Help CNA passing meds

[littlebitark]

I work in assisted living- and in Arkansas CNA's are allowed to assist with meds- but we are actually doing the passing the meds- co workers are passing meds, ordering meds, it's real scary cause I know I don't have the experience or knowledge to pass out all these pills including the narcs.- This is so scary what if we make a mistake???

[skbgirl]

Leave that place right now, do not worry there is a better opportunity just around the corner. Protect yourself at all cost, the facility will deny they asked you to do it.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Regulations in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) or Long Term Care (LTC) are much more strigent when Medicare or Medicaid is the payer and patients need skilled nursing or physical therapy care. SNF's are required to have at least 8hrs/day of RN staffing.

Regulations for assisted living facilites usually fall under group home regulations were there is NO requirement to have nursing presence at all in resident's care as residents are considered stable. :icon_roll

Therefore unlicensed assistive personal commonly provide medications to those living in group homes, facilites for those with mental health/mental retardation (MH/MR), and domicile care homes.

[spunky1281]

This is NOT illegal. I used to work in assisted living and am on call in a different one right now. All new employees are given 4 hours in a crash course in medications. You are then checked off on skills with an RN. I have set up, passed meds, and given narcotics in assisted living. It was scary at first for me but I got used to it. It's a lot easier than you think. If you are unsure, I would ask for more training.

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

Wow, I'm really surprised to hear this but thanks for the clarification Spunky and NRSKaren. I have to say that honestly its really very scary to hear that a nurse doesn't have to be present at all times in an assisted living facility and that unlicensed personnel are giving out medication (including narcotics) with as little as 4 hours of training and a checklist. No offense to any of those unlicensed personnel but I don't think its very safe at all without at least a nurse on-site for supervision.

!Chris

[DELLGIRL07109]

[Katie5]

Very very highly suspect. Why make people go to school then when anyone can pass and order medications?So wrong on many levels!

[traveler85]

Oh my! I defintely would never want to be a patient there. I will say, while I'm not familiar with your state's policy on CNA's passing meds, this sounds incredibly dangerous and you might want to consider calling the State Board of Nursing on them.