Advice if CNA is asked to do med pass

[kayvia]

Hi I'm an RN who no longer works in Healthcare. My 20 year old daughter just got her first job as a CNA in an LTC/Rehab center (she's doing her pre-reqs now for BSN program next fall). Here is my question, at a different LTC that she had applied to she shadowed a CNA (not med tech) for the day. When she got home she said the CNA passed all the meds and hung bags of what to my daughter looked like IV meds but I'm not sure she'd know... To me this seems totally out of scope of practice for a CNA and rather freaked me out (but I only ever worked in hosptials). So the question is, how does she handle this if she is asked to do this in her first 'real' job? Is this common? Is my reaction unreasonable? I'm figuring forewarned is forearmed so any other advice for her would also be welcome. Thanks!

[motherof3sons]

Here in Maine to give meds in LTC you need to be a CNA for 1 year and complete a 120 hour med course. When you pass you are a

CNA-M

In other assisted living facility or group home setting you are a CMA, different course, different guidelines.

[TurtleCat]

This is something I was curious about myself, the legality of a CNA passing meds. See, I'm a CNA and my current job has me passing meds, however, it's a bit of a different setting than the usual LTC. It's a residential assisted living home, or group home, with only five clients, where a CNA or caregiver works by themselves and does a little of everything -- the usual CNA duties, plus housekeeping, laundry, making meals and administering medications. The medications I have to pass are only oral or topical, nothing IV (and if they asked me to administer IV meds, I would refuse), and the directions for administering them are pretty simple, they're all in "books" for each client where you push them out for the corresponding date and time of day they're due. I like my job but it got me to thinking about the whole legal aspect of this -- is it entirely illegal for someone to pass meds unless they have further education or training as a nurse or at least a med tech, or does it differ a little by setting or setting, and needs of the clients.

[sallyrnrrt, ADN, RN]

turtle cat it depends on setting, most private group homes are under very limitted regulation, very similar to someone living in their private home and a neighbor coming over cooks a meal and brings their meducine, larger places as real LTC facilities often receive their funding from medicare and or medicaid, and are under stricter regulations and guidelines

[SleeepyRN]

I just graduated lpn school and we did clinicals at two different nursing homes and they ALWAYS had the CNAs give the patients meds. The lpns would get them together but if it was feeding time the CNAs have it to the patient. Our instructors told us that in the real world never ever do that because it's illegal but it really does happen all the time everywhere.

The ONLY time I have allowed UPA was when it was a drink to be given with the meal. And I made sure the CNA told me if the resident did not consume all of it. To the person who said "you'd be surprised to know what a cma knows: that's bedides the point. I know how to stitch someone up, but if a doctor asked me to, I sure as heck would refuse. I am not trying to disrespect the CMAs out there. But I personally cringe at the idea of letting anyone other than myself pass my meds to a patient. I do allow creams and ointments to be applied to peri area, but even then I have them tell me when they do and the location they applied it to. I guess I shouldn't be using present tense. I haven't worked LTC in a year, and only 2 months at that; but Im starting again Tuesday. I doubt my opinion will change as I become seasoned.