Do you all think med aides are bad idea?

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Im an LPN @ a LCF we were just informed we will be training several of our STNA's into Med techs, All us nurses here are very concerned that our licenses could be on the line and are scared for the well being of our patients, if any of you have any experiences or comments on this to maybe give us insight into the situation it would be great, thank you

Absoutely love them. I would not work at a facility that did not utilize med techs I would never get my work done!

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Another good excuse to hire and pay someone $9 or $10 an hour rather than recruit and retain a licensed nurse.

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I could not do my job where I work, without a Med Tech, that being said, they hire a Med Tech because they don't want to pay another nurse....RN or LPN. If I split the floor with another nurse and passed the pills, I would be fine with that too.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Personally, I hate passing meds........I'd rather spend my time actually working with the residents and making sure they're clean, safe, and happy. But then, I've had mostly great med aides who know their stuff and are always learning; in fact, sometimes they catch a potential drug interaction or a subtle change in condition before I do. They ask good questions and make ME think outside the box as well. I love my med aides!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

My residents don't need the nurses to make sure they are 'clean, safe,and happy.' They need the people with licenses to ASSESS their lung sounds, or cardiac status or their reaction to a new medication. Anyone who can read can hand out pills, but it takes the skill of a nurse to assess the patient.

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Specializes in School Nursing.
My residents don't need the nurses to make sure they are 'clean, safe,and happy.' They need the people with licenses to ASSESS their lung sounds, or cardiac status or their reaction to a new medication. Anyone who can read can hand out pills, but it takes the skill of a nurse to assess the patient.

IMO- assessing lung sounds or cardiac status would mean very little if I weren't clean, safe and happy!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

The CNAs can make 'em clean. It's everyone's job to make them safe and happy. BUT it doesn't take the skill of a licensed person. Personally I'd be happy to know there was a NURSE around who knew what to do when my lung sounds started to get adventitious. I wouldn't be happy if I went into CHF because a med aide handed me my pills and didn't see that my ankles were swelling and I was short of breath.

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In my personal opinion, I would love to have the time to pass the meds, do the assessments ,the treatments and some one on one time. I don't have the luxury of two nurse. A med tech is cheaper than a LPN, so that is what I have. I don't have a problem with med techs passing pills. The average every day Joe takes pills everyday. He/She isn't working under my license though. I don't expect the med techs to assess my patients, but I do expect them to alert me to anything "off" . The med tech allows me the time to assess my residents, I would never be able to do it all for 32 residents alone. I can barely do everything else as it is.

Bottom line, med techs save facilities money!

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The CNAs can make 'em clean. It's everyone's job to make them safe and happy. BUT it doesn't take the skill of a licensed person. Personally I'd be happy to know there was a NURSE around who knew what to do when my lung sounds started to get adventitious. I wouldn't be happy if I went into CHF because a med aide handed me my pills and didn't see that my ankles were swelling and I was short of breath.

Well, there still is a nurse there that has to assess right?

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CapeCodMermaid

I didn't mean to come off sounding rude to your reply...I just meant I still go in and physically see everyone of my residents, even if someone is passing my meds for me. Again, I would rather be doing everything for 16 patients, but it's better than trying to do everything for 32 alone!

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I think med aides are just a bad idea all around.

They do not have the pharmacology training, most of them are hired right in off the street, and I don't want anyone doing that under my license that has nothing to lose.

just my $0.02

I'm a CNA and I had two semesters of Nursing School. I took pharmacology and administered meds (parental and oral) in clinicals. I wonder if that would be training enough for me to be a med aide? Just wondering...

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I think med aides are just a bad idea all around.

They do not have the pharmacology training, most of them are hired right in off the street

Yes we are prostitutes and pimps, go figure!

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