Proposed Bill"Certified Geriatric Specialists" CNA passing meds and doing tx

barb4575 · Mar 5, 2004

I have worked in three states that do allow medication aides. At first, I was against it, but once I saw how effective they were by actually reading the MAR to pass meds- unlike some of their licensed counterparts, I changed my opinion. The danger is that there is so much polypharmacy with the elderly in LTC especially and their knowledge is limited. The RN must monitor this closely along with the monthly visits from the Pharmacist/Pharm D...which I prefer due to their commitment to education. As always, it depends on the aide and the supervisory capabilities of the RN and DON.

Good thread Marti!

Thanks,

Barbara

FutureRNMichael · Mar 5, 2004

Here in Oregon, in Assisted Living Fac's. you take a one day(not exactly sure but it's very short) class and you can pass all meds including narcs... In NH's you take the Cert. Med. Aide class which is the same length as the CNA course. YOu have to be a CNA for at least 6 months to take the CMA class and you do clinicals and state test and all that. In the couple facilitys I have work both ALF and NH, the Med Aides read the mars and take out the medicine, never seen a problem. The nurses still obviously have to monitor the residents who are taken meds you would normally keep an eye on. The only difference is, there doing treatments,supervising and charting as opposed to passing meds with a lot less of the other stuff thrown in. The Nurses absolutley love the Med Aides where I have worked. Makes their job considerably easier, seemingly.

Again, Never seen a problem in my year working around Med Aides. In fact, I don't see the difference between CNA with a little extra training passing meds as opposed to unlicensed Pharmacy Technicians preparing prescriptions. Both are checked out by the appropriate licensend personell.

Marti Ann · Mar 5, 2004

Hi, this came in today. Looks like the bill passed!!!

SB 492

Passed the Senate 39-0 on 3/3/04

HB 189

Assigned to Future of Florida's Families Committee

I'll keep you up to date with anymore changes...

RedRoses4Me · Mar 5, 2004

Me I would not want the liability, although the experience would be good but I think I would pass on it.

Marty1 · Mar 6, 2004

Very very scary

I agree, if they want to pass the meds then go to school

and learn it all , not just mechanics of it :uhoh3:

emily_rn_03 · Mar 6, 2004

I used to work at an assissted living facility that allowed pretty much ANYBODY to pass meds. There was one person who worked there that previously used to work with a carnival. Not to mean anything disrepspectful against that profession, but what could they know about digoxin?? Or any other cardiac med?? I think it is scary that some regions/facilities will allow uneducated people manage other peoples' meds. It is scary to think of what has happened as a result of that and what could still happen.

nursebonkers · Mar 6, 2004

Just another way for the health care system product!!! to de-value nursing again!!! , more patient deaths I can guarantee! Aren't nurses in nursing homes already passing meds to like 35 patients or so a day, cant wait to see how many patients they give the cna's to pass meds to for minimum wage , my guess is half the meds wouldnt be given at all, but they wont be noticed until someone actually researches it which will be like 20 years too late, Just another way to add to the further nursing shