LOUISIANA TECHNICAL COLLEGE
MASTER SYLLABUS
7/24/08
HMAC 1103 FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICATION ATTENDANTS
CAMPUS NAME AND ADDRESS:
(To be completed by the Louisiana Technical College Campus)
CIP CODE: 51.2603
CREDIT HOURS (Lecture/Lab/Total): 5/1/6
CONTACT HOURS (Lecture/Lab/Total): 75/45/120
CLASS LOCATION: (To be completed by the Louisiana Technical College Campus)
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION: (To be completed by the Louisiana Technical College Campus)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This 120-clock hour (75 hrs theory, 45 hrs clinical) course meets the
minimum standards set by the Department of Health & Hospitals for Medication Attendant
Certified (MAC). It addresses training and competency directed towards the provision of safe,
effective and timely administration of medications to nursing home residents by medication
attendants. This course will cover information relative to ensuring that MACs can communicate
and interact competently on a one-to-one basis with residents as part of the team implementing
resident care; demonstrate sensitivity to the resident's emotional, social and mental health
needs through skillful, directed interactions; exhibit behavior to support and promote the rights
of residents; and demonstrate proficiency in the skills related to medication administration.
Orientation to clinical facilities will include an explanation of the facility's organizational structure;
the facility's policies and procedures; discussion of the facility's philosophy of care; a description
of the resident population; and employee rules. This course includes 45 hours of clinical
practice at approved long-term care facilities.
PREREQUISITES: Must meet admission requirements for MAC program.
TECHNICAL STANDARDS: Students must demonstrate ability to meet the following
technical/performance standards while receiving the instruction as outlined in course syllabus:
a) Read and communicate orally and in writing using the English language.
b) Hear with or without auditory aids to understand normal speaking voice without viewing
the speakers face.
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c) Visually, with or without corrective lenses, observe changes in client’s condition and
actively participate in learning process.
d) Utilize stamina, strength and psychomotor coordination necessary to perform routine
medication attendant procedures at floor or bed level.
e) Demonstrate use of gross and fine motor skills necessary to provide independent, safe
and effective medication attendant tasks.
f) Solve problems and apply critical thinking skills while providing safe and efficient client
care.
g) Interact with individuals/families/groups from various socioeconomic and cultural
backgrounds.
h) Adapt and function in a multi stressor environment while adhering to legal/ethical
guidelines of the school, Department of Health and Hospitals, and clinical agencies.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to, with a minimum of 80%
accuracy:
1. Describe the role and functions of a certified medication attendant (MAC).
2. Discuss professional relationships with residents and families.
3. Define and discuss the “chain of command” and delegation from a nurse.
4. Describe and identify the essentials of effective communication.
5. Identify interpersonal skills that are essential for the success of the MAC.
6. Identify terms and abbreviations used in medication orders and on the medication
administration record (MAR).
7. Identify reference sources for certified medication attendants.
8. Review various forms of medications and describe the routes of medication
administration.
9. Demonstrate requirements for proper storage, security, and disposal of medications.
10. Identify and discuss the infectious disease process and basic concepts of infection
control.
11. Identify and discuss the importance of the six rights of medication administration.
12. Discuss the value of proper positioning of resident for various medication
administrations.
13. Explain the function of general body systems, and discuss the possible interactions with
medication administration, with special regard to the geriatric client.
14. Define medication classifications and identify commonly used medications in each
classification.
15. Discuss drug interactions, side effects and adverse effects.
16. Identify drugs/drug classifications that cannot be administered by a MAC.
17. Describe the basic principles of medication administration and the responsibilities of the
medication attendant.
18. Explain appropriate procedures to follow when the resident is NPO, dysphagic, refuses
the medication, vomits the medication, or has allergies.
19. Demonstrate proficiency of measuring liquid medications in medicine cup or syringe.
20. List special precautions observed when administering timed-release capsules, entericcoated tablets and oral suspensions.
21. Describe and demonstrate the safe administration of all forms of oral medications.
22. Describe reasons for use of standard precautions when administering a topical
medication.
23. Demonstrate ability to apply topical medications.
24. Describe and demonstrate the safe instillation of ophthalmic drops and ointments
25. Describe and demonstrate the safe administration of nose drops.
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26. Describe when a certified medication attendant may administer an inhalant.
27. Demonstrate proper technique for administration of inhalant medications.
28. Describe and simulate the administration of a rectal suppository.
29. Describe and simulate the safe administration of a vaginal medication
30. Relate reasons for measuring apical pulse and/or blood pressure (B/P) prior to
medication administration.
31. Demonstrate ability to hear, count and record an apical pulse.
32. Demonstrate ability to hear and record a blood pressure.
33. Describe the Clinical Record and its use in long-term care facilities.
34. Describe and demonstrate the importance of timely, clear and complete documentation
in the MAR.
35. Describe the importance of continuing communication with the nurse.
36. Discuss techniques used to avoid medication errors.
37. Describe the reporting and documentation of a medication error.
38. Describe the components to successful completion of the MAC program.
39. Demonstrate knowledge of the rules governing the practice of MACs in long-term care
facilities, and violations of the laws and rules that may result in disciplinary action, and/or
loss of certification.
40. Describe the application and certification process required by the Louisiana Department
of Health & Hospitals.
41. Complete a minimum of 40 hours of clinical practice, administering medications to
assigned residents, in an approved long-term care facility, under the direct supervision of
the instructor.
TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS: (To be completed by the Louisiana Technical
College Campus)
FEES: (To be completed by the Louisiana Technical College Campus)
SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT: (To be completed by the Louisiana Technical College Campus)
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
All students must be officially enrolled in any course that they attend. It is expected that students will attend
scheduled classes regularly and on time. If an absence occurs, it is the responsibility of the student to make
up all missed work, if approved by the instructor. Students who stop attending a course and do not officially
drop, may receive a grade of “F” for all coursework missed that may result in a punitive final grade. An
instructor may drop a student for excessive absences if the student misses 10% of the class.
This policy shall be superseded by any more stringent attendance policy required by a regulatory or
licensing body having jurisdiction over program requirements. The attendance policy for each class must be
included in the course syllabi.
Attendance will be tracked and maintained for various reporting purposes.
EVALUATION AND GRADING:
(To be completed by the Louisiana Technical College Campus.)
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. In addition to
other possible disciplinary sanctions, which may be imposed through the regular institutional
procedures as a result of academic misconduct, your instructor will assign an zero for the
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exercise or examination that evidences academic misconduct for the first offense and assign an
“F” for the course for repeated offenses.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
The Louisiana Technical College complies with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities
Act. Students with disabilities who seek accommodations must make their requests known by
contacting the Disabilities Coordinator at the beginning of each semester. If a disability is
identified later in the semester, a non-retroactive accommodation plan will be developed.
COURSE SCHEDULE (include reading assignments, quizzes and exams):
(To be completed by the Louisiana Technical College Campus)
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