[Nascar nurse]

I have worked in LTC over 20+ years. There has always been medication aides since I started way back when in this state. I NEVER thought anything of it until I began on this forum. It is just considered the "norm" here and EVERY facility does it the same. And I must add, we have some really awesome ones too - some I'd rather have take care of my loved one then some of the nurses I have seen with licenses! Here, nurses are in charge of them just like the CNA's. They are licensed by the state and held accountable for their actions. Nurses are to delegate and monitor them just like they do a CNA. QMA's (as we refer to them here) sign off for any medication they pass, nurses co-sign for PRN's. I guess I have just worked like this for so long, I fail to see the big deal. Like any other employee - if they can't do the job correctly and accurately, they are fired.

[burn out]

Sorry not on my license. I don't even trust another nurse to give my patients meds or pain meds.

This NNOC sounds very interesting. If you can PM info on them and are they only located in California and how do you join?

[HeartsOpenWide]

This seems like enough training to me. Dosn't the nurse tell them what pills to give, how much, ect? All they do is count the ones from the bottle, put them in a little cup and pass them out? I don't see what the big deal is if they are not having to make any decisions....its not rocket science.

[supermo]

That was the look on my face when I found out how much training is involved with becoming a med tech/med aide.

In NC, a division of the Health & Human Services called Division of Facility Services regulates all LTC facilities, CNAs, and MED TECHS/MED AIDES. I didn't even take a class. I looked on their website and ordered the sample test and study guide. The questions are so simple that I passed the practice test with a 95 without even opening the study guide. I scheduled the FREE test and received notice a week ago that I passed. I am officially a MED TECH with no training. Scary huh? I now have to be checked off on a skills sheet by an RN during orientation on the Med carts. Granted, this is an assisted living center and not skilled nursing.

Not to toot my own horn, I am brighter than the average bear, and a pre-nursing student, but geez, this was WAAAAAAAAAY too simple.

P.S. I will be passing narcotics & PRN with no direct supervision. I will just sign the MAR, do a count at the end of my shift and that's it. If the LPNs sign off on it anywhere, I haven't seen it.

[StudentNurseBean]

Originally Posted by supermo

That was the look on my face when I found out how much training is involved with becoming a med tech/med aide.

In NC, a division of the Health & Human Services called Division of Facility Services regulates all LTC facilities, CNAs, and MED TECHS/MED AIDES. I didn't even take a class. I looked on their website and ordered the sample test and study guide. The questions are so simple that I passed the practice test with a 95 without even opening the study guide. I scheduled the FREE test and received notice a week ago that I passed. I am officially a MED TECH with no training. Scary huh? I now have to be checked off on a skills sheet by an RN during orientation on the Med carts. Granted, this is an assisted living center and not skilled nursing.

Not to toot my own horn, I am brighter than the average bear, and a pre-nursing student, but geez, this was WAAAAAAAAAY too simple.

P.S. I will be passing narcotics & PRN with no direct supervision. I will just sign the MAR, do a count at the end of my shift and that's it. If the LPNs sign off on it anywhere, I haven't seen it.

I'm sorry, but what you just said..is absolutely scary. Especially when talking about narcotics. As a nursing student now and an RN in 10 months, NO WAY will I allow that. I am not risking my license, the life of my patient and all of my hard work. No thanks. Doesn't matter how busy I am.

[kids]

Oregon has been using CMAs for as long as I can remember.
There are strict regulations on the meds (no injectables) that can be delegated.
If the CMA fails to follow training and policy, acts outside their scope or fails to report any variance (including adverse reactions) the the LN is not responsible.

[weirdRN]

It is My opinion that part of the problem with nursing is the various state boards and individual nurse practice acts for each state. It would make life ever so much simpler if every state had the same regs for how things are done.

NO med aide who has not been trained to MY satisfaction will ever work under my license.

[JinglyJon]

From my understanding from reading on Ohio's website, medication aides are not allowed to pass out narcotics...it must be different in other states

Edit: The website says they are not allowed to dispense schedule II controlled substances.

[Daytonite]

I'm sorry, but I just can't help but laugh at what hypocrites some of you are. I heard RNs protesting that they weren't going to let LPNs pass meds or start any of their IVs when the laws changed before. To qualify, LPNs had to take a medication course and I'm not sure it was even 70 hours long. The IV certification course was only 30 hours long. The hospital I worked at gave it's LPNs 2 years to get their medication certifications. LPNs were saying they were going to quit before they'd start giving any medications. Where are all of those RNs and LPNs now? They've changed their minds, dudes! Because it all worked out. LPNs still don't give IV narcotics, but no one ever questions their ability to give oral medications. I think that most of you didn't live through that transition. But, let me assure you that it was a big controversy. Every night at work that was one of the topics of conversation between the RNs and LPNs on the staff. RNs were mad that LPNs were being given such a big responsibility; LPNs were mad that they were being forced to do something they never asked for. Medication administration never used to be taught in LPN school, so when this was granted to LPNs to do they had to learn it from no knowledge base at all--just like medication aides are going to have to. Some procedures are very, very routine and lend themselves to this kind of delegation.

One thing about nursing and healthcare that never changes is that it is always changing. It you can't deal with change then leave, go, bye-bye. Go sit out on a porch somewhere and stagnate and wallow in your negative energy. Step aside so others who aren't afraid to pick up the torch and run with it can carry on and move things forward.

[kwagner_51]

Somewhere on this board I signed in as being opposed to MA's. I have since changed my mind.


I work in LTC. This one has 5 different units. 2 have about 18 pts each and 3 have between 23 & 30 patients. The unit names are: North 1 & 2, South 1 & 2, and Rehab.

North 1 and South 2 have MA's. South 2 has 27 pts. LPN's and RN's work South 1 but an MA works by herself on South 2. In fact, it was a MA who trained me on North 1 and South 2.

The pts have been on the units for years. In fact, the MA's took care of them as CNA's so they know the pts better than I do.

When a MA works North 1, the Nurse on North 2 gives the required insulin to the pts. Its the same for South 2.
I have to confess, that the MA's got more medicine training than I got and I'm an RN!!

My med training consisted of a list of meds that were going to be on an 8 question test the next week. Each student was responsible for learning the material and it wasn't discussed by any of the instructors.

I still became an RN but I'm telling you, 70 hrs of training to become a MA sounds real good to me!!

When I first started working as an RN, I looked up every medication that I was giving my pts because I had no clue what they were or even what they looked like!! I made a cheat sheet of the different pills and capulses copied from the internet. I'm here to tell you, I didn't feel safe!!

BTW MA's can give narcs and all other meds except injectables.



_____________________________________________


In His Grace,

Karen


Failure is NOT an option!!