Medication aides taking nursing jobs?

Hi! I have been an RN for 15 years. I am currently living in NC, and in Summer 2006 nursing homes in our state will be able to use "medication aides" (CNA with an additional 24 hours of training) to give medications - all but injectables. Won't this eliminate a lot of LPN/RN LTC positions. All to save the facilities $$$$. Anyone out there familiar with this?

(CNA with an additional 24 hours of training) to give medications - all but injectables. Won't this eliminate a lot of LPN/RN LTC positions.

I hope I die before I have to end up in a nursing home if this is the trend. I can't imagine how they're going to lower the standards 30 years from now.

Hi! I have been an RN for 15 years. I am currently living in NC, and in Summer 2006 nursing homes in our state will be able to use "medication aides" (CNA with an additional 24 hours of training) to give medications - all but injectables. Won't this eliminate a lot of LPN/RN LTC positions. All to save the facilities $$$$. Anyone out there familiar with this?

This "upward skill track" has been going on since nursing started and will continue. Remember, there was a time when nurses couldn't even take blood pressures. Now, with just a little extra training, RN's can first assist. As RN's do more and more "MD type" skills, the vacumn will be filled by LVN's. I'm not surprised that LVN's are now running units and serving as charge. Now, CNA's, with just a little extra training, will fill the void as LVN's "up track".

I've even seen an RN hook nasal cannula up to wall suction!