On it RN - RN Services

Understanding Nurse Delegation: Medication Administration vs. Medication Assist in Assisted Living
We discuss a common misunderstanding in assisted living communities regarding nurse delegation and medication management. We explore the critical difference between medication administration and medication assist, specifically around insulin injection support. We explain why caregivers can prepare insulin (attaching needles, priming pens, dialing doses) but cannot touch the insulin pen during injection—the moment a caregiver's hand touches the pen while it's being administered, it crosses into delegated medication administration territory. We clarify that if a resident cannot self-inject, a licensed nurse must perform the task, and we address why these distinctions matter for compliance and resident safety.