Re: Can CNA pass out meds or have any other certifications in TN?
in the state of TN as a CNA you CAN NOT pass meds. Now in some states they have certified medicine technicians, but state of TN does not recognize them and to me that's not safe practice to have someone passing meds that don't know how the body and disease process works and most don't know when to hold meds and not.
As a CNA you will being doing basic patient care (bathes, lotion, dressing and undressing them), helping them with food, helping them with tolieting, and vital signs.
.... Now I was a CNA while in school, and the way I moved up and made extra money was I got into a Level 1 Trauma center, I took on extra responsibility and got paid about 2 dollars more. I was able to spike basic maintenance IVF, assist in sterile procedures with the doctors as a surgical tech, assist in level 1 transfusion and operation of the level 1 machine, monitoring ICP's and CPP's with A-Lines, prime omni lines and hot lines, do wound care, and change KCI wound vac dressings. the things I trained for wasn't worth the pay I got, but the experience will be forever with me and I will be ahead of anybody when I go back to get RN and be ahead of any new grad RN when I go back to apply for an ICU job.
with this being said. Not all hospitals will train you like they trained me. It just depends what connections you make and what doctors really like you that say great things about you. I just happened to have allot of great connections.
Working in a nursing home as CNA will bring you in the most money, hospitals generally pay less. Private duty is good as well and you can usually find time to study will working through agency doing private duty.
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