Ohio Certified Medication Aide Course Outline

cmatobe · Mar 10, 2007

The above is the curriculum set forth by the OBN. Our instructors have added to it, and, as you can see, it is 4 weeks instead of 3.

The OBN put together a text for this course, and sent it to the schools who are giving the training. Our instructors added the additional information that they felt was necessary for us to learn, then modified the text into student form.

In addition to our own textbooks, which were taken from the state text, we have an additional booklet of 25 pages of different classifications of medicines, with all of the commonly-used medications for each area listed for us.(This was also taken from the OBN text)

Our clinicals are to be one-on-one ( one student with one instructor) for 5 days, in one of the nursing homes in the pilot program.

We must maintain a grade average of 80% in order to graduate.(80% was the figure set by the OBN)

cmatobe · Mar 10, 2007

As far as I can determine so far, the CMA`s will be an extra pair of hands, for their nurses. We will pass meds. to stable (and a few not-so-stable)patients, report - report - report! everything out of the ordinary to the charge nurse, and maintain our paperwork as we work.

It is not going to be easy, in the beginning. I believe it will be nerve-wracking for both nurses and CMA`s, until we spend some time working together and get all the kinks ironed out. But I believe that over time, the nurses will begin to trust us and depend on us, as the majority of us prove ourselves capable of doing the job - although, sad to say, there will be a few bad eggs in the basket - there always is, no matter the job...

From this board, I understand that there are a lot - a whole lot - of angy, upset, and discouraged nurses, over this new job position. Be assured that we have complete and total respect for our nurses, and there is no way we could ever begin to be all that you are. If our life circumstances were or had been different, us CMA`s might have become nurses, too.However, we are not.

In the meantime, we all hope to do a good job at what we are to do, to be the best helping hands we can be for our nurses, and we also hope to become a very valuable asset to the nursing home, both to the staff and to the residents.

That being said, I am going to study some. This site is invaluable to us for practical information, re: our future positions.

Have a good day!

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Mar 10, 2007

20 days to start passing meds? Wow is all I can say.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Mar 10, 2007

I would think at LEAST a 3 credit pharm class. I'm about to graduate RN school and I still am scared about starting to give meds on my own! SOOOOO much to learn... even tho I took pharm, cover meds appropriate to various pathophysiologies all throughout the course, and give meds every week at clinical for 2 years... I still feel like I only know maybe 20% of what I need to know to feel comfortable. My drug book will be glued to my hand for a LONG time.

I have no doubt the OP will work hard to do well in her job..she seems very excited and studying hard. But the position itself - I can't see that going over in my area! Heck.. I intern and we aren't allowed to pass any kind of med despite being about to graduate.

PANurseRN1 · Mar 10, 2007

Passing meds on unstable pts?

greatan · Feb 6, 2008

As a newly licensed LPN I find this appalling. In Ohio they are getting rid of the traditional LPNs and replacing them with clinical technicians supported by medication aides. Sure it is opening up a whole new job market but it is suddenly ridding the job market of the title LPN. All the LPNs who can no longer get jobs in the hospital because of this now apply at LTC. However, now LTC has a smaller job market because so many are looking for employment there now and LTC can be pickier and go with someone with experience (?former nurse's aide). This is what I was told. 3 major hospitals in my area have done this within 2 months of my graduation causing me to apply for tech positions which involve cathether insertion, feeding, adls, baths, vs. The LTCs told me they couldn't give me a pt position cause I am a new grad, and a fulltime position because someone has nurse's aide experience. I don't have a healthcare background after getting laid off from a graphics background. What is to happen in Ohio of the soon to be grads of LPN schools?

pattycakeRN · Feb 6, 2008

I feel for you greatan, and good luck to you in finding a job.

I think this is a scary sign. I don't care who you are, 20 days is NOT enough time to gain an acceptable amount of knowledge about medication.

Scary.

jennyanydot · Aug 12, 2008

cmatobe

Commenting only about you as a CMA, I think you will do an excellent job.

You sound like you have a great attitude along with your sincere desire to be of assistance to the nurses. I hope you are able to work with some good one.

I am very sorry your circumstances didn't permit you to actually become an R.N.

jshaner · Apr 15, 2009

im an Stna and i would love to know how to get more information on how to do this. I am enrolling in a school to practice sports therapy, and i would love to experiance this. please email me at [email protected] thank you

Batman24 · Apr 15, 2009

I wouldn't allow anyone to pass meds under my license. 20 days to pass meds is a danger. I fear for the patients.

trixie333, ASN · Apr 15, 2009

Do your new skills/role include suppositories?