Is this okay/legal?

Mandychelle79, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2010

In Pa, aides at personal care homes are allowed to pass medications after they have been "Med Pass Certified"

bsyrn, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2010

Certain facilities allow this if they are as Mandychelle stated, med pass certified.

flyingchange · Oct 25, 2010

I used to work in home care with only a high school education, and I passed meds all day long to the clients there. I had to take a 2-day "med admin" course. Looking back on it I think it was incredibly stupid and risky for them to do that. I didn't know a damn thing about the meds I was passing. We were expected to utilize typical layperson channels if there was an emergency, but it led to some really cringeworthy "to the letter" lack of critical thought.

For instance one girl was prescribed an OTC plantar wart remover. We faithfully applied those patches every 3 days for months, until one day I took a good look at her foot and noticed that not only was the wart gone, it had eaten through some other tissue as well :no: When I brought it up to the supervisor, she said we still needed to follow the prescription and she would try to get it changed at the next appointment. Now, had the prescription read "apply patches every 3 days until wart GONE..."

One of my forming experiences as a nursing student...

sasha2lady · Oct 25, 2010

Where I live anybody that passes meds has to be certified through a 2 or 3 day course that is a real joke.

I guess it depends on the state and rules behind a facility.

I dont agree with that at all in any setting or state. I think only nurses should medicate people. Call me weird but ...nurses have way more training and expertise in pharmacology than a layperson who just comes in and pulls out meds. They have no idea what they are giving.

CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Oct 25, 2010

I work for a non-profit in human services, and in the residential programs staff can administer meds once they've been MAP Trained (in Mass) through the Red Cross. The initial training is 16 hours (2 full days), run by an area RN and the certification must be renewed every year. You can check out the course here: http://www.bostonredcross.org/general.asp?SN=201&OP=4318&SUOP=4537&IDCapitulo=29rrv668x1

It focuses on basic medical (prescription) terminology, the basic modes of administration, the 5 rights, reading and transcribing orders/pharmacy labels, and the process of administration. There is a pre-test before you can apply to be certified by the Red Cross, a transcription test, a written test and a practical test in which you administer tic-tacs to the examinor! :-)

It's a fairly rigorous process. We then have what we call the MAP Consultant - an on-call RN who is available any time to answer questions about whether or not to administer PRN meds, to give advice about missed dosages/anomalies in the med book, and other such support.

OttawaRPN · Oct 25, 2010

I used to work in home care with only a high school education, and I passed meds all day long to the clients there. I had to take a 2-day "med admin" course. Looking back on it I think it was incredibly stupid and risky for them to do that. I didn't know a damn thing about the meds I was passing. We were expected to utilize typical layperson channels if there was an emergency, but it led to some really cringeworthy "to the letter" lack of critical thought.
For instance one girl was prescribed an OTC plantar wart remover. We faithfully applied those patches every 3 days for months, until one day I took a good look at her foot and noticed that not only was the wart gone, it had eaten through some other tissue as well When I brought it up to the supervisor, she said we still needed to follow the prescription and she would try to get it changed at the next appointment. Now, had the prescription read "apply patches every 3 days until wart GONE..."
One of my forming experiences as a nursing student...

Which province are you in? In Ontario, any Joe Blow off the street can pass meds at a retirement home (as they are unregulated by the MOHLTC) which is pretty freakin' ridiculous. But in hospital, LTC or in the community, it has to be regulated health care professional - however we can delegate to a UCP, if we feel they have the knowledge, skill, judgment.

CRNBSN18 · Oct 25, 2010

Thanks for all the responses. Yeah, i do not believe she is certified at all. And in all honesty, i do not believe she should even be working there. The person i am referring to is my mom. She actually isnt a mom to me, she has never been there for me and down grades me every chance she gets. She is bipolar and literally crazy. Has did things to try and hurt me, left me and my brother in the mall alone as little kids to go be with a man.. and there is much much more!! She use to take care of my nana, but she treated her very badly. This is just a long drawn out history. I try so hard to be nice and have a little to do with her but she always acts crazy and i'm not exaggerating.Anyways, she works at this place and mentioned to me that she passes out meds..i just didn't see this to be right. I seriously dont trust her working with those old people. Im not being mean but she is not a good person. She's hurt me a lot in my life and i know how she treats people. i've even heard her be a little harsh with an old lady while on the phone with her. She is suppose to be quiting and getting a new job.. i hope so bc i would hate it if she is being mean to them. It breaks my heart. She even puts me down bc i am going to go to school to be a nurse and says i cant do it and im not good enough. I dont know what her deal is. Im just going to have to cut all ties with her i guess. it's just not healthy for me or my family. maybe she is just mad bc i am doing better for myself and i am a great mom. i had my first at 17 and i am twenty now and HAPPILY married to a wonderful man who doesnt do me wrong and i never leave my kids and i treat them great. Hmm.. guess i will never know! Anyways thanks again for listening, i needed to get it out, she really hurt me putting me down last night.i am trying so hard to make something of myself. and thanks again for answering my question. have a blessed day

TwilightRNurse · Oct 26, 2010

Ask the house doctor if this is okay and if you feel like it report the problems with her to the house doctor. In assisted living situations anyone can hand the patient their medications to take. They cannot however go in the med room, get them out, etc....They can open the bottles for the patient if they are in the patients private residence within the assisted living facility.

flyingchange · Oct 26, 2010

Which province are you in? In Ontario, any Joe Blow off the street can pass meds at a retirement home (as they are unregulated by the MOHLTC) which is pretty freakin' ridiculous. But in hospital, LTC or in the community, it has to be regulated health care professional - however we can delegate to a UCP, if we feel they have the knowledge, skill, judgment.

This was in Alberta. I worked for a small homecare outfit and a big one in the city after that. Both of them followed the same procedure. So long as you could read the label and say the 5 rights, and stayed awake through the 2-day course, you were "qualified" to pass meds.

The homecare was 24 hour support for people with severe disabilities, although I'm not sure if that matters or not. Either way, I shudder to think of the potential disaster.

JDZ344 · Oct 26, 2010

If you want meds given, hire a RN and stop being so damn cheap.

allnurses Guide · Oct 26, 2010

Two to three days?!? That sounds like a very bad idea. You really can't separate the study of pharmacology and A&P and your assessment skills from medication administration. Who is ultimately responsible if the CNA makes an error and there is a bad outcome?