All VCH, allied health, and unregulated healthcare professionals, who distribute Naloxone to patients or clients, should have manager approval and must adhere to specific competencies, standards and guidelines as outlined by their professional accreditation organization.

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Healthcare Professional Practice

+ Click here to see the 4 levels

Four levels control health care professional practice.

Regulation/Health Professions Act – outlines the legal roles of healthcare professionals
Your College Standards, Limits and Conditions – set by health professional colleges to support and complement the limits for each professional as outlined in the Health Professions Act
Employer Policies – may further restrict health professionals' practice based on unit and/or program practice
Individual’s Competence – the ability to perform a particular duty/skill
CPD link for MD/NP/RN/RPN

What do I do next at VCH?

Although your college provides guidelines around scope of practice, ultimately you must adhere to VCH policies and guidelines. VCH must adhere to Accreditation Canada’s Medication Management Standards which address aspects of the medication and focus on safe and effective medication management.

Scenario 1

Susy works in a residential care facility as an LPN and does not think that overdose prevention and response is part of her role given that she works primarily with seniors. After discussing with the nursing manager, a risk-assessment is conducted on all residents, and two of them are determined to be at risk of an opioid overdose. What questions would you ask to find out which residents/clients are at risk, and what would be your next steps?

Let's see

See this document: Preventing Overdose Opiod Overdose Deaths

Hmm... Actually, this is an example of when you might see an amount in your budget for Physician Compensation.

Insert real-life scenario/situation example.
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Your Role	Setting	Additional Limits & Conditions
RNs	All settings	Follow CRNBC Dispensing Practice Standards
RPNs	All settings	Follow CRPNBC Dispensing Practice Standards
LPNs	Community settings only	Follow CRPNBC Dispensing Practice Standards and this CPD
OTs & SWs *PTs excluded until CPTBC approval	Community settings only	Follow college advisory statements: OTs: COTBC SWs: BCCSW
Unregulated Allied Health Professionals (such as Respiratory Therapists and Clinical Counsellors)	Community settings only	See Health Care Professions Act
Unregulated care providers/staff (such as Respiratory Therapists and Clinical Counsellors)	Community settings only	See Health Care Professions Act