Medication Aides

natasha700 · Jul 29, 2004

It is so amazing to me how nurses talk down on other professions like the one you are talking about in this thread CNA, CMA, and MA. I happen to be a CNA and have been for 12 yrs. I have also trained in the military as a EMT-B, and I have also got my Phlebotomy training as well. I have never passed meds, but I have started IV's , draw blood, did straight caths, foley caths, sterile and non-sterile wound care. I have also assisted in a codes and the physician when needed.In military we are allowed to give injections too.
We are not trying to take your job some of us are happy with the jobs we have and just because we are not RNs doen't make us any less of a person. And if we are being refered to as a nurse just because we wear the same scrubs why is that so threatning to you??? I think the patient/ client see us as all PROFESSIONALS and may ask us a question that only a RN or LPN can answer that is fine. I wouldn't dare give advice on something that I don't know anything about and I would tell the person that I am not a nurse and have no problem referring them to one and I'm sure none of us do.
I think if you feel as thought your license is on the line because the facility you work at staffs CNA, MA etc. then don't work there. But first some of you need to find out exactly what type of training we have instead of assuming and thinking just because we didn't go to school for 2+ years we don't know anything and we can't be taught. I know I was trained by RN's, Medical lab technologist, and Dr's.
Most CNA's are using that as a stepping stone to becoming RN's one day and I think that is good for them and the nursing shortage.
And to that person that made that coment on some CNAs not having a HS diploma but a GED....there are nurses that didn't graduate from high school and went on to get their GED and on to college. Yes, nursing schools except GED applicants. And what about a Nurse practitioner/ physician assistant she/he doesn't go through schooling nor training a doctor has should she be able to perform like a doctor and should the doctor take on that burden by having them work under them??? I don't think they complain as much as nurses do. And if they do I'm sure it's about something of importance.
And some of us need to not be so cruel when talking about CNA, MA, etc. because there are some that all they want to do is be just that CNA or CMA.They don't need to hear nurses putting down the profession harping on how much school they had or didn't have and they are not competent because it wasn't as long as a nurse. It wasn't meant to be. You are missing the whole point.
Nursing is so divided right now it's pitiful. Y'all complain about ADN, Diploma degrees, BSN on up to PH.D level.(who's the best, who's the greatest) The higher up one goes the more they seem to look down on each other when in fact you all sat for the same NCLEX to become REGISTERED NURSEs 1ST......or was it different??? NOPE!
Just through that out there to say you all are never satisfied with other professions nor your own. STOP COMPLAINING AND HELP MAKE SOME CHANGES for the better. Don't just try to eliminate someones job because you feel your job is in jeopardy because of ones SCRUB OUTFIT AT WORK/ mistaken identity or because they have been certified to pass meds
Some of y'all just sound miserable.....
Rn2b204, :balloons: :balloons:
I hope I will be an inspiration and not an irritation when I become and RN.
sorry for this being so long and all the errors I get long winded at times. :) :)

Since you are not I will say this. When you worked as hard as many of us on this thread to obtain licensure having someone pass your meds is not going to cut it. In case you haven't notice there is a Nursing practice act which states that the RN is the ultimate person responsible for his/her patient so if your medication aide, cna or pca makes a grave error it will fall on the RN. No one is miserable but very tired of certain interest groups attempting to downplay what Registered nurses do. I prefer to give my own meds so I know! There is much more to just passing a med. You have to know why you are giving for that patient know what to do in a emergency situation! Passing meds is a part of a nursing duty not the whole and to carve that portion is a big mistake. When the medication is given depending what kind you may have to assess the outcome of that medication I don't recall unlicensed personnel having that in their scope of practice. I am not putting down anyone it is a matter of your scope! Like nurses have no business writing doctors orders or performing procedures w/o an order! Why should this be any different. When the day comes when you have your license you may feel different. We have our patients lives in our hands and no one is going to jepordize my care of my patients for a few bucks less an hour!

CHATSDALE · Jul 29, 2004

different states have different rules/regulations in La. I have never heard of a cna giving meds....a lpn can start an iv but limited as to what kind of push..no blood products/hyperal .. in some facilities a tech (cna) insert foleys in ltc usually you have a lpn charge nurse and the duties and respondsibilities

that go with that....we all do our jobs and look out for the best interests of our patients....some CNAs think they are LPNs, some LPNs think they are RNs and some RNs think they are MDs. and the MDs think they are GOD...

