Nursing associates administering drugs and IVs webinar

The Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nursing Associates (2018) does not include the administration of intravenous drugs as a skill required by nursing associates at point of registration.

We don’t regulate post-registration skills training or continuing professional development. You will need to speak with your employer who will be responsible for the provision of appropriate education and training for nursing associates seeking to learn new skills safely and effectively and as part of their agreed scope of practice.

The Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nursing Associates (2018) sets out the minimum requirements of what a student nursing associate needs to know and be able to do to register with us. These proficiencies include: the administration of injections using subcutaneous and intramuscular routes and management of injection equipment and any restrictions on this practice will be a local policy decision. 

Nursing associate trainees are currently not listed as a qualified healthcare professionals able to supply and administer under a PGD. Any changes to the legal framework for PGDs would need to be made by government. The guidance on PGDs and their current framework can be found on the government website.

All nursing associates are required to achieve the knowledge and skills described in our Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nursing Associates (2018), which details the requirements for safe and effective practice for nursing associates at the point of registration. While intravenous drug administration isn’t included in our nursing associate proficiencies, this doesn’t prevent nursing associates from undertaking post registration training in order to develop additional skills, as part of developing their scope of practice and this should be considered when undertaking revalidation every three years.

The Standards of Proficiency for registered Nursing Associates (2018) sets out requirements of what a student nursing associate needs to know and be able to practise safely and effectively at point of registration. A student nursing associate must meet all of the proficiencies to be able to register with us. 

These proficiencies include: the administration of medicines via oral, topical and inhalation routes, administration of enemas and suppositories and injections using subcutaneous and intramuscular routes and management of injection equipment and any changes to restrictions on this practice will be a local policy decision.

The requirement for a single or double check is a local policy and it is for employers to decide appropriate governance and risk assessment around this.

The Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nursing Associates (2018) does not include the administration of intravenous drugs as a skill required by nursing associates at point of registration, it would be for the university to decide whether to go beyond this.

We would only allow a flush not prescribed when the cannula is inserted. If a flush was needed at any other time then it would need to be prescribed and the practitioner be IV competent.

They cannot administer IC controlled drugs or chemotherapy.

No, not at the minute.

We are just updating this, so I will share once finalised.

No.

They attend the IV study day at 6 months post qualified and also have a competency booklet to complete.

We are discussing this internally at the moment.

At the moment there are no issues as we are just defining the RNA role and how this fits in to the ward team.

They do IV training at 6 months post qualifying.

The administration of medications is a process and this should be followed, there are some elements of assessment and we are currently reviewing this.

No, we have always had posts for our TNAs who wish to stay with us at the end of their programme.

At the moment, it would be any chemo drugs, PGDs and CDs. We are exploring some IV drugs currently.

Yes, we are speaking to our partners about our competency review but I anticipate that any further learning will be done within the trust.

Yes, they are allocated their own patients but they always work with a RN to allow that oversight and guidance they require as per their Scope of Practice.

We applied for HEE funding and have received £8,300 per TNA per year.

We recruit 2-3 times a year and we use the apprenticeship standards. For those HCA’s who have completed this apprenticeship, we offer an interview for the TNA programme.

Here is the HCA to nursing pathway.

Our NAs will be band 4s for the 2 year programme.