy
Calcium/phosphate
Policies and procedures relating to work health and safety (WHS) include:
Handling of medication
Appropriate use and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Health environments may include:
Residential aged care facility
Community settings
Hospitals
Clinics
Short and long stay centres
Clients home
Potential risks may include but is not limited to:
Client identification
Allergic reactions
Immunisation status
Medication incompatibilities
Contraindications for drug administration
Care of sharps
Intravenous therapy
Medication administration routesinclude:
Oral
Intranasal (including nebulised medications)
Topical (including transdermal)
Ocular
Aural
Rectal
Vaginal administration
Subcutaneous/Intramuscular routes
Enteral administration [Percutaneous Gastrostomy (PEG) as well as nasogastric tubes]
Terminology associated with medications may include:
Medication
Administer
Side effect/adverse reaction/allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis
Allergy
Suspension/mixture/syrup/linctus/lozenge
Ointment/cream/lotion
Tincture/emulsion
Tablet/pill
Transdermal patch
Nebuliser/aerosol/volumetric spacer
Legal and regulatory framework include:
State/territory Nurses Act
State/Territory Drugs and Poisons Act
Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulations
State/Territory Nurse Regulatory Authority codes and guidelines
Legal requirements of documentation
Client history may include:
Pre-existing conditions
Admission diagnosis
Allergies
Current history
Current medication
Behavioural characteristics
Nutritional status
Hydration status
Psychological needs
Psychosocial needs
Compliance history
Reports can be verbal or written, and may include:
Individual client records
Pain management plans
Fluid status management
Nutritional status management
Observational documentation
Medication charts
Admission and discharge planning
Referral documentation (allied health team)
Diagnostic reports/results
Clinical progress notes
Hand-over at end of shift
Resuscitation documentation
Medication incident reports
Policies and procedures relating to infection control can include:
Effective hand washing and hand drying techniques
Handling of medication
Relevant client information and education may include:
Medication side effects
Length of treatment
Drug interactions
Consequences of non-compliance
Anatomical positioning for safe drug administration
Client controlled analgesia
Factors influencing medication actions may include:
Rate of absorption
Distribution
Metabolism
Drug interactions
Binding to plasma proteins
Excretion
Dosage form
Route of administration
Improper storage
Timing of administration
Client age, height, weight
Previous history
Major medication groups include:
Anaesthetics
Antacids
Antianginals
Antiarrhythmics
Antibiotics
Anticholinergics
Anticoagulants
Anticonvulsants
Antidepressants
Antidiarrhoeals
Antiemetics
Antifungals
Antihistamines
Antihypertentives
Anti-inflammatory
Antineoplastics
Antiparkinsonion
Antipruritic
Antipsychotics
antiseptics
Antiulcer
Antivirals
Anxiolytics
Beta-blockers
Bronchodilators
Contraceptives
Corticosteroids
Diuretics
Electrolyte solutions
Hormones
Hypnotics/sedatives
Laxatives/aperients
Narcotic analgesia
Neuroleptics
Ophthalmic, otic and nasal medications
Hypoglycaemics
Analgesia
Vitamins
Methods of storage, handling and usage of medications may include:
Dry/moist
Refrigeration
Away from light/heat
Separate storage of external use medication from internal use medication
Locked cupboard/trolley
Narcotics - locked, attached to wall
Register for drugs of addiction
Routine checking of narcotic drugs in storage
Pharmacist responsibility for containers and labels
Expiry dates
Administration of oral medications and associated terminology may include:
Legible medication order
Preparation of medication by person administering
6 "Rights" of administration
Special precautions
Medication checking process
Documentation of drug administration
Administration of subcutaneous or intramuscular injection may include:
Needle/syringe size
Angle for insertion
Cleansing and insertion
Vastus lateralis muscle
Gluteus maximus muscle
Ventro-gluteal muscle
Deltoid muscle
Z- track
Common fluid and electrolyte imbalances may include:
Water deficit/excess syndromes
Fluid volume imbalance
Electrolyte deficit/excess
Calculation of medication dosages must include:
Calculation formulae
Use of 1 mL versus 2 mL syringe
Calculation of oral drug dosages
Calculations of dosages of liquid medications
Calculations of dosages of solid medications
Calculation of dosages of injectable drugs (liquid, solid, unit dosages)
Flow rate drops per minute
Flow rate millilitres per hour
Paediatric dosage calculations (body weight, surface area, age related dose reduction)
Frail elderly dosage calculations (body weight, surface area and age)
Drugs commonly used for fluid and/or electrolyte imbalance may include:
Diuretics
Electrolytes
Replacement solutions
Acidifiers/alkalisers
Common terminology associated with fluid and electrolytes may include:
Ions
Intracellular/extracellular
Osmosis/diffusion
Active transport
Fluid shift
Sodium/potassium chloride
Fluid balance (positive/negative)
Fluid balance chart
Over hydration (overload)/under hydration (dehydration)
Oedema
Hypertonic/isotonic/hypotonic
Intravenous therapy
Calcium/phosphate
Policies and procedures relating to work health and safety (WHS) include:
Handling of medication
Appropriate use and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Observation of performance in a work context is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of workplace situations and should occur on more than one occasion and be assessed by a registered nurse
Assessment must include a written calculation test with 100% mastery
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Assessment must be undertaken in a simulated clinical laboratory prior to and replicated, where appropriate, in the clinical setting
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the clinical workplace or in a simulated clinical work environment and under the normal range of clinical environment conditions
Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Method of assessment
Assessment of competency may occur on more than one occasion. Assessment may include but not be limited to:
Observation in the work place
Evidence gathered from clinical work environment
Written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Questioning - verbal and written
Role play/simulation
Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Observation of performance in a work context is essential for assessment of this unit
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of workplace situations and should occur on more than one occasion and be assessed by a registered nurse
Assessment must include a written calculation test with 100% mastery
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Assessment must be undertaken in a simulated clinical laboratory prior to and replicated, where appropriate, in the clinical setting
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the clinical workplace or in a simulated clinical work environment and under the normal range of clinical environment conditions
Where, for reasons of safety, access to equipment and resources and space, assessment takes place away from the workplace, simulations should be used to represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Method of assessment
Assessment of competency may occur on more than one occasion. Assessment may include but not be limited to:
Observation in the work place
Evidence gathered from clinical work environment
Written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Questioning - verbal and written
Role play/simulation
Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D8212 | HLTEN507B | Administer and monitor medications in the work environment | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWA10 | HLTENN007 | Administer and monitor medicines and intravenous therapy | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J108 | HLT51612 | Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled-Division 2 nursing) | Qualification |