After successful completion of the certification course, you will be prepared to:

• Read and understand a prescription label;

• Provide assistance with oral medication including measuring liquid solutions and suspensions (shake well), break scored tablets, and crush tablets as directed by prescription order;

• Provide assistance with topical forms of medication for the skin, eye, ear, and nose, including creams, lotions, ointments, patches, ophthalmic drops and ointments, otic solutions, and nasal drops, sprays, inhalers, and diskus forms;

• Assist with self-administration of insulin pens;

• Provide assistance with oxygen via nasal cannula, nebulizers and CPAP machines

• Obtain vital signs as directed;

• Assist with application and removal of anti-embolic stockings (TED Hose);

• Assist with colostomy bags;

• Perform blood-glucose level checks with the use of glucometer;

• Complete a Medication Observation Record (MOR);

• Retrieve, store, and dispose of medication properly;

• Recognize a medication order which requires judgment and advise the resident, resident’s health care provider, or facility employer of the unlicensed caregiver’s inability to assist in the administration of such orders;

• Recognize the general side effects of medications and classes of drugs and the need to report adverse drug events (ADEs);