California Nursing Home Administrator License Practice Exam

Which type of medication can unlicensed staff trained in self-administration NOT assist with?

1. Oral medications like tablets

2. Injections of any kind

3. Topical medications applied to skin

4. Liquid medications measured accurately

The correct answer is: Injections of any kind

Unlicensed staff trained in self-administration are often permitted to assist residents with various types of medications, provided that the medications do not require clinical judgment or complex procedures. Injections, however, involve more than just the administration of a substance; they require a level of medical knowledge, skills for aseptic technique, and the ability to respond to potential complications that could arise immediately during or after administration. As unlicensed staff do not possess the required nursing credentials, they are not authorized to perform injections of any kind, making this type of medication assistance outside their scope of practice. In contrast, oral medications, topical medications, and liquid medications that require accurate measurement can generally be managed by trained unlicensed staff, as these tasks do not typically necessitate the same degree of clinical expertise or skill that injections do.