Letting CNA pass your meds, bad idea?

Nurses General Nursing

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I fill the cups and check for all interactions and whatnot, but anyone have any negative experiences or can think of any possible neg exp with this?

Thanks

yeah that sounds aganist the law if i where a cna working at that place i would refuse to give the medication and say it wasnt part of my training i had.

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Specializes in ortho/neuro/general surgery.

H-E-Double Hockey Sticks-No!

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.
I don't think it is a bad idea.

That's because you're not a nurse yet and don't have your own license to put on the line. I hope you feel differently when you actually become a nurse and study pharmacology.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
yeah that sounds aganist the law if i where a cna working at that place i would refuse to give the medication and say it wasnt part of my training i had.

That's hard to say, really. What if the CNA was offered a bit more pay, or has been at that job for some time, and it became a mandatory requirement? For me, working as a psych tech, it was mandatory. I had not been a nurse and did not value why this is a mistake, so, I just followed suit. Also, it may be that there might be limitations to what medications they can pass. We were not allowed to give injections or narcartics. For me, it was psychotropic medications, colace and vitamins. We were taught how to do dressings as well. Now that I am an LPN, I would say that it is not a safe practice, but I can see how a CNA would receive this additional responsibility if it became a job requirement to retain employment.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Long Term, Skilled,.

I'm a tech in an Emergency Room. Everyone should know that you have your busy days and your not so busy days.

On those busy days though, if your assigned to the cardiac section, things can get pretty hairy. If your assigned to the other section you might have a slow day.

I have witnessed other RN's pull meds for the busy RN's. The busy RN's are greateful for the assistance and doesn't bother to check the meds because they have someone crashing.

I'm in nursing school now but once I pass my NCLEX I know who will be passing my meds.....ME. Why go through all the educational requirements and expense to have put my license on the line.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I'm a tech in an Emergency Room. Everyone should know that you have your busy days and your not so busy days.

On those busy days though, if your assigned to the cardiac section, things can get pretty hairy. If your assigned to the other section you might have a slow day.

I have witnessed other RN's pull meds for the busy RN's. The busy RN's are greateful for the assistance and doesn't bother to check the meds because they have someone crashing.

I'm in nursing school now but once I pass my NCLEX I know who will be passing my meds.....ME. Why go through all the educational requirements and expense to have put my license on the line.

I can see how this can happen...a busy atmosphere with the adrenaline working on overload. But, like you said, I would really be afraid.

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Specializes in nursing homes, home health..

I don't understand why some of you are talking about giving narcotics as if that is soooooooooo different from the other meds. I have worked mostly nursing homes for the 12yrs. I have been doing this. Not once have I seen anyone go beyond looking at the mar and giving what is on there. You simply don't have time to assess a resident everytime you give meds. While I would never ask a CNA to give my meds it is not because of any training but the fact that I just don't want to take the chance of getting reported. There are residents that refuse meds and have for God only knows how many yrs. Still getting around fine. Then there are others who take so many I get sick just from pulling them all up. The truth is if you can read then technically you can give any med. But of course we don't do things that way. Complaints are reported to state constantly for all kinds of things. It is always the same senario. They come in and tell the nursing home they have been bad boys. They supposedly correct the problem and life goes on. By that I mean of course they were cleared. What I am getting at is someone can have a bad reaction to anything at anytime. You can assess till the cows come home and still have a problem. I do think it is just dumb and plain mean to report a nurse for example letting a CNA hand MOM to a resident. But just for that very reason with me the resident will just have to wait until I can get to them. I do know of a RN that did the previous example and someone told. Everyone knows whatever their reason was---it defintely was not because they are concerned about the residents safety.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I don't understand why some of you are talking about giving narcotics as if that is soooooooooo different from the other meds.

Because they are sooooooo counted and sooooooo more likely to 'disappear', unlike tylenol or colace.

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Specializes in nursing homes, home health..
Because they are sooooooo counted and sooooooo more likely to 'disappear', unlike tylenol or colace.
:uhoh3: I realize that. I don't think that is why they were more concerned. If you draw them up for the aid then you are not giving her the keys so she can't very well get to them.
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:uhoh3: I realize that. I don't think that is why they were more concerned. If you draw them up for the aid then you are not giving her the keys so she can't very well get to them.

Because narcotics are controlled substances and as such can only be dispensed and administered under certain guidelines. Once they leave YOUR hand, once you hand them to the aid and they leave your sight, they are no longer being monitored by YOU. Unless you actually watch them being administered, unless you are administering them yourself, you can only ASSUME they are being administered.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
:uhoh3: I realize that. I don't think that is why they were more concerned. If you draw them up for the aid then you are not giving her the keys so she can't very well get to them.

In other words, how would I know the pt. received the med (especially a narc. considering the potential for abuse) if i didn't see it myself. How would i know that it wouldn't go into that person's pocket.

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Specializes in nursing homes, home health..

Of course you wouldn't know. Same with anything else. All I was getting at was I don't think narcs are anymore important. YOu don't know a med aid gives or other nurses. Like I said in Texas you can't let an aid give meds. Bottom line. To me it doesn't matter whether it is colace or vicodin I am not taking a chance on an aid getting me in trouble by telling on me. Would I tell on a nurse if I knew she let an aid help her this way. Absolutely not. But I would not take the chance since I have trouble sleeping as it is. LOL.

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