In 2011, the North Carolina Legislature mandated training in addition to competency evaluation requirements for adult care home medication aides. As a response to the legislation, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Service Regulation, developed the required 5-hour and 10-hour training courses that include instruction in the key principles of medication administration and infection prevention.
The department developed a 5-hour, 10-hour and 15-hour standardized training course for qualified instructors to train unlicensed staff who will perform medication aide duties in Adult Care Homes. Each training course includes an instructor manual and a certificate template required for participants who successfully complete the course(s). A student manual has also been developed for use with training and as a study guide for the state medication exam for adult care homes.
The 5-hour, 10-hour and 15-hour training courses were adapted from the "Medication Administration: A Medication Aide Training Course" curriculum developed in 2006 by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
Details regarding the course description of each course, pre-requisite for students, skills requirements and documentation requirements for adult care homes are included in the Introduction Section of the courses. Requirements for instructors are included in the instructor manuals.
The 5-hour, 10-hour, and 15-hour competency-based curriculums provide unlicensed staff with basic knowledge and skills needed to ensure that medication administration is performed in a safe and effective manner. Successful completion of the 5-hour plus 10-hour training courses or the 15-hour training course will prepare individuals to take the state written medication exam for adult care home staff and for competency validation using the Medication Administration Skills Validation Form (DHSR/AC 4605 NCDHHS) required at the employing facility.
Note: Individuals not required to complete the state approved training must have passed the state written medication exam for medication staff in adult care homes on or before 09/30/13 AND the facility must be able to provide verification of the individual’s employment as a medication aide every 24 months since 10/01/2011. Refer to the Medication Administration Skills Validation Form (DHSR/AC 4664 NCDHHS).
The Medication Administration Skills Validation Form (DHSR/AC 4605 NCDHHS) is required at the employing facility for all unlicensed staff performing medication aide duties.