Rn2b204 · Jul 29, 2004

Since you are not I will say this. When you worked as hard as many of us on this thread to obtain licensure having someone pass your meds is not going to cut it. In case you haven't notice there is a Nursing practice act which states that the RN is the ultimate person responsible for his/her patient so if your medication aide, cna or pca makes a grave error it will fall on the RN. No one is miserable but very tired of certain interest groups attempting to downplay what Registered nurses do. I prefer to give my own meds so I know! There is much more to just passing a med. You have to know why you are giving for that patient know what to do in a emergency situation! Passing meds is a part of a nursing duty not the whole and to carve that portion is a big mistake. When the medication is given depending what kind you may have to assess the outcome of that medication I don't recall unlicensed personnel having that in their scope of practice. I am not putting down anyone it is a matter of your scope! Like nurses have no business writing doctors orders or performing procedures w/o an order! Why should this be any different. When the day comes when you have your license you may feel different. We have our patients lives in our hands and no one is going to jepordize my care of my patients for a few bucks less an hour!

Tasha,

Like I stated in a previous post there are still going to be CMA, they are going to be passing meds and registered nurses are still going to be teaching the class to certify them to pass meds. There is nothing you can do about it but live with that fact. If these interest groups are down playing the nurses role and making you feel less of a nurse (because they got CMA's passing medications) then talk to the proper people to try to get that profession ELIMINATED. I would if I was in your situation WITH that sort of attitude about CMA.

But until then CMA's are going to be around. Sorry if that gets under your skin. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Rn2b204 :) :balloons: :) :balloons:

and on that note I'M done with this thread........................

natasha700 · Jul 29, 2004

Tasha,
Like I stated in a previous post there are still going to be CMA, they are going to be passing meds and registered nurses are still going to be teaching the class to certify them to pass meds. There is nothing you can do about it but live with that fact. If these interest groups are down playing the nurses role and making you feel less of a nurse (because they got CMA's passing medications) then talk to the proper people to try to get that profession ELIMINATED. I would if I was in your situation WITH that sort of attitude about CMA.
But until then CMA's are going to be around. Sorry if that gets under your skin. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
Rn2b204 :) :balloons: :) :balloons:
and on that note I'M done with this thread........................

CMA or wanna be will never eliminate nurses! It is the frugalness of longterm facilities that won't pay for REAL nursing care!

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Jul 29, 2004

You are right on the button. I have never heard of CNAs giving meds either but in our facility we have had QMAs passing meds for as long as I can remember because that is THEIR SCOPE OF PRACTICE. Some of them has been Qs for 13 years of so. Nothing new.

different states have different rules/regulations in La. I have never heard of a cna giving meds....a lpn can start an iv but limited as to what kind of push..no blood products/hyperal .. in some facilities a tech (cna) insert foleys in ltc usually you have a lpn charge nurse and the duties and respondsibilities
that go with that....we all do our jobs and look out for the best interests of our patients....some CNAs think they are LPNs, some LPNs think they are RNs and some RNs think they are MDs. and the MDs think they are GOD...

Praying Nurse · Aug 24, 2004

I am a Wyoming Nurse and you might contact the Lander State Training School to find out how they institued Medication Aides for their facility.The address is 8204 State Highway 789 Lander Wyoming 82520 Hope this will give you some inspiration. :balloons:

I am asking this question of you because I have looked for days for my answer and am still empty handed. I need to know where I might find information on medication aides and their state practice limitations for Massachusetts. I know this is an odd forum to ask this question but I am at my wits end. I am doing this for a friend who Manages a Community Health Center. Thank you!

monalisa67 · Aug 24, 2004

I'm not familiar with Massachusetts, R.L., but in the state of Michigan where I reside a Resident Aide/Nurse Aide is allowed to pass meds in certain facilities and some foster care homes. I know this personally because I worked as a Resident Aide for a number of years before (and while) I attended nursing school. I worked with the BI population and passing meds (including narcs) and giving insulin injections was just one of my numerous responsiblities. I must admit that I was a bit offended by some of the remarks made here. Although I know first hand that there are some people (licensed included) that should not be working in health care, not all Aides are incompetent. Personally, I was extremely careful when passing meds and had ONE med error in my 6 years of Aide work, which could've happened to anyone! (licensed included) My advice would be to hire someone who has experience passing meds, be it a Resident Aide, Nurse Aide, Medical Assistant, or Nurse. Oh, and by the way... for the person who made the "Bladder Irrigation" remark. I also worked as a private duty aide for a Quad with a suprapubic cath. I irrigated his bladder qd, along with his meds, bowel program & various other duties. He remained in good health. Good luck to your friend, R.L.! :)

MonaLisa

I am asking this question of you because I have looked for days for my answer and am still empty handed. I need to know where I might find information on medication aides and their state practice limitations for Massachusetts. I know this is an odd forum to ask this question but I am at my wits end. I am doing this for a friend who Manages a Community Health Center. Thank you!

mscsrjhm · Aug 24, 2004

From the Missouri State Auditor:

"Our review of these incident reports showed a substantial number of medication errors, including 903 medication errors over 18 months at one facility. Such errors included failing to dispense medications or dispensing them late. Since we could only track medication errors through incident or injury reports, it is unknown how understated or widespread the error really is."

http://www.auditor.state.mo.us/press/2001-20.htm

This facility utilized CMTs (Certified Med Techs). Their direct supervisors were not nurses, they were Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals--degreed in human services. This is how most Residential Care Facilites are staffed (if they are contracted by the state). State facilities only utilize nurses (go figure)

Also... most of the residents were epileptics. Severe development disabilities, including heart abnormalities, behavior disorders, chronic pain, physical deformities, many physical compromises, you name it, they had it. But medications were late, or non-existent.

monalisa67 · Aug 25, 2004

I reside in Michigan, not Missouri! I stated in the previous post that errors are made by licensed and unlicensed alike. Do you argue that fact? I've worked in this field long enough to know that these errors can be/are made by Aides, but Nurses and Physicians can be/are also guilty of med errors, I've seen it happen. We read about these and other acts of negligence in our daily newspaper (or find articles on the net) so, whether it's the high patient/nurse ratio and/or being overworked and/or being stressed and/or the caregiver (licensed, or not) is just a complete moron... Whatever the case, the point I was trying to make was that not ALL unlicensed caregivers are incompetent as many of you assume. I've met quite a few "educated idiots" and have also worked with a few! Personally, I feel that being an Aide for many years helped me become the fantastic nurse I am today. I've never forgotten my roots, I treat everyone fairly and as a nurse am grateful for the COMPETENT Aides who usually tend to do the dirty work... literally! I could sit here and continue to try and convince you that there is such a thing as a competent, unlicensed caregiver, but I truly feel that it would be like beating a dead horse, so... I'm finished with this topic! Thanks to all the competent Aides out there, keep up the great work, but if you're out of work... you could always try Missouri!

QUOTE=Mschrisco]From the Missouri State Auditor:

"Our review of these incident reports showed a substantial number of medication errors, including 903 medication errors over 18 months at one facility. Such errors included failing to dispense medications or dispensing them late. Since we could only track medication errors through incident or injury reports, it is unknown how understated or widespread the error really is."

http://www.auditor.state.mo.us/press/2001-20.htm

This facility utilized CMTs (Certified Med Techs). Their direct supervisors were not nurses, they were Qualified Mental Retardation Professionals--degreed in human services. This is how most Residential Care Facilites are staffed (if they are contracted by the state). State facilities only utilize nurses (go figure)

Also... most of the residents were epileptics. Severe development disabilities, including heart abnormalities, behavior disorders, chronic pain, physical deformities, many physical compromises, you name it, they had it. But medications were late, or non-existent.

mscsrjhm · Aug 25, 2004

I reside in Michigan, not Missouri! I stated in the previous post that errors are made by licensed and unlicensed alike. Do you argue that fact? I've worked in this field long enough to know that these errors can be/are made by Aides, but Nurses and Physicians can be/are also guilty of med errors, I've seen it happen. We read about these and other acts of negligence in our daily newspaper (or find articles on the net) so, whether it's the high patient/nurse ratio and/or being overworked and/or being stressed and/or the caregiver (licensed, or not) is just a complete moron... Whatever the case, the point I was trying to make was that not ALL unlicensed caregivers are incompetent as many of you assume. I've met quite a few "educated idiots" and have also worked with a few! Personally, I feel that being an Aide for many years helped me become the fantastic nurse I am today. I've never forgotten my roots, I treat everyone fairly and as a nurse am grateful for the COMPETENT Aides who usually tend to do the dirty work... literally! I could sit here and continue to try and convince you that there is such a thing as a competent, unlicensed caregiver, but I truly feel that it would be like beating a dead horse, so... I'm finished with this topic! Thanks to all the competent Aides out there, keep up the great work, but if you're out of work... you could always try Missouri!

Monalisa, you gotta admit... 900 medication errors doesnt help the CMT argument.
However, I have also worked with very good CMTs, and poor nurses.
But, lack of education leads quickly to errors.
Also, this information wasn't directed at you. It was simply information that I had.
Please don't take offense.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Aug 25, 2004

But, lack of education leads quickly to errors.

Just think that statement bears repeating.

lydcatmar · Mar 14, 2005

just want to know if arizona has medication aides or medication technicans. if so how do i find out how to get it?