North Carolina Medication Aide (Med Tech) Practice Exam

When administering medications, is it acceptable to leave a resident's medication at their bedside if they are present?

1. Yes, if the resident agrees

2. No, it is not acceptable

3. Only if it is in a sealed container

4. Yes, if the medication is non-narcotic

The correct answer is: No, it is not acceptable

When administering medications, it is essential to maintain the safety and integrity of the medication administering process. Leaving a resident’s medication at their bedside, even if they are present, poses a risk of unauthorized access, tampering, or potential misuse of the medications. This practice could lead to accidents, medication errors, or adverse reactions, especially if the resident is not fully capable of managing their own medications appropriately. The primary responsibility of medication aides is to ensure that medications are administered safely and as prescribed. By not leaving medications unattended at the bedside, medication aides uphold the standards of medication safety, protect the resident’s well-being, and comply with regulatory guidelines. These regulations are in place to prevent any situations that could compromise a resident's health, such as taking the wrong medication or an overdose. Thus, the correct approach is to ensure that all medications are administered in a controlled and supervised manner, ensuring that they are only given when the resident can ingest them properly, and not left out within reach where they could be mismanaged.