Medication Aides in Ohio

[feisty_lpn]

http://www.nursing.ohio.gov/medicationAides.htm

I'm very upset about this and I'm wondering about LPNs in states that have medication aides. How is the job market? Did your pay drop? Are there LPNs/LVNs at all?

I'm glad I decided to go for my ADN next year instead of waiting until my baby enters preschool.

[melisa_s]

I spent 11 Years as a Med Aide in the State of Kansas, which is a 75 hour course. We are Liable for our own actions, not our nurse. My Med Aide to Patient Ratio was 67 to 1. I passed ALL Meds, did Finger sticks (nurse did injections) TXs, dealt with the Aides so the Nurse was not bugged, Assisted with Meals, Answered Call Lights, Took Care of the Pharmacy when they came in, made sure everything was stocked and ordered. And in 11 years I had ONE Med Error. Passed meds in front of State Several Times with out ever an incident!

I now Regret Moving to Ohio. You mention that you passed meds and the nurses treat you like you are beneath them, because your not a nurse you cannot possibly have the mental capability to pass meds. I Went to College, and Every Moment that was spent in school, was learning Meds.

And Kansas Nurses are still Paid very well.... While med aides make maybe $1 more then the CNAs.

[systoly]

I practiced in a LTC in Ohio many years ago when OH didn't have med aides. At the time I had to complete OH state approved courses for medication administration and IV therapy in order to perform these tasks in Ohio. My residence was in a neighboring state (med aides here), but Ohio paid much better. Patient load was between 28 and 32 and only about 2 to 3 of those patients were total care - much lower acuity then. By far most of my time was spent passing/managing meds.