When it comes to administering medication in the home, the issue of preparation is regularly the subject of debate between pharmacists and nurses, both of whom feel that this is their responsibility. On a regulatory level, the preparation of doses to be administered (PDA) is a competence clearly shared between the two professions.
Nevertheless, in legal terms, it is an explicit activity for pharmacists only. It is an integral part of the dispensing process when requested (by the patient, doctor or nurse) and when relevant (article R. 4235-48 of the French Public Health Code).
For nurses, therefore, this activity is not explicit: no article refers directly to the possibility of carrying out extemporaneous preparations. However, it is an integral part of their role, as mentioned in article R. 4311-5 of the French Public Health Code, paragraph 4: assisting with the administration of non-injectable medicines, which involves checking that the treatment complies with the prescription (art. R. 4312-38 CSP).
Preparation and assistance can therefore be kept separate, with full respect for the skills of both nurses and pharmacists.
