CNA's and prescription Treatments

At my facility the nurses apply all treatments unless the order states that the CNAs can do them. The nurses need to be careful if they are allowing aides to do the treatments. The wounds need close monitoring to prevent infection or worsening of the wound.

In my facility, CNAs can do dry, nonsterile dressings. I'm pretty selective about which aides I even let do that.

Nurses do the treatments although I admit to cheating with a rash on the male private parts and I allow a CNA (male) to do it under my guidance and supervision. I have no problem with the area but the patients get excited sometimes and I don;t want to deal with that.

Yep...the nurse has to do them in PA. I too will admit to letting some CNAs do this under my guidance. All of our inct barriers are orders on the MAR. There is no way that I am going to be able to apply zinc oxide or butt paste to everyone of my residents with each inct episode. Or put powder under everyones breast.
Now...if someone has an order for xenaderm and we are putting it on a stage II..yeah, I will do that one.

I really do try to help out and change the residents as much as I can..time that with the treatments and you do get a good assessment in on them.

In Massachusetts, if it is an OTC product the CNAs do it. I just went through and took 3/4s of the treatments off the nurses TAR and put them on the CNA flow sheets. I have a huge problem with nurses signing things they haven't done.

Treatments are done by the Nurses. CNA's can put on OTC creams. Anything with a prescription should be applied by a nurse. Make sure your CNA's have training in the application of topical medications/dressings if your state allows them to do these treatments. Also, if your state does not allow it, make sure the CNA's have training on what and when to report if they are using OTC creams...I mean you don't want to end up with a really bad excoriation or pressure sore because the CNA didn't report and continued just to put cream on it.

I did this a few yrs ago when I was working more full time. These type of things seem to creep back onto the TARS. Foley cath care q ****, preventative skin care items like the zinc oxide...etc....No way I'm doing foley cath care q shift...the cnas are doing it already.

You wouldn't believe what was on our TAR sheets......'give new basin and bed pan q....'...and that is done by the unit CLERK who shouldn't be signing anything in the TAR. I think some people are afraid to take anything off.