Medication Aides

I was always under the impression that you had to be licensed to give medications. For a facility to use med aides would be shadey to say the least. But if they're legal I can see where they'd be utilized...to save money of course.
40 hours of class time is 5 days of a work week...And to think I had to sweat it out for a semester of Pharmacology. Yipes! What is nursing coming to? This sounds disasterous IMHO. Some of the CNA's at my facility can do straight caths and insert foleys, but they won't because they feel it's beyond their scope of practice even though they are allowed. Maybe little by little they'll phase out the nurse doing any skilled tasks so the "medics" can do them and let the nurses do the unsurmountable paper work dictated by JCAHO. It seems that almost everyday there's a new form to fill out for something that's added to the many we already have to do! Does it ever end??? Apparently not...which brings me to another thread topic...

I think you're talking about a QMA. Do they still use them?

It's important to have someone passing meds who not only can read the package and dispense the proper amount, but understands the effects on the body, side effects and when NOT to give them. I don't know what QMA training involves, but if there aren't chemistry, pharmacology and physiology courses (at a minimum) then how does the person know what they're giving and what it's supposed to do?

I am from Kentucky and I know some of the nuring homes use Certified Medical Techs (CMT). They pass meds but don't do any type of treatments. I know you have to be a CNA first.

Nurse Ratched,
This is exactly why I am against "med aides".
This is why I say If you want to hire someone to pass meds, hire a nurse.
-Russell

Rusty et al - it's a shame the public in general doesn't realize it (or perhaps more accurately, the suits.) Anyone in scrubs with a week of class is qualified to dispense meds...especially if they're cheaper than a nurse.

In my State CMA's are CNAs with six months experience, I believe have 40 hours of class time in the med aide course, and then have 12 hours of med passing time/teaching with an RN. Rather scary at that for a person to be passing meds.

Facility # 1 I worked for would have a CMA pass meds, do all txs. if did not involve a Stage 3 area or greater, chart what they did or things they could obserb, all which had to be cosigned by a nurse. Narcs could be counted with a CMA/Nurse combo, they could not remove a narc, but did pass them. I was 'reassured' frequently when myself and other nurses got very adament regarding what they should/shouldn't do that this fell into the state guidelines and that the facility educated them on how to do things correctly.

Facility #2 : CMAs passed meds, do chem strips, all txs if skin intact or just an simple skin tear and edges were approximated, could not go near the narcs and did not chart anything other then on the MAR.

Facility #3: CMAs pass meds, do no txs, narcs or charting except on MAR. They did some txs in the past, but that was stopped.--I don't know why as I've only been there a month.

I think each state has their own specifics, BUT each facility will create their own policies for the CMAs regarding the needs they need at the time. And the nurse assigned to those res/pts is ultimately responsible for all the CMA does/doesn't do. I've met some very good ones that I trusted, but for the most part it was just something else to worry about.

Lisa

Also here in Iowa we have Medical Assistants that have attended I believe a 9 month diploma program. They are popular in the clinic setting...I have seen them give injections, take VS, and do simple labs. And usually are mistaken for a Nurse.

Also for my above post, CMAs take VS and then report them to the nurse.

Lisa

Incomprehensible to me, especially since I am working in a PCH that doesn't even employ LPNs.

Really? CNAS can do foleys and straight caths? I am sorry, but that is just not right. In my hosptial, LPNS aren't allowed to catheterize men or children.Also, often CNAS and medical assistants are mistaken for nurses and what bothers me is that they don't correct the mistake. I also know of some CNAS I work with who don't wear their IDS and wear plain old scrubs and call themselves nurses. I know a CNA who told a pt who was complaining of lower leg pain to massage his calf. When I told her that you shouldn't massage your calf, especially if you have a hx of clots(this pt did) she told me I didn't know what I was talking about and that she never heard of such a thing. I also know CNAS who do trach care and suction vents, etc. They are not allowed but feel it is OK becuase they have worked there a long time. So does that mean if they work in L&D for 20 years as a CNA it isOK if they deliver a baby?Am I wrong to be bothered by these things? I am a CNA and also a student and even though there are a lot of things I KNOW how to do because I am in school, that doesn't give me the right to perform them when I work in the role of a nurse's aid. I am still unlicensed and I don't overstep my bounds.

Flo, it is ILLEGAL for a CNA to tell patients he/she is a nurse just as it is illegal for a nurse to tell patients he/she is a doctor. This is quite serious & should be addressed.

There is a reason nurses go to nursing school. We study hard -- learn nursing theory, CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, pharmacology, and clinical skills. We learn to apply our theory to our practice & know the side effects of the medications we give our patients.
We know when to question a med, hold a med, etc. There is so much to know -- we're not just passing meds -- it involves so much more. I don't even like other nurses to pass my meds for me -- I would NEVER (I'd quit first) delegate a med pass to a CNA even if it became legal. I've worked too hard for my license and the personal/professional liability is far too great.

Have a wonderful healthy happy sunny weekend. Sue