[birthmamaew]

Oh, my god, what an amazingly BAD idea this is. How manybad outcomes happen in this country already as a result of medication errors already? So, say they give med. Are they also going to be monitoring for adverse effects of the drug? Assessment is not in the scope of practice. 65% of sentinel events happen because of communication breakdown. Is adding another player inthe game of telephone that we deal with daily on our units going to make this better ro worse?
Baaaaaaaaad idea.

[PANurseRN1]

Originally Posted by sbic56

At first when I saw this thread, I thought oh, no...here we go again. Time to trash the med aides. But, I am pleasantly suprised to see the tide turning in their favor. There is no statistic stating that nurses passing meds are any less apt to make an error than a med aide. If it were the nightmare that some fear it is, we'd all know about it. Plenty to worry about that really does make a differnece; this doesnt.

Are there even statistics on med aides? I would be willing to bet that the reason you don't see stats is if there is a mistake, it's the licensed nurse who gets written up on the incident report, not some med tech/med aide/ QMA/CMA/whatever-the-designation-is-today.

I'm glad you're comfortable working with them. You may have them.

[weirdRN]

I can see how many would be completely against Medtechs aides...whatever you want to call them or however they are labeled in your state.....

However, What about rad techs? Resp. therapy? PT? OT?ST?Housekeeping? Dietary? What about CNAs?

Those jobs used to be the province of REGISTERED NURSING!!!!! in someways it still is!

SO WHAT is NURSING anymore? Yeah we keep giving parts of our profession away to unlicensed assistive personnel. Usually to unskilled or technical personnel....Would you really want to do everything yourself?

LTC nursing is not as glamorous as hospital nursing. It doesn't pay as well and the job just plain sucks sometimes. It isn't cool. The rest of you can complain all you want. I am comfortable with the med techs that work for me. They allow me to use my education to do something other than pass pills and run the halls all day.

Yeah, I hate the idea of importing nurses and I hate the idea of giving away parts of our practice, but until Nursing Leadership gets off their behinds, it is up to us in the trenches to do the best that we can with what we have.

[PANurseRN1]

You cannot compare a med tech, whose education may vary wildly from state to state, to that of PT (which is going toward a PhD requirement), OT (Master's degree in most areas), etc., then try to compare them with housekeeping and dietary. There is no comparison.

I'm amazed that people are still OK with auctioning off one of the most serious aspects of nursing care to the lowest bidder. What a pity that so many value their licenses so little.

If you see medication administration as little more than passing pills, then maybe you shouldn't be giving meds at all. It's not a perfunctory job, and most nurses (RN/LPN) know that all it takes is one mistake to cost them their licenses and their careers.

[PANurseRN1]

it is up to us in the trenches to do the best that we can with what we have

Wrong. It's up to "us in the trenches" to scream bloody murder when bean counters try to palm this kind of ridiculous solution off on us. Our nursing leadership should be four-square against this, but they're too busy with more important matters, like backing political candidates and fighting for advanced practice rights. They couldn't care less what's happening "in the trenches."

[caroladybelle]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

After dealing with some of the screwups that happened when I worked Medsurg and LPNs passed all the (nonIV) meds for the floor, I don't work with LPNs. There are plenty of places that need my skills, where it is RN only.

In addition, given the attitudes of many of the aides, I ask for very little assistance from them. I am more than happy to do my own cares, Thank You.

Personally, I believe that EVERY SINGLE PERSON that works with the patient should have the appropriate license/training for their job that gets them held solely responsible for their actions. No NAs/NTs/MTs, only licensed staff.

[Marie_LPN, RN]

Originally Posted by caroladybelle

After dealing with some of the screwups that happened when I worked Medsurg and LPNs passed all the (nonIV) meds for the floor, I don't work with LPNs. There are plenty of places that need my skills, where it is RN only.

In addition, given the attitudes of many of the aides, I ask for very little assistance from them. I am more than happy to do my own cares, Thank You.

Personally, I believe that EVERY SINGLE PERSON that works with the patient should have the appropriate license/training for their job that gets them held solely responsible for their actions. No NAs/NTs/MTs, only licensed staff.

Almost gave my own reply to the thread, but this sums it up for me.

[NicInNC]

Originally Posted by VickyRN

Many of these same LTC facilities in NC are not hiring LPN's in favor of the med aides It all boils down to less $$$$ Our frail elderly residents deserve better. Here in NC, all that is required to become a med aide is 24 hours' worth of training. And this is with the full blessing (and instigation) of our board of nursing

Yeah, I'm in NC, so I know what little amount of training is required. I just don't want the responsibility of being one with such little training. I'm the type that wants to know as much as I can about something and I just don't feel like I would know enough about all those medications in that short amont of time. I'm sure it would COME in time, but it's just not my thing.

[chadash]

Forgive me if I am repeating myself, but
NOOOOOO!

[chadash]

Originally Posted by NicInNC

I'm a CNA and my facility uses Med Aids (we call them Med Techs). They won't even hire CNA's anymore unless they agree to become a Med Tech. It's now a requirement at my facility.

I was hired before that rule went into effect though. I got all my Med Tech training, memorized everything and then gave it all back. I will NOT be a Med Tech. I don't want the responsibility and it cuts back on my time that I get to spend with my residents.

Plus, I'm currently in a Phlebotomy course and I am putting all my extra time into that.

Yeah! I won't do it either. I will go to nursing school if I want to pass meds. Won't risk the patients.