Certified Medication Aide

Published

Is it true that CNA's can get certified as a medication aide? If so, how does one go about doing that? I'm taking a CNA course in July and I also like to be certified in dispensing medication. Does anyone know of any programs in Chicago/South Suburbs Illinois who offer this?

TIA

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

I am in Texas, and certified medication aides are extremely common here, especially in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In Texas, a certified medication aide is an experienced CNA who has completed a 4 to 6 month course that covers proper medication administration.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am in Texas, and certified medication aides are extremely common here, especially in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In Texas, a certified medication aide is an experienced CNA who has completed a 4 to 6 month course that covers proper medication administration.

Thank you for responding. I have googled "certified medication aide programs in, Chicago, Illinois and nothing turned up. I'll keep looking and asking around, until I find some answers here in Illinois. Until then, I'll focus on completing this class and gaining experience!

Thanks again,

D2BN

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had to take a different class. It cost an extra 65 dollars. It was suppose to last 4 hours but was completed in about 30 minutes. What the instrutor goes over is common sense. Hope it goes well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

try qualified medication aide (QMA). Thats what they call it indiana.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's new here in my part of Arkansas- one must be a CNA at least a year- classes here are for one sememster and meets all day on Fridays-

Most nursing homes are taking the wait and see approach before they are using them- Nurses are not at all happy about medication aids- I'm still deciding if I want to go that route or not. But good luck to you

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow for some reason here in florida our CNA classes are only for 1 week. Maybe its because the abundance of older people that we have. It seems like medtechs are welcomed here. Good luck to you as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

Hey, Commuter.

Never heard of this before, so I Googled it. Looks to me like they are further trying to erode the role of LVNs.

If they can pay CMAs less than they do LVNs to do essentially the bulk of what most LVNs do in LTC, then why staff LVNs? :confused:

What's your take on this?

Best Regards,

Michael

I am in Texas, and certified medication aides are extremely common here, especially in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In Texas, a certified medication aide is an experienced CNA who has completed a 4 to 6 month course that covers proper medication administration.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

Please, do NOT ever confuse a CMA ( medication aid) with a LPN ( Licensed Practical Nurse). One is a nurse, one isnt. There really is soooo much more to passing meds than just spooning them in.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

True. But I wasn't confusing them.

My question still stands. IF LTC facilities begin to use CMA's to pass meds, how will that affect LVNs.

I'm assuming not positively. So, the question I posed to The Commuter I pose to you Egglady;

"If they can pay CMAs less than they do LVNs to do essentially the bulk of what most LVNs do in LTC, then why staff LVNs?"

Regards,

Michael

Please, do NOT ever confuse a CMA ( medication aid) with a LPN ( Licensed Practical Nurse). One is a nurse, one isnt. There really is soooo much more to passing meds than just spooning them in.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Geriatrics.

Like I said before, there is SO much more to "passing meds" then just spooning them in. You have to know the meds, the possible side effects, the assessing before giving meds. This list goes on and on. Would a med aid have any idea what to do if the patient had an adverse reaction? Would they know to hold a med if vs not stable- such as a pulse at 48- would they still just spoon on in some dig? If a blood sugar was low would they still give insulin? If a B/p was low would they know to hold certain meds? Then would they know to call the doc, and to reassess? I dont think they would. I am not bashing them, I am just saying that a 4 hour course just doesnt cut it for safe med admin. I know where I am at, there are more LPN on staff than RN. It is a budget thing. As long as there is an RN in the building or on call, then they get by with all LPN's. They would not be able to do that with med aids. Plus, I dont think ( I am not positive) med aids can give narcs, or anything invasive. So, it would seem that they would need a nurse anyways....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CNA - starting LPN school January 2009!!.

You might want to ask the school that is givign your CNA class. At mine, they offer the passing meds class for an extra $20. It is a 4 hour course. I am taking it Saturday, so I can let you know what it is like.

From my understanding, becoming a med tech does not in any way replace what an LPN does. It allows you to be able to do stuff like hand-out asprin and routine rx. Assessments, and hading out more complex meds (insulin, bp, narcotics, etc.) still is the function of a nurse. I don't think it is necessarily something one would consider as a career alternative to an LPN. More like a resume padder for a CNA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion