Becoming a medication aide??

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I am just needing some information about what being a medication aide entails? I start an RN program this fall and we were told in orientation that after first semester we could take an exam to become a medication aide or a CNA to work while in school, and possibly even a home health aide for hospice. I have read some heated posts on here about medication aides. I don't want to get blasted for looking into this. I just don't know anything about this title and was wanting to know some more information like what they do exactly, the pay rate, why the heated posts regarding this, and would one of the other jobs mentioned above be a better choice and why. Thanks so much.

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I totally agree with you Bradley. I worked so very hard for my A's in Anatomy, Physiology, Micro, and Pharmacology! I took two of these classes per semester (I had everything else completed already), worked a full-time job, and raised three kids on my own. That probably would get under my skin that a medication aide can come in with little training and pass meds. They cannot however push IVs or hand out narcotics, correct? Whew!! Well the hard work has paid off. I got into a program. Thanks for your post.

Yeah, imagine that. Just to save costs, they would rather risk the lives of patients.

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

check with the texas bon...i am getting ready to teach a class here in va, and med aides can only work in alf's (not snf's or hospice), group homes, and adult day care.

each state has wildly different rules on this, so check before you spend time and money on this..

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Specializes in Home Care, Hospice, OB.

in va, they can give insulin, use epi pens, and yes, give narcotics and psychotrophics...:angryfire

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