Scenario: Medication Procedure For Bella

[binkz]

Your Assignment Module Number and Heading: Scenario: Bella
Your Assignment Type: Case Scenario
Currently Working in Childcare? No
Your knowledge: Beginner

Your Question?
Q1) What errors were made by both Educators?

Q2) What are the potential risk factors for Bella?

Q3) How could this situation be avoided in the future?

Q4) If you were Andrew what would you do?

What is your answer so far or What have you done so far as an attempt to solve this question?
Q1) Sara should have check the medication before giving it to Bella. Andrew should have have voiced his concern straight away or maybe told another educator what his concerns were.

Q2) Bella could have an allergic reaction the dosage could be to much/ strong for Bella making Bella sick.

Q3) Sara the educator should have checked the medication straight away and let Andrew check it and sign it off when he wanted to.

Q4) I'm not sure as to what i would say but this i what i was thinking.
I would have said to Sara i think we should just check it just incase so we no everything will be fine and we won't get into trouble ?

Description and Message:
Nick arrives at the service with his daughter Bella (2 years old). Nick completes a medication form and gives it to Sara, the Educator, along with medication. Just as this is happening one of the children falls off the lounge and bumps his head. Sara quickly locks the medication in the storage unit in the refrigerator and goes into the room to assist the other educator. Sara has a feeling that it's going to be "one of those days" and this turns out to be true. Many of the children are unsettled and the routine just isn't working. At lunchtime Sara gets the medication from the locked storage unit, checks the dosage and takes it into the room to administer to Bella.
The other two educators are busy getting the children organised for lunch. Andrew, one of the other educators notices the medication and asks Sara if she wants him to check it and sign it off. Sara responds: 'its okay, i've checked it myself. Just sign it off when you go to lunch.' Andrew is uneasy about this, but as he is new to the service and Sara is much more experienced educator he decides not to voice his concerns. Later, when he goes to lunch, he checks the medication and sees that its actually been prescribed for Bella's 7 year old brother. Andrew is unsure of what to do.

[Lorina]

Yes, you're on the right track with your response. In the "Guide to the National Regulations and Law" (page 64 for your reference) it states the following:

Administration of medication
National Law: Section 167 (protection from harm and hazards)
National Regulations: Regulations 92–96, 178, 181–184

Medication (including prescription, over-the-counter and homeopathic medications) must not be administered to a child at a service without authorisation by a parent or person with the authority to consent to administration of medical attention to the child.In the case of an emergency, it is acceptable to obtain verbal consent from a parent, or a registered medical practitioner or medical emergency services if the child’s parent cannot be contacted. In the case of an anaphylaxis or asthma emergency, medication may be administered to a child without authorisation. In this circumstance, the child’s parent and emergency services must be contacted as soon as possible.
The medication must be administered:
• from its original container before the expiry or use-by date
• in accordance with any instructions attached to the medication or provided by a registered medical practitioner
• for prescribed medications, from a container that bears the original label with the name of the child to whom it is prescribed
• with a second person checking the dosage of the medication and witnessing its administration
• details of the administration must be recorded in the medication record.

Hope this helps,

,
L.A