Is anyone else uncomfortable with this?

[jill48]

I know I should be thankful when a CMT is on my floor and passes my meds for me, but it makes me somewhat uncomfortable and I feel the need to pass the meds myself. I'm just not sure that a CMT will be looking for the same adverse reactions, etc. that I would be looking for. I'm not saying she/he would not do their job to the best of their ability, I just think that when passing meds I have a few minutes to observe the patient and possible give in a little medication information/education. Plus, I've ordered quite a few barium swallows after watching a patient try to choke down that water. Am I the only one who feels that the nurse should be passing the meds?:smackingf

[PANurseRN1]

No one is teaching us to do this. We are following procedure the same as the nurses do, in regard to passing meds. We have the same accountability as the nurses, the same rules and regulations. We are to never, NEVER give a med. without an order - actually, we have a whole list of "never"s, same as the nurses. And as long as we pass meds. according to the rules and regulations we have, all will be well.

You do not have the same accountability...sorry. You have no license to lose. Your career cannot be destroyed for life. You cannot be sued and have your assets taken if you make a mistake, because you have someone to fall back on...the nurse who you report to.

[PANurseRN1]

I've been an Oral Medication Tech for 15 years, a CNA for 15 before that. Under the supervision of you, in my state, simply means that you have checked the meds and have faith in me. We are only used in long term care and the meds are sent by the pharm, are in cassetes or bubble packs. A lot of controls are in place to prevent errors, and I sign my own med errors. In order to be a med tech here, one has to work at a facility for at least a year an have a recomendation from the DON and the Administrator. I've oriented LPNs to my job that have never touched a res in their lives, let alone a med cart. So who is the better med nurse? By this time, I've known the res's for years, and am well aware when some thing is amiss with them. sorry so long

This is just so wrong. A non-nurse has no business orienting an LPN. The LPN should be oriented by another LPN or an RN. This is just another example of how nursing is being slowly diluted until it will one day be done by mostly unlicensed personnel.

This just makes me see red.