The professional caregiver autonomously and independently prepares and administers oral and subcutaneous medications according to medical prescription. 

The professional caregiver is able to:

• involve the patient/client and relevant others in administering medications,
• access the medication administration system according to local protocols,
• order and distribute medications through the local supply system,
• choose the appropriate medications to administer to the right patient/client according to prescription,
• perform calculations and convert medicine measurement units and calculate volume and strength of doses,
• apply safety procedures in administering medications (e.g. storage, hygiene, self-protective equipment as appropriate, disposing appropriately of waste such as needles and drug waste) (see also CA.4.3),
• administer and document medications that require special documentation,
• prepare and administer various kinds of medication (e.g. for eye/ear/nose, oral, rectal, vaginal, inhalation, transdermal, intradermal, subcutaneous),
• determine that a gastric tube is in the right position and administer medications through gastric tubes and use the right amount of fluids (see also CA.2.2),
• identify, gather, and prepare equipment and supplies for injectable medication,
• check prepared medications for correctness (e.g. correct medicine, correct dosage),
• recognise patient’s/client’s response to medication, most common adverse drug reactions/side effects -and react accordingly (e.g. anaphylaxis, allergic shock),
• recognise the right of the patient to refuse to receive medications and emphasise respect for dignity and privacy of patient/client,
• identify patient's/client's techniques for avoiding taking medication (e.g. concealing pills under tongue),
• determine that medications were taken,
• determine patient/client problems with swallowing (see also CA.1.1),
• ensure the right patient/client is given the right medicine,
• question a medication order (e.g. consult drug guide)
• document according to guidelines (see also CA.A.2). 

The professional caregiver is able to:

• explain legal regulations and consequences of medications (see also CA.B.3),
• explain the meaning of quality regarding medication (see also CA.A.3),
• describe principles of medication administration (e.g. storage, order, ensure the right patient/client is given the right medicine),
• name and distinguish between different qualities of medications (e.g. pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, classifications and actions, contraindications, interactions, side effects, precautions, adverse effects, types of orders, generic and trade names of drugs),
• explain the indications of different oral and subcutaneous medications (e.g. blood pressure medications, anticoagulants, medicines for heart rhythm),
• describe their own behaviour when encountering questions about medication (e.g. dosage, preparation, administration techniques),
• name methods for converting units and calculating doses and describe principles of proper and safe preparation of medications,
• list normal and abnormal appearance of patient/client (e.g. skin, sublingual, buccal area, eye, outer ear, ear canal, nose canal),
• describe their own behaviour when dealing with side effects and adverse reactions,
• describe the right position for patients/clients when administering medication (e.g. medications administered into eye, ear, nose, subcutaneous),
• explain the administration of medications through a gastric tube and limitations,
• describe anatomical locations for injections of medications as well as injection techniques (e.g. subcutaneous, intradermal),
• explain appropriate skin disinfection techniques and procedures (see also CA.4.1),
• describe the documentation of medications with special documentation requirements,
• name reasons for patient’s/client‘s refusal to accept medication,
• describe how to check medication has been taken,
• describe the difference between the drug name and various drug trade names (e.g. different generics with the same active agent),
• explain the importance of swallowing investigations regarding administering medications (see also CA.1.1).