Medication Aide Study Guide
Administer
to give to, insert or apply medication to a person
Controlled Substance
Medications that have the potential to be addictive and used in a way other than the medication was
prescribed; a system must be in place to account for receipt, administration and disposition of each
medication
Dispense
preparing and packaging a prescription medication in a container with information required by state
and federal law; anytime more than one dose of medication from a supply is placed in another
container an labeled, it is considered dispensing.
Dispensing Practitioner
A licensed health professional who has the authority to dispense medications; a pharmacist is the
dispensing practitioner you may be the most familiar with.
Document
to record or write; Documentation of the administration of medications is required on the medication
administration record (MAR).
Label
Information on the medication package; referred to also as medication label or prescription label
Medication Administration Record (MAR)
A record that lists all of the medications ordered for the resident, including routine or regularly
scheduled medications and PRN medications; It is used to document or record the administration of
medications.
Medication/Drug
Another word used for drug; a substance or mixture of substances used in the diagnosis, cure
treatment or prevention of disease.
Medication Pass
Scheduled time of the day when medications are administered to residents.
Non-controlled Medications
All other prescription medications that are not listed as controlled substances.
OTC Medications
Over-the-counter or non-prescription medications; medications which can be purchased or obtained
without a prescription; however, you need a physician's order if ALC staff are administering OTC
medications to a resident living in an assisted living community.
,Prescription Medications
medications that can only be obtained or purchased through an order or prescription written by a
physician or prescribing practitioner
PRN
as needed or if necessary; PRN medications are not scheduled to be administered at specific times.
Prescribing Practitioner
Refers to a licensed health care professional who is authorized to prescribe or order a medication; the
prescribing practitioner people are the most familiar with is a physician or doctor. Other prescribing
practitioners include physician assistants, family nurse practitioners and dentists.
Report
to make known, to give information about something
Self-administered Medications
Those prescription or over-the-counter drugs that a resident in an assisted living community
personally chooses to ingest or apply where the resident has been assessed and determined to have
the cognitive skills necessary to articulate the need for the medication and generally knows the times,
and physical characteristics of medication to be taken.
Side-effects
Any effect other than the desired effect; unwanted effects or adverse reactions from a medication.
Vital Signs
Measurements of a persons heartbeat, blood pressure, breathing and temperature.
gm
gram
mg
milligram
mcg
microgram
cc
cubic centimeter
ml
milliliter
tsp
teaspoonful
, tbsp
tablespoonful
gtt
drop
ss
1/2
oz
ounce
mEq
milliequivalent
QD
every day
BID
twice a day
TID
three times a day
QID
four times a day
qh
every hour
qhs
at every bedtime
ac
before meals
pc
after meals
PRN
as needed
Administer
to give to, insert or apply medication to a person
Controlled Substance
Medications that have the potential to be addictive and used in a way other than the medication was
prescribed; a system must be in place to account for receipt, administration and disposition of each
medication
Dispense
preparing and packaging a prescription medication in a container with information required by state
and federal law; anytime more than one dose of medication from a supply is placed in another
container an labeled, it is considered dispensing.
Dispensing Practitioner
A licensed health professional who has the authority to dispense medications; a pharmacist is the
dispensing practitioner you may be the most familiar with.
Document
to record or write; Documentation of the administration of medications is required on the medication
administration record (MAR).
Label
Information on the medication package; referred to also as medication label or prescription label
Medication Administration Record (MAR)
A record that lists all of the medications ordered for the resident, including routine or regularly
scheduled medications and PRN medications; It is used to document or record the administration of
medications.
Medication/Drug
Another word used for drug; a substance or mixture of substances used in the diagnosis, cure
treatment or prevention of disease.
Medication Pass
Scheduled time of the day when medications are administered to residents.
Non-controlled Medications
All other prescription medications that are not listed as controlled substances.
OTC Medications
Over-the-counter or non-prescription medications; medications which can be purchased or obtained
without a prescription; however, you need a physician's order if ALC staff are administering OTC
medications to a resident living in an assisted living community.
,Prescription Medications
medications that can only be obtained or purchased through an order or prescription written by a
physician or prescribing practitioner
PRN
as needed or if necessary; PRN medications are not scheduled to be administered at specific times.
Prescribing Practitioner
Refers to a licensed health care professional who is authorized to prescribe or order a medication; the
prescribing practitioner people are the most familiar with is a physician or doctor. Other prescribing
practitioners include physician assistants, family nurse practitioners and dentists.
Report
to make known, to give information about something
Self-administered Medications
Those prescription or over-the-counter drugs that a resident in an assisted living community
personally chooses to ingest or apply where the resident has been assessed and determined to have
the cognitive skills necessary to articulate the need for the medication and generally knows the times,
and physical characteristics of medication to be taken.
Side-effects
Any effect other than the desired effect; unwanted effects or adverse reactions from a medication.
Vital Signs
Measurements of a persons heartbeat, blood pressure, breathing and temperature.
gm
gram
mg
milligram
mcg
microgram
cc
cubic centimeter
ml
milliliter
tsp
teaspoonful
, tbsp
tablespoonful
gtt
drop
ss
1/2
oz
ounce
mEq
milliequivalent
QD
every day
BID
twice a day
TID
three times a day
QID
four times a day
qh
every hour
qhs
at every bedtime
ac
before meals
pc
after meals
PRN
as needed
