Med Aides giving PRN meds

[jacesmom2]

One of my tasks as an LPN at my facility is to oversee the medication aides at an Adult Daycare which is at an off site location from mine. Once a month (go figure) I'm required to visit their center to make sure they are passing medications correctly.

Well, the State was at their facility doing their inspection and they questioned the med aides giving PRN meds without a nurse on site. They said my license was on the line and that I need to create a policy and a competency test over PRN meds.

Does your facility have such a thing? If not, do you have any advice as to what I should include in this policy or competency test?

I'm not so sure I like the idea of having this responsibility...

Thanks for all your help!

jacesmom2:o

[kcochrane]

No offense meant to LVN's...even that being said KC, a NURSE is evaluating the patient, whether it be an RN or LVN.

I have heard of these medication techs as we discussed them is school...and it sounds like a huge gray area that LTC's are using to save a few bucks. I know I wouldn't want them giving my patient meds...I assessed em', I'll medicate them... but lets not forget I'm a newbie, so I am only goin' on the NS way of things.

P2

I think we pretty much agree. I thought you were stating that you needed a RN assessment before a PRN could be given. I'm with you that I want to be the one to medicate my own patients-especially if I'm going to be liable for that PRN. I have yet to work with an med techs. At my facility, only LPNs and RNs medicate.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I have never worked in a LTC but my Grandmother lives in one and it would bother me to think that PRN medications were being dispensed to her without an RN doing an assessment.

LTCFs in my state only require an RN to be present in the building 8 hours per day, and the DON (director of nurses) usually fulfills this requirement. The DON at my workplace assesses nobody.

At the LTCFs in my area, it is always the LPN/LVN who assesses the need for PRNs.