home care CNA and meds

[mvm2]

One of the hardest parts I feel about being in home care is having to deal with clients meds.

As a CNA I have very specific lines I need to follow while handling clients meds, but circumstances sometimes make it so hard to follow those rules. Basically we can only give meds that are in weekly pill trays that have been filled by the client, there family member or a nurse. Seems simply enough till you walk into a situation that daughter or wife forgot to fill the tray, or you come on on Saturday morning and for some reason that days tray is empty and you have to try and figure out what happened.

One time I came in a situation of no pill tray just about 5different pill bottles and client needed pain meds. Had to call agencies nurse who had to call wife who called a neighbor to come over and neighbor had to give him the meds because I could not touch them. Of course neighbor is looking at me like how can you be doing this job and not do something simple like handing someone a pill.

So it can be frustrating as well as nerve wracking in hopes you are not stepping out of your territory as a caregiver.

[verene, MSN]

I completely agree. The pills are easy most of the time as our pharmacy does a great job pre-packaging things for the clients. But sometimes it just seems so silly what we can and cannot do. I have had clients ask for assistance putting in medicated eye-drops and have had to tell them that I can't. I can stabilize their arm while they do it, but I can't actually touch the bottle.

I also find the line of what can and cannot be done nerve wracking. If I'm ever in any doubt I double check with my supervisor, and/or one of our nurses. I also carry personal Liability Insurance, because I don't want to be the one thrown under the bus if something goes wrong.

[JustaGypsy]

Having worked in homecare in the past, I know exactly what you are talking about. We live in such a litigous society, you have to protect yourself. Good job doing a good job!