The Controversy of Personal Support Workers Administering Medications

Personal support workers administering medications has always been a controversial issue.  The laws governing this issue have always been “fuzzy” at best.  After surveying a range of institutions, practicing personal support workers, and provincial and state personal support worker professional organizations, the following seems to be the closest to a consensus.

If you are a newly trained/registered personal support worker, administering medications is well beyond the scope of what you are ready for.  If you have been in the field as a practicing personal support worker for 3 or more years, you are in a position to administer medications, but only under the supervision of or in conjunction with an RPN or RN.

Having said that, the question has to be asked: Why would an employer want a personal support worker to administer medications?  Our survey showed that the major motivating factor is money. Simply put, it is cheaper to hire a personal support worker and add additional duties to their job than it is to hire an RPN or RN.  So what does a personal support worker do when faced with the requirement to administer medications?  These are the recommendations that came out of our survey:

·    Ask for appropriate supervision to be present when administering the medication

·    Never ever agree to mix the medication

·    Insist upon receiving proper training in administering medication before agreeing to do so

·    Make sure that you are completely comfortable with the entire process

·    If you are not comfortable with this requirement you are able to simply refuse to do it

Remember, administering medications is a very serious undertaking which can have very serious repercussions if not done correctly.  It is essential that as a personal support worker you are properly trained in how to do this and fully comfortable and confident in this before you undertake this task.  It is far better to be safe and cautious than to risk the life of a patient and your career as a personal support worker.

Nominations Open for Personal Support Worker of the Year Award

Nominations are now open for the PSW of the Year Award.  With number of outstanding PSW’s in Ontario, this award will recognize the work of one exceptional PSW.  The award will be presented in October.  Nominees must work in the Province of Ontario, be nominated by a third party, and must consent to their nomination.  Nominations are evaluated on the following criteria:

·         Work History

·         Professional Knowledge

·         Advocacy

·         Patient Care

·         Going Beyond The Call of Duty

·         Team Support

Nominations must arrive at the offices of the PersonalSupport Network of Ontario no later than Friday, September 19, 2014.  For more information visit PSNO PersonalSupport Worker of the Year Award website.

Typical Personal Support Worker Education Program Outline

Major: Personal Support Worker

Length: One Year

Delivery: 2 Semesters

Typical Credential: College Certificate

Sector Screening Check Required

Description

This two semester program is designed to prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to provide personal support worker services to people living at home and in long term care facilities and to function as integral members of the health care team. Upon graduation from this program, the graduate will have demonstrated the ability to effectively communicate with clients, families and members of the health care team. They will also have demonstrated their ability to provide safe and competent personal support work care for individual clients who are experiencing physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges.

Personal Support Workers are unregulated health care providers who work under the supervision of a regulated health care professional or in the supported independent living environment under the direction of the client. They provide clearly identified personal care and they facilitate routine activities of daily living in order to assist their clients in being as healthy and as independent as possible.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Personal Support Worker program find employment in retirement homes, nursing homes, homes for the aged, various community agencies (private and public) as well as in independent practice.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

·              work effectively as a team member and demonstrate an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the other members of the health care team;

·              provide personal support worker services for individuals and families from a variety of cultures and diverse backgrounds fostering trust, respect and individual choice;

·              practice under the supervision/direction of the employer, client or family caregiver within their role and the legislation governing the setting in which they work;

·              provide professional, safe and effective personal support work services to individuals and their families in all activities of daily living;

·              support the application of the concepts of health promotion, maintenance and rehabilitation;

·              recognize own strengths and limitations within the concept of providing personal support work services and seek out guidance appropriately;

·              recognize and report changes in the client's condition, health state, situation, and/or routine activities of living and report these changes to the appropriate member of the health care team;

·              recognize indicators of abuse and respond appropriately

Personal Support Workers, Healthcare’s Unsung Heroes

By Guest Blogger Lloyd Drayton

Personal support workers are heroes to their patients.  They regularly perform impressive feats. The average personal support worker does everything from helping their patients with their daily hygiene to interacting with other health professionals on their patients behalf.

Personal support workers are caregivers who are in it for the long haul.  They are passionate about their jobs and their patients.  The typical personals support worker has to possess ridiculous amounts of stamina and patience.  They need it to endure the gruelling repetition and pace of the job.  They come to work each day, not looking for special rewards or recognition.  The results of what they do are reward enough for the average personal support worker.  Their hard work and dedication shows through, in every shift.

Personal support workers work as part of a team, wherever their work is.  They support their colleagues and receive support from their colleagues in return.  This is especially important as they need the support to combat the stress, and in some cases, burnout rates.  

Personal support workers are heroes to their patients on a daily basis.