Courses · Complex Care
Applying a Transdermal Patch
Apply, rotate, document and dispose of medicated patches safely — including the heat, duplication and handling risks that have killed people.
About this certificate
This is a non-accredited module and the Certificate of Completion is not a Statement of Attainment. It supports but does not replace your employer's medication policy and competency sign-off. Some patches — notably fentanyl and buprenorphine — are Schedule 8 controlled medications with additional legal storage, recording, witnessing and disposal requirements set by your state or territory. Follow your organisation's controlled drug procedure in addition to everything described here.
About this module
A transdermal patch delivers medication continuously through the skin, which makes it convenient and makes its errors long-lasting. This module covers how patches work, site selection and rotation, why heat is dangerous, removing the old patch before applying the new one, the patches you are most likely to encounter — fentanyl, buprenorphine, rivastigmine, rotigotine, nicotine, hormone patches and clonidine — safe handling for the worker, what to do if a patch falls off or is chewed, and disposal of a patch that still contains most of its drug.
Who it is for
Support workers and SIL staff assisting participants with prescribed transdermal medication, including pain patches, dementia patches and Parkinson's patches.
What you will be able to do
- Explain how a transdermal patch delivers medication and why that changes the risks
- Select, prepare and rotate application sites correctly
- Identify the heat, duplication and handling hazards and avoid them
- Respond correctly to a patch that falls off, is chewed or is found unexpectedly
- Document and dispose of patches safely, including controlled drug requirements
Aligned to
- NDIS Practice Standards — Management of Medication
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care — Medication Safety Standard
- Relevant state and territory medicines and poisons legislation (Schedule 8 requirements)
Lesson plan
What the module covers
| # | Lesson | What it covers | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | How patches work and why the risks are different | Continuous dosing, slow onset, and errors that last for days. | 13m |
| 02 | Applying, rotating and removing | Site selection, the heat rule, and the removal that comes first. | 14m |
| 03 | When something goes wrong | Lost patches, chewed patches, reactions and duplication. | 13m |
| ✓ | Final assessment | 12 scenario-based questions · pass mark 85% · unlimited attempts | ~15m |
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