Many PSWs assist with medications, but the rules are strict. Knowing what you can and cannot do protects your client and your career. Even one mistake can have serious consequences.
What PSWs Can Do
- Remind a client it is time to take their medication.
- Hand a pre-filled medication container to the client.
- Help a client swallow by offering water or thickened liquid if ordered.
- Record that the medication was taken.
What PSWs CANNOT Do
- Administer injections (insulin, etc.) — that is nursing.
- Pour medications from a bottle into a cup.
- Decide a client should skip or double a dose.
- Give medication prescribed for someone else.
- Apply patches, creams, or eye drops unless explicitly trained and authorized.
Always Check
- Right client, right medication, right dose, right time.
- Ask the client if they have already taken it.
- Report any side effects or refusal to take medication.
- Never assume — when in doubt, ask the nurse.
Scope of Practice Matters
Your program and employer will tell you exactly what you can do. Follow those rules. Breaking scope — doing something beyond your training and authorization — puts your client at risk and can cost you your job.
🔑 Key Takeaways
- PSWs remind and hand medication — do not pour or inject.
- Always check the right client, dose, and time.
- Report refusals and side effects immediately.
- Never break scope of practice — ask when unsure.