SUMMARY - Safe Medications Management project: Key issues and ...

2.2.3.6. Where are the gaps?These documents and articles on workforce issues in aged care suggest that there has been muchwork initiated to address workforce issues, but little appears to have been completed. Untilstrategies are implemented and completed, some “gaps” will be present in:Workforce design and planning, which takes into account the changing population profile,workforce profile and increasing demands for residential and community care.Effective, safe and efficient staffing patterns and skills mix which have actually beendeveloped and trialled.Consistent education and training to match agreed staffing and care needs.An easily accessed and inexpensive evidence–based repository of models of care for bothresidential and community care, and other successful initiatives which are improvingmedication management quality and workforce efficiency and effectiveness.Some prerequisites to address these gaps may be:Role and scope of practice delineation for all nurses and direct care workers, includingactivity and recreation staff (however titled).Consistency of scopes of practice vis-à-vis medication administration nationally.Alignment of Enrolled Nurse educational preparation and registration for medicationadministration with consistent enabling provisions in all jurisdictions medicines/poisonslegislation.3. ConclusionThis literature search is the first step in this project. As a result of this review, the followingmatters and strategies have been identified for further work and consideration:Education and training modules explaining the applications and practices expected underthe Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s national Scope of Practice documents forRNs and ENs. This may work best as a joint union/industry initiative perhaps incollaboration with ANF and RCNA to gain maximum communication with nurses nationally.Ideally this could be on-line but should have assessment/test/feedback capacity. Thiscould be of value for all fields of nursing practice and not just aged and community care.Some State/Territory health authorities already have extensive on-line education programsfor health practitioners, which could “host” such education – either in face-to-face oronline modes.Exploration of the range of electronic systems which can or do incorporate medicationmanagement and which can be utilised by GPs, pharmacy and care organisations(residential or community). Examination of the feasibility of developing a “preferredprovider” list for General Practice, pharmacy and care organisations. This might be anexercise for Medicare Locals to lead in their “catchments”, and could build on work alreadyunderway around electronic records and health management (e.g. Monash Institute ofHealth Services Research, e-Health Unit).26