CNA's passing meds

Sleepyeyes · Sep 2, 2002

In Missouri, I went through a certification course in which I was taught to pass meds. We couldn't do parenterals. My certification was for Medication Technician. I could then pass meds for LTC's.

My daughter did a similar program in NY.

In FL, in an assisted living facility, the person "assists" the person taking their own meds. (Which to me sounds like a med pass with absolutely no safeguards.)

azgirl · Sep 2, 2002

Here in AZ the assisted living facilities try to get "certified caregivers" which pass meds. Very dangerous and maddening as there have been horrific mistakes and makes me mad that they are paid $8 to $10 an hour and trying to replace nurses.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 2, 2002

http://www.cga.state.ct.us/2000/rpt/olr/htm/2000-r-0705.htm

A LOT of states have these. I didn't see SC on the list, but it probably will be soon. I can see in the future that the hospitals will convince the legislature to "help the nurses shortage" by using techs in the hospitals. Why not? Grrrrrrrrr

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 3, 2002

Noth Dakota:

Medication aides

"give medication to nursing home residents under the direct supervision of a nurse or other licensed professional"

That means allowing another person TO PRACTICE UNDER YOUR NURSING LICENSE with YOU the RN/LPN liable for mistakes.

NOT a good ideas, IMO. Glad PA has not jumped on this bandwagon.

Patients are on too many medications requring evalution of effects that a Medication aide can not possibly know.

Still keep my drug book at my side after 25 years of practice. Anyone ever see a Medication tech ever refer to a drug book??

nursecheryl · Sep 3, 2002

I live in Ohio and had a job for 1.5 years at a childrens psych facility that allowed CNA to pass meds until one of the patients committed suicide with the pills she hid under her tongue for a few weeks. I don't know what legal issues happened after this incident because no one talked about it and it was a few years before I started working there. All I know is only RN's or LPN's pass meds there now.

cheryl

moonchild20002000 · Sep 3, 2002

I worked in a LTC facility that used CNA"S to pass meds to Assisted Living patients.

I don't think it worked well,the CNA"S only had a 4 week class,they were not prepared IMO.

There were many medication errors,I resigned,I just didn't feel like I could be a part of that.

But,I do need to say that in no way am I putting down CNA's. I worked with many great aids,they really didn't have much choice in the matter.

RNbella · Sep 3, 2002

In OR, we call them Certified Med Aides.........they pass all the meds in LTC facility and quite a godsend........they do not make decisions r/t prn meds and only give meds that are listed on MAR. Injections, suppositories, etc. are posted in TAR for nurse.

Actually, they are CNA's who undergo some 6wks of additional pharmacology training.

Having worked in LTC for many years, I don't know what we ever did without them passing 8am meds, and some facilities still require the nurse to do this time consuming med pass(along with having 20 skilled patients).......then turn right around and do noon med pass, forget the tx and acutely ill patients you have been assigned........too busy passing APAP and MOM.

pebbles, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2002

I graduated from one of the few nursing programs in North America that had no pharmacology component.... (they have since changed that) We had a one hour lecture on pharmacology. The rest was look it up in the drug book as you go along, learn new meds by experience. As long as these people recieve adequate training, I don't see the problem. There are aides that do that in some "assisted supervised living" facilities here too. 5 rights, etc.

Teshiee · Sep 3, 2002

It is bad enough you have medical asst in doctors offices trying to pass off as nurses, now you have CNA's passing meds? It won't be much longer when nurses will be the thing of the past. Another ploy ofcutting nursing down as if it was an occupation. I guess when unlicensed people kill enough patients because of improper training they will learn. I speak on this because like many others on this thread I work very hard to get my license and it is not only popping pills, nursing is very dynamic challenging profession that takes critical thinking. Giving pills is a small aspect of it yet you have unlicensed people dishing them out not having an inkling what the pill is for what vital signs you may have to obtain before administering. I sware it seems these states that go for this okey doke is trying to skate up hill. Nurses, we as a whole need to get it together start unionizing it is no wonder some of us are leaving nursing in droves. Purley stupid...... just my 0.002 worth.

jenac · Sep 3, 2002

Teshiee- I agree wholeheartedly! I worked very hard to get my nursing license, and the idea of a Med Tech being able to give meds is terrifying to me. We have all been trained to assess health variations and understand the process of disease. We have spent years studying A&P, Basic Nursing and Nursing Care- in addition to countless hours of indepht pharm. Medication Administration is SOOO much more than just giving a pill- it's recognizing all aspects of care necessary to maintain life and comfort. It's about knowing the course of a disease and what we have been trained to do about it. It's about knowing the difference being a normal disease process and an adverse reaction. It's about having the knowlegde to make critical thinking judgements- that can mean the difference between life or death. I understand that the theory behing the Med Tech is to "free up" nurses to do other duties, but how many Assisted Living and LTC facilities have no nurse on staff at the time that these Meds are given? How many hire these Techs in lue of a nurse? It's half-rated care. How many Tech's have the knowledge to recognize a lifethreatening reaction the occurs instantaniously- and the knowlegde to deal with it? And what of the VS that need monitored with so many of these meds for the elderly? Do they monitor them- and have the knowlegde to recongize the signs of drug toxiciy?

When this issue recently came up last year in Ohio-I immediately wrote and called my congressmen. And organized each of my 32 classmates to do the same. Although I do understand the rationale for this issue, and have seen first-hand a justifiable need- it terrifies me none the less. Again- there is so much more to health management than giving a pill. That's why we spend so much time in school, learning all we do.

Just my opinion on this can off worms......thanks for letting me rant and rave!

nightingale, RN · Sep 3, 2002

I shudder at the thought of med. techs. passing meds.

B.