Nursing student working as a Med Tech

[WANWSeattle]

Hello, 

I am a nursing student who completed the first semester of nursing school, which was geriatric nursing. 

So I wanted to work to gain some more skills through the Summer and I am hired as a Medication Technician at a long-term care facility.

I did the first 8-hour shift and it was much more responsibilities than I expected and I feel like it is unsafe to do this.

1. There are no supervising nurses or even other med techs during my shift ( I was with another med-tech who trained me and I will have no one to back me up except 3 caregivers.

2. I have to administer dangerous medications such as insulins, anti-hypertensive, and even narcotics like morphine without supervision of an RN or even other med techs

( I thought we must double-check with other nurses before administering insulin!)

3. I will be responsible for about 40 residents so I don't even have time to double-check med and the resident name 

4. There are no identification bracelets for residents and I still don't know their name. (I guess I should ask caregivers about residents' name)

I think this will be a good opportunity to learn (because I get to do a lot of things) but also I think it is extremely dangerous. 

I am not sure what to do about this.

Should I quit this job or just stick with this job and learn something?

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

Whoa, this sounds like a very unsafe set of practices. If your posting name accurately describes you as being in Washington State, here's the link to the job and certification requirements for a med tech there. If you aren't in WA, look up the requirements for a med tech at your state board of nursing.

If your employer hasn't assured that you are adequately qualified per requirements, they could be in serious trouble. Good for you for recognizing the risks involved (and what's up with the no patient ID bracelets?). Unless things change immediately, get another job asap.

https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/ProfessionsNewReneworUpdate/NursingAssistant/FrequentlyAskedQuestions/MedicationAssistantEndorsementFAQs

One of the WA FAQs is:

What are the requirements for a medication assistant endorsement?

Initial applicant requirements:

Be certified as a nursing assistant-certified, with a certification in good standing

Successfully complete a Nursing Commission-approved medication assistant education and training program, within the immediate year prior to the date of application

Complete at least 1,000 hours of work experience in a nursing home as a nursing assistant-certified within the immediate year prior to the date of application

Pass the Nursing Commission-approved medication assistant competency evaluation. Each applicant must successfully complete a written competency evaluation

[Shan, RN]

This sounds very unsafe. There are many other tech jobs that can offer a more appropriate and educational experience; I would seek another job as soon as possible, especially if you're worried that you may hurt someone because you haven't been properly trained and lack the necessary support to take care of people safely (neither of these is your fault). Even if you had been doing this sort of thing for 20+ years, 40 patients seems like way too many for one person.