How much Training?

[tonicareer]

Do you think people should receive in non- nursing type jobs? Like Dental Assistant (often no training), Optical Assistant ( In Walmart they send cashiers over to help insert contacts and measure for glasses and such) , Pharmacy clerks (off the street here), Doctor Office Assistant (often temps and not trained). I am sure there are others. Since I have a partial medical assistant degree I find it strange that they prefer to hire someone off the street with no knowledge of medical terminology or medical law and ethics, not to mention not knowing to wash your hands, first-aid and CPR. Just wondering how others feel when going to these places and people are so inept that you have to explain their job to them. Since I live in a rural area I don't have alot of options on where to go. Maybe in bigger cities more skilled people are hired? Any opinions here? Thank you.

[dixienurse2be]

i work at walmart (yeah i know...not my fav. place) but they never send any of us cashiers into the vision center to help out. Even if they ever HAD to...and i don't think they would unless it was the absolute last choice...the only thing we would do would be run the register. Any walmart that's doin that probably shouldn't be, because I think you have to be trained to do that. Maybe the one's you have seen were specially trained to help out sometimes. But I definitely agree with you that there needs to be some level of training involved in these things. I know some people who work at pharm techs that I DEFINITELY don't think should be doing that and trusted having access to what they do.

[jemb]

You've got to be kidding! Untrained people putting in contacts and measuring for glasses??? Sounds to me like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I shiver at the thought of any of the Walmart cashiers around here attempting to touch my eyeballs!

[tonicareer]

I live in a small Indiana town. Yep the girl putting contacts in had no training. Just walked to the back office and got out a lab coat (makes them looked trained) and went to work. Didn't wash her hands, had long fingernails and didn't have a clue. Untrained people in doctor offices and dental offices are common here. Kind of scary isn't it?

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

Touching those register keys, handling money and items that have been touched by God knows who, slapping on a lab coat (yeah - that makes you an expert ) and touching something that will go IN SOMEONE'S EYE without even washing their hands??? GROSS!!! I'll put in my own contacts, thanks all the same. Somebody somewhere is going to wonder where they got that eye infection that may damage their sight...that person may own walmart after all is said and done.My dentist displays the certificates of all the hygenists in his office - I like that. I don't want someone coming near me who is not qualified. The LPNs/MAs at my doctors office don't really do much independently, so I don't really worry about it. I go to the in-office lab for labs to be drawn, where a trained phlebotomist does the stick.

OJT is not appropriate for any kind of health care!