Content Outline

Summarizes the content outline for the Nursing Home – Medication Aide Examination in North Carolina

Medication Aide Examination Content Outline

For Nursing Homes – North Carolina

This outline summarizes the content areas covered on the North Carolina Medication Aide Examination for Nursing Homes. The test is divided into three major content categories.

I. Authorized Duties (10% of Test Content)

Focuses on the roles, responsibilities, legal aspects, and limitations of Medication Aides.

A. Authorized Duties for a Medication Aide:

Permitted routes of medication administration:
- Oral
- Eye
- Ear
- Nasal
- Inhalant
- Transdermal
- Topical
- Vaginal
- Rectal
Prohibited routes of medication administration:
- Subcutaneous
- Intradermal
- Intramuscular
- Intravascular injections
- Medications via tubes and ostomies

B. Responsibility for Reporting to a Nurse

C. Addressing Conflict with Role and Authorized Duty Issues

D. Medication Aide Role Under State Regulations:

Completion of an NC Board of Nursing-approved course
Completion of a state-approved competency examination
Listed on the NC Medication Aide Registry for Nursing Homes

II. Medication Administration (80% of Test Content)

Focuses on safe administration and accurate documentation of medications.

A. Medication Packaging

B. Preparation and Administration by Approved Routes

C. Special Circumstances for Administering Medications:

Liquid medications
Cutting medications
Crushing medications
Difficulty swallowing
Administering medications to children
Allergies

D. Correct Medication Administration Procedure – The Six Rights:

Right client
Right medication
Right dose
Right route
Right time
Right documentation

E. Client Medication Rights:

Right to confidentiality
Right to know and refuse medications

F. Client Safety and Error Prevention

G. Communication with Supervising Licensed Nurse

H. Infection Control Procedures:

Standard precautions

I. Use of Medication Administration Record (MAR) to:

Administer medications
Document medication administration

J. Medication Errors and Reporting Techniques

K. Auditing and Inventory Systems:

Controlled substance counts
Disposition of unused or contaminated medications

III. Medication Concepts (10% of Test Content)

Focuses on basic concepts related to medication administration.

A. Commonly Used Abbreviations

B. Terminology and Definitions