Tablet counting: this seemingly simple task plays such an important role for nurses and senior care assistants in maintaining an accurate audit trail, ensuring resident safety, and upholding the integrity of care practices.
Here, we’ll explain why correct tablet counting is so important in care homes (especially for agency professionals) and give three steps to make sure you always get it right.
Why counting tablets matters
For nurses and senior care assistants in care homes, accurate medication administration is a fundamental duty. Making sure residents receive the correct dosage of their prescribed medication is vital for effective treatment and safety.
Ensuring dosage accuracy
Accurate counting ensures that residents receive the exact amount of medication prescribed. Overdosing or underdosing can have serious, even fatal, consequences. By counting tablets, you can double-check that the right amount is given at the right time.
Preventing medication errors
Medication errors are a significant concern in care homes. These errors can occur at any stage of the medication process, from prescribing and dispensing to administration.
Counting tablets acts as a final check to prevent errors before they reach the resident.
Creating an audit trail
An audit trail is a detailed record of all transactions involving medication. This includes when tablets are counted, administered, and by whom.
A well-maintained audit trail is essential for accountability, traceability, and legal protection.
It means all actions are documented, making it easier to track and rectify any discrepancies.
Compliance with regulations
Care homes are subject to strict regulations and standards regarding medication administration.
Proper tablet counting and record-keeping ensure compliance with these regulations, safeguarding the care home from legal and financial repercussions.
Enhancing resident trust
Residents and their families trust care home staff to manage medications safely and effectively.
Consistent and transparent practices like tablet counting help build and maintain this trust.
Residents feel more confident knowing that their care team is diligent and attentive to detail.
Agency staff challenges
The role of temporary care professionals, such as Florence or other agency staff, adds another layer of complexity.
Often moving between different care homes, temporary workers might not be familiar with each home’s specific protocols and resident needs.
Despite this, they are held to the same high standards of care. Unfortunately, temporary staff sometimes unfairly bear the blame for errors that occur due to previous mismanagement or lack of continuity.
If temporary care professionals count diligently and record the count, the chances of them being held responsible for an error made on a different day are significantly reduced.
Best practices for tablet counting
To maintain accuracy and reliability in medication administration, especially for temporary care professionals who might be stepping into unfamiliar territory, it’s important to adhere to the following best practices:
- Double-check counts: always double-check the tablet count before administering medication.
- Avoid assumptions: do not simply take one tablet off the count from the previous day. This practice leads to false documentation and can mask errors or discrepancies. Each count must be precise and reflect the actual number of tablets present.
- Use technology: utilise electronic medication administration records (eMAR) to track and document tablet counts. These tools reduce human error and streamline the process.
Counting tablets when administering medication is more than just a routine task—it’s a critical component of resident safety, regulatory compliance, and care excellence.
By maintaining a meticulous audit trail through accurate tablet counting, care home staff can ensure that residents receive the right medication at the right dosage every time.
For agency professionals who often face unique challenges and scrutiny, strict adherence to accurate counting practices is essential. It not only upholds the standard of care but also protects you from undue blame.
In the care home setting, where precision can significantly impact the quality of life, the importance of counting tablets cannot be overstated.
It’s a simple yet powerful practice that underscores the commitment of nurses and senior care assistants to providing safe, effective, and trustworthy care.
Not joined Florence yet? Discover how our care shifts app helps you choose your own NHS shifts, or download the Florence app now to start registration.
