dogresQer

you can also contact an animal rescue. i live in south dakota and offered our assistance to the animals in florida that had no place to go. owners who were worried about their babies. we would do a fund raiser to raise money for the airline tickets and keep them here with us until they had a place to go back to. we use foster homes, none of our animals are kept in cages. they are kept indoors and loved. believe it or not, rescues work with other rescues no matter how far apart they are :) all for the love of animals [color=#ff8c00]

there is so much more to safely giving meds than just the 5 rights. you are so right! you need to know why the patient is getting the med, what the med does, when it is appropriate to give it and when you should not give it.this info is given when we get report you also need to know what side effects (and adverse effects) can be expected and how to manage them. this is also given in report you need to be able to manage adverse effects -there is never an rn to far away, i do not work alone. i work in a hospital that is also an 8 bed nursing home. it is introducing a chemical into someone else's system that will, at least temporarily, alter their body's functioning. that is not something to be taken lightly. i couldnt agree with you more! you will learn that you have to guard it with your very life because it can all be taken away -- not necessarily over something you personally do - but rather as a result of another person's mistake or the actions of a greedy administration. this is one thing i dont agree with.....i dont see why the nursing staff's license should be at risk expecially if they dont agree with having a med aide. it should be the one that is pushing for it. i would just die if someone lost something they worked so hard to achieve. it is so unfair. i'm just trying to learn all i can....i know there are good and bad med aides, nursing aides, nurses.....etc........think the nursing staff should have a choice, if they dont want the med aides, sign a contract saying you will not put your license on the line.....thank you for posting......i love to hear what everyone else has to say......and i do understand why some are against med aides.....:) but also, from my point of view, (even tho when i was hired as a nursing assistant, then a later asked if i wanted to be their med aide (already had my cert. for 5 yrs)i dont make a penny more, which i feel i should as i have the added responsibility) this is an experience for me, a chance to learn all i can before going to school. its a responsibility that i take seriously.

Im not trying to be rude, snotty or mad, upset or anything like that....so please take no offense I dont make a diagnosis......i dont perscribe medications, i just give what the doctor has already ordered. I check the name, dose, times, make sure everything is in order, tell the person what meds they are and if they ask what they are for.....i dont see how wrong meds can be given really since they are color coded and if you do what your taught to do, you should have no problems. I have never had a med error (i have had to use the spares due to meds falling on the floor tho :) ) Why didnt you ask the med aide questions? Maybe feel a little comphy with the thought that she/he knows what the meds are for and the times he was suposta get them etc? If they didnt know or ummmm and ahhhhhh'ed about it, then i might be concerned...is there anything that would make you feel a little better about med aides? I agree with the money thing.......i didnt get a dime more and I have more responsibility......but the nurses sure like having me around when we are swamped........ Thanks for your reply.....and have a good day

We need them pretty bad here and I figure I will be stuck to the house quit often, but then think.........what if my family needed an ambulance and there wasnt one to be called, which is more important.......will be another learning experience anyway :)

Thanks!! Going to emt classes next month....we live in a small town and we are kinda short on the emt's

OH NOOOOOO, not upset, mad, angry or anything like that.....seen a post about med aides and wanted to say that their are some good aides out there. Sorry if it came across as being angry......

Well, i read all the posts. I'd like to add my comment too :) I have been a cna for 10 yrs and a med aide for 6. I currently work in a hospital that is also an 8 bed nursing home. I do pass meds for the nursing home but NOT the hospital. I work hard, and missed 3 days last yr otherwise never missed a day. I had 72 hrs med training, that includes the effects of meds. The pharmacy gives out discriptions of meds and what side effects they cause. I have to double check incase the person has any other med that would effect the new meds given. When I give out meds, and believe me I know them by heart....i STILL DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING! I look at the name, dose, times, ect EVERYTIME! I am very careful and I take this very seriously. Giving meds is a big responsiblity to me and should be for everyone. I had to have EVERY nurse be it lpn or rn follow me 3 times and fill out a form stating what i did, how i did it etc. I had the don follow me also before I could work their as a med aide. I will be going back to school for my RN degree, I wanted to do this right out of high school but got pregnant and needed to be with my kids...my baby is now 16 and next yr will graduate and then its my turn. I want to learn and experience as much as possible before going back to school and if I can get certified in ANYTHING that has to do with health care, I'm going to do it. Also, if I am uncompy doing something, or giving a med, I go see my charge nurse, if i find an error, i go to my charge nurse ANY QUESTIONS no matter if i think they are stupid or not, i go see my charge nurse.....Just because you are a cna doesnt mean your below a license person.....if it wasnt for the cna's, nurses would be doing one heck of a lot more then paper work.........and yes, I know there is sooooo much paper work for nurses, but do you nurses know how much paper work cna's have? We chart meals, bathing, activities, rom, pt, behaviors, how many times they pee, poo, was it continent or uncontinent, dressing skills, any marks on body, any brusies, how much did they eat, why didnt they eat everything, how much they drank and what did they drink.....and the list goes on.....we cna's work hard.....please give us a little respect......i give my nurses the respect they deserve.....and thank them daily for all the help they do give....some of them are not afraid to get their hands dirty...thanks dogresQer