Medication Tech Training

Specialties Disabilities

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Okay, the state of Tennessee has just passed a law granting properly trained staff permission to pass medications. I know there are plenty of other states out there that have been doing this for years, but this is new to us. Was wondering if anyone can share training material on properly training direct care staff to pass medications safely? I work in an ICF/MR facility, so it is not Supported Living. All ideas, thoughts and trainings are welcome.

Thanks, Charlie

Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

Here in MA, our Nurse Practice Act specifically states that we are NOT liable for errors made by MAP certified personnel . Otherwise there is no way i would do this either.

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Massachusetts has an state- approved plan ; and has been using it for years. The people passing meds have to go thru a 12 to 16 hour course, and be tested by an independant testing agency. (American Red Cross at present )

i am currently a MAP ( medication administration program ) trainer and do find that the staff need ALOT of training and practice to do this properly.[/quote

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Hi Charlie,

I have the training material that RI uses and what we are supposed to start using in January as well. It owuld be advisable to actually look at the ammendment that was passed to see if it specifically states what training material should be used. If there isn't specific training material I'd be more than happy to share what we use. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance--this is an area that means a lot to me as an RN. I've seen it be successful, but I've also seen it fail miserably and put some clients at risk.

Sandy

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

Whether I was responsible for "their errors" or not, I would not let an unlicensed person dispense meds to patients assigned to me. I am in TN also and have not heard anything about this. How can a person trained between 8-16 hours possibly be any kind of substitute for a person who went to school for years? Perhaps T.A. Ball (Canada) would approve of this? :idea: :chuckle

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Specializes in pedi, pedi psych,dd, school ,home health.

Dutch girl. i do agree with you... i do not provide direct care, my job is classified as a nurse consultant, so that is why i can (almost) try to live with the MAP program. I train most of my staff, and re train, and investigate every med occurrence thoroughly and follow thru with re- training. If we have an individual that has new meds or a new dx, i go in and do additional specific trainings.

totally OT...where in TN do you live? I am going to Nashville next week!!

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OK--so get this! For several years we fought to get our Nurse Practice Act ammended to allow delegation to Direct Support Professional for medication admnistration etc. in group homes for the deelopmentaly disabled. Effective, 1/1/2007 we are supposed to start using a new, more detailed curriculum that the state was supposed to institute. Well, it has not yet been instituted but the Nurse Practice Act specifically states that particular trianing program. So, as of 1/1/2007 I cannot delegate to anyone who has not worked within the system for less than two years or I will be in violation of my license. (not just me, but all the nurses in the DD field in my state) We wrote to the Director of our field at the state level, and she hasn't even replied to us. Do I A) go to the Board of Nursing and tell them what is going on? B) Let our state nursing agency know c) contact the ANA? D) learn to live with it? E) fnd a new job (after being with my agency for almost 10 years)?

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where can i get medication tech training online

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Specializes in med/surg, psych, public health.

^^ There is no online training for certified medication tech.

I am a cna for several yrs. and last yr. got my cmt. I had 30 hrs. training and took a written & practical test given by an RN from state. I can only pass meds in assisted living, home health & in MR/DD group homes or respite facilities. In TN, license certification is good for 2 yrs. & then you are tested again for recertification.

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Hi all-

I stumbled onto this site while searching for info on MAP testing in my area(Massachusetts). I am not a nurse but have worked in the field of human services for over 15 years and feel that Nurses are completely overworked and underpaid!!! I used to dispense meds W/O MAP training when I worked in VT. and always thought it was horrible, so many people making mistakes, etc. After getting MAP certified when I worked in MA I felt better about the system and the training process but still saw too many folks who should NEVER have passed the test skate through the practicum(sp?). These same people proceeded to give out meds and made numerous mistakes. I think that med passes should be done by nurses only because you need lots of time and experience to do it right. I like to think of myself as one of the employees who is extra careful not to make errors but feel it's just not appropriate for residential counselors, etc. to be handling medications. I personally don't like the responsibility and honestly don't know enough about the meds I'm handing out to feel ok about doing it.

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Specializes in med/surg/ortho.

I feel there's a reason we take pharm..its to be able to pass meds safely. I have been an aid for 3 years...and would not have trusted any but maybe 3 others I worked with to be safe with med passes. I do not claim to know everything..or even anywhere near everything and certainly anyone can have an unexpected reaction to meds even with an RN or LVN. However would an unlicensed worker know about adverse reactions,etc? I know the idea of med techs will be touted as a way to save nurses' time...but I believe in the end it will be a way to reduce rn staffing. Wasn't the hep flush incident in Indy a med tech??!!

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Specializes in Developmental Disablities.

I work in Montana and the "Hab Staff" have to take a Medication Test given by the state,then go thru what we call a Med Practicum training course. This teaches the staff to "assist" the client with taking their medication. We have a Medication Program in place that the client has to follow to the best of their ability. I work with a facility that has clients that are serverly develomentally disabled and we have a medical based group home that has 24 hour nursing along with support of LPN's and an RN. The "Hab Staff" are trained to assit the client to take their medication.

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:uhoh3: Charlie,

I am an RN for a Texas ICF/MR, HCS, CWP program agency. It is hard to train direct care staff, because they lack some of the knowledge base needed to pass medications to special needs clients. We Do a Self administer Medication Training course. It basicly goes through the 5 rights and includes side effects and purpose of the drug. We have many med errors and are attempting to fix the problem. Good luck.

Jen RN Comminity

Okay, the state of Tennessee has just passed a law granting properly trained staff permission to pass medications. I know there are plenty of other states out there that have been doing this for years, but this is new to us. Was wondering if anyone can share training material on properly training direct care staff to pass medications safely? I work in an ICF/MR facility, so it is not Supported Living. All ideas, thoughts and trainings are welcome.

Thanks, Charlie

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