DSP Training: Medication Administration Basics

All staff within the California Department of Developmental Services ("DDS") who work directly with program participants must complete Direct Support Professionals ("DSP") Training. This is a two-year training program designed to give DSPs the knowledge and expertise they need to effectively support and deliver care to individuals with developmental disabilities. Medication administration is one of the particularly important responsibilities DSPs have. Given how important this task is, it is featured in both years of DSP training. Medication administration basics are therefore a key component of DSP Training. Beyond that, medication administration is a vital skill for caregivers to master.

The Seven Rights: The Foundation of Medication Administration

The foundation of safe medication administration is what the DSP Training curriculum refers to as the Seven Rights of medication management. They are:

1. Right person
2. Right medication
3. Right dose
4. Right time
5. Right route
6. Right reason
7. Right documentation

In essence, the Seven Rights are a system of carefully ensuring that everything is correct before any medication is administered. In this way, the Seven Rights minimize the chance of any inadvertent error that might harm the person taking the medication.

Triple Check for Safety

Additionally, DSPs must check the medication label against the Medication Administration Record (MAR) three times. Simply put, the MAR is a legal document that tracks all medications given to a patient by a healthcare professional.

DSPs triple check the MAR at three distinct points: when retrieving, preparing, and presenting the medication. Similar to the Seven Rights, this practice aims to prevent errors.

Additional Safeguards

Further, each medication must remain in its original labeled container. If there is ever a discrepancy between the label and the MAR, the inconsistency must be reported immediately.

Throughout all medication administrations, proper documentation is essential. DSPs must record every medication dose, note refusals or side effects, and track other important details.

DSPs also remain in close contact with healthcare professionals, most notably doctors and pharmacists, to further ensure medication is administered safely and properly.

Following these procedures protects the health and safety of individuals receiving support, prevents potentially dangerous medication errors, and ensures compliance with state regulations. Ultimately, careful attention to these safety protocols allow DSPs to provide high-quality, person-centered care to DDS recipients.

For all these reasons, this is a central part of DSP training. Medication administration basics is one of the many critically important skills DSPs learn through the course of their training.