Med aides giving insulin

[smarti15]

So, I have heard that a few states might start considering allowing medication aides to check blood sugar and then administer sliding scale insulin. The idea is that some facilities already allow the aides to check BGL and then report the results to the nurse. The nurses then administer the insulin based on what the medication aide told them. I am sure you all know how confusing it can get with so many accu checks. I was wondering if anyone else had heard anything about this, if any states actually implement this, and what everyone thinks about it.

I myself am a do it yourself-er. I want to do my own accu checks and administer my own insulin.

[citylights89, BSN, RN]

It's like now they are taking the nurses' scope of practice away in some states to give to lower-paid personnel. I wouldn't want that responsibility if I hadn't been properly instructed on it, but then again it's not their fault, just facilities that usually want to get off cheap. And I bet they are not going to significantly increase their wages when they do implement. After everyone else is giving meds, what are the nurses left doing? Paperwork? I'd be ****** if I was a med aide/CNA and had to do most of the damn nurses work and only getting paid some flimsy $9.00/hr.

[kcochrane]

In our facility they took away the ability to do BGs by the CNAs (PCTs). We also have to have someone check and sign our insulin. I can see this possibly in a LTC setting, but probably not in an acute setting.

In our area, the only place I know that utilizes med aides are group homes.

[CLTnurse13]

As a CNA in a Med-Surg ICU, we do CBGs, calculate the new insulin dosage, and report it to the nurse. We do not, however, change the drip ourselves.

[Sue Damonas, BSN]

I have a few hospice pts in an assisted living facility and the floors are staffed by aides who administer meds, give insulin. They aren't allowed to give IM injections or suppositories, the administrator does that.

[woman_king]

My younger sister is a med aide in a LTCF. This was recently changed at her facility, and she is now expected to give insulin as part of her assigned duties. She is pretty nervous about doing the injections--their training on this was very minimal.

[clemmm78, RN]

I used to work in a facility where someone else took the blood sugars and told me the results - I gave the insulin. I didn't accept that and insisted on doing my own blood sugars. I felt that too many things can go wrong if I'm depending on someone else's report for something as serious as insulin. If I'm giving the insulin, I do the sugar.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

i do my own blood sugars and insulin's ... there are times when you hold or give insulin based on other things besides numbers....i wouldn't feel comfortable with another nurse giving my insulin (taking bs yes) much less a tech.....

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

So, I have heard that a few states might start considering allowing medication aides to check blood sugar and then administer sliding scale insulin. The idea is that some facilities already allow the aides to check BGL and then report the results to the nurse. The nurses then administer the insulin based on what the medication aide told them. I am sure you all know how confusing it can get with so many accu checks. I was wondering if anyone else had heard anything about this, if any states actually implement this, and what everyone thinks about it.

I myself am a do it yourself-er. I want to do my own accu checks and administer my own insulin.

Yikes! i'd be pretty uncomfortable with this. Sometimes calculations are complicated and easy to make a mistake. Not that CNAs can't be trained for it--after all, lay people do it all the time. But if *my* name is on the chart, I'd want to be the one giving the insulin. And I'd either want to check the blood sugar myself, or witness someone doing it.

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

Its per facility as well. I used to do fs and give insulin in some facilities and the other facility nurses did them. As long as the cna is properly trained and responsible and the Bon approves then I dont see a problem...

[NurseNotRatched, ADN, BSN, CNA]

i have a few hospice pts in an assisted living facility and the floors are staffed by aides who administer meds, give insulin. they aren't allowed to give im injections or suppositories, the administrator does that.

this is what i do. i'm a med tech at an alf and have had no training besides my nurse aide training. my qualification was a test given by the state with no actually lecture. i printed out the manual online, studied it, and scheduled a test date. i was trained otj at my facility (by other techs, not even the nurse) then had to be "checked off" by the nurse. i felt/feel extremely uncomfortable at times, especially when the nurse asks me to transcribe something or ask me something that i have no clue about. i'm not a nurse (yet). i work 3-11pm. in addition to two large med passes, i also have to check cbgs and give insulin. i also am expected to order prescription drugs to be filled and refilled, write incident reports, review and correct the mars for my assigned hall at the end of the month, help serve food in the dining room (and help feed the two residents we have who might as well be totally dependent), give at least one shower and put someone to bed. all for $10.25 an hour ....and i'm told i'm one of the "higher paid" techs b/c i have a bachelors degree. i have a rigorous a&p ii class coming up this summer followed by nursing school starting in august. yes.... i'm looking for work elsewhere.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I'm sorry, but I will never understand nurses that don't want CNA's to do blood sugars. They are trained to do so and it is NOT rocket science. It's not like it's a result open to interpretation, either...you don't put it on a strip and try to interpret the color to get your result (like a UA strip, or something). Add drop of blood, read number.

I have way too much to do already than to add getting all the blood sugars to it. I trust that our CNA's can perform the task. Simple.