Hi everyone. I just found out that an MNA will be working on our 50 bed LTC unit:eek: ! Has anyone worked with an MNA? I'm a new LPN, just got used to passing meds to 25 pts, and am really on the fence about this. On one hand, I'm disgusted that I spent 13 G's obtaining my LPN, and struggled through a tough Pharmacology course :angryfire . On the other, maybe this will be a help. I really like working alone on my side. I keep people(LNAs, residents, visitors) around my cart at a mininum, cause I find it distracting. Am I going to be constantly bumping into the MNA? How does it work? BTW, there has been NO mention of an orientation for the nurses in regards to this. Oh, and the MNA will be earning 3 dollars an hour more than I do. Hmmm. any feedback will be welcome:) .
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
Let me add in here before I get hammered, that in Texas to complete the Med aide program it is 3 months (part-time) in length ,but this includes theory and the 10 hours of required clinical.
I have posted this sitution several times on other threads. I am a LVN weekend staffing supervisor that also works as a medication nurse for 2 busy halls one being hospice. Now, I have the task as well of doing clinical with student med- aides. In Texas all that is required is 10 hours of clinical .....10 hours !!!! This should never be a on the job training ordeal but thats what it becomes... I have only been with 1 student that coud correctly tell my what some of the names of the drugs were for . If they are BP drugs, forget them knowing you need to take a BP first... Several of them were looking for Colace in the locked box and Vicoden in the regualr meds. Not one of them knew what dig was for or to hold it if the pulse was below a certain number.:uhoh21: All of them left the cart unlocked ,keys in the cart and records open. When i would say "I think you forgot a couple of things", they would say "like what".... Are ya kidding me , isnt that passing pills 101.. I had one that was to give Roxanol 0.5 to a dying patient she said "ok 5 cc right":nono: There is no knowledge of the disease process that goes behind giving the med. Heck , they coudnt even tell me what the meds were for so, how can I expect them to know anything about disease processes. After 10 hours of this they are cut loose to work on the floor. That is when the real test comes , your own your own no one to stand behind you and correct your mistakes , no one to give you reminders and tips. Now I am fully aware we have RN's and LVN's that cant tie their shoes and make med errors left and right ,but geeeeeezzzzz. My intent here is not to put anyone down but, these are just the facts from my training experiences... it just scares the red right off my hair...
This whole concept for Illinois got voted down big time. With all the variences in training.......wouldn't fly.
I did read that thread about the molecular biologist, etc......but this is not the norm. Correct me if I am wrong. :) But what is amazing: we go to school, pass through hurdles to take a test that is nationally recognized.....and the first poster is paid $3 less.
Specializes in MDS coordinator, hospice, ortho/ neuro.
Ohio recently passed a bill for med techs.............our facility is thinking about hiring a few. Personally I think this could be a good idea.......on some of our units, the nurses spend 40-50% of their day passing pills....and not having the time to take care of the issues like they should / keep track of the STNAs like they should / etc.
Here in KY we call them CMA certified medication aide and before I became an lpn i was one. Here you go threw a pharmacology class that is almost as much as the lpn goes threw. Don't put them down to you know who they are I far as the pay that is a bit different. I would fuss awhole lot in the DON place. Hope you do alright with her.
Really? The LPN program that I went "through" had a pharmacology class that was 4 mos long, 6 credit hours I've never heard of a CMA going to any class for more than two weeks.
You know some of you nurses are closed minded. I'm glad when I was a CMA I had some great LPN and RNs that helped me grow into the LPN I am today. Yes I passed pills in LTC and if I didn't understand something I could go ask but tell me what LPN or RN knows all the answer to everything tell me what doctor knows everything. Open your mind and the world would be a better place.
IF "close minded" is another way of saying "against and deeply concerned that people are receiving medication from people who have less than 30 hours of training" then yes, i most certainly am.
"The world would be a better place" once it realizes that a few hours of training does not qualify someone to give meds. Nor it is a good idea.
You may have received decent training, but the vast majority of states that allow this dangerous situation to exist, will have facilities that do the bare minimum of hours and training to save on money. Not exactly something i'm willing to accept.
Question: Is a CMA a medical assistant ( I think at some schools that takes more than a year)? But absolutely: a nursing assistant with just a medication course...o my o my o my, not good, no way, never....
All these initials for all these jobs are getting downright confusing! Had a family member have surgery recently and on her bill under anesthetist it had a CNA. So she asked me, isn't that what you are, and I had to reply OhmygoodnessNO! That is a nurse anesthetist, who has probably accumulated school loans that surpass the national debt, and I went to a six week class to learn to wash bummies....
So when you speak of a cma are you talking about a medical assistant who has at least a year of school or are we talking about a nursing assistant with a class in meds? I would say that the medical assistant, if their course in pharmaceuticals matched the LPNs , could give meds in LTC. But as a nursing assistant, I would never feel I had adequate preparation with a medication course.
Thats the way I see it, and every one is entitled to my opinion...
I would say that the medical assistant, if their course in pharmaceuticals matched the LPNs , could give meds in LTC. But as a nursing assistant, I would never feel I had adequate preparation with a medication course.
That's just it, they typically don't have the same pharm course. But it's also not just about the pharmacology either, i feel there's more to medication than just a pharm class and a few hours on the floor. Every single class i had in LPN school had a medication angle to it. It's all tied together, which reinforced the learning.
And i wouldn't have felt comfortable giving meds as an aide, either.
So it is not just the pharm class in LPN school, but the total picture, your a&p classes and whatnot, your understanding of the disease process, your clinicals.....that prepare you to give meds...
Someone once said, make things as simple as you can and still do them well, but no simpleler....Sounds like people making these decisions on the state level are making things too simple.
Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.
I just want to add to the pile here again.. yeah yeah I know.... ALong with this extensive death defining pharm class I had to take, was one year of get down and dirty med -surg that taught me why those meds are given. You have pharm all the way through nursing school not just for 1 class. I agree with Marie here , it all ties in together.
That's just it, they typically don't have the same pharm course. But it's also not just about the pharmacology either, i feel there's more to medication than just a pharm class and a few hours on the floor. Every single class i had in LPN school had a medication angle to it. It's all tied together, which reinforced the learning.
And i wouldn't have felt comfortable giving meds as an aide, either.
txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN
4,373 Posts
Let me add in here before I get hammered, that in Texas to complete the Med aide program it is 3 months (part-time) in length ,but this includes theory and the 10 hours of required clinical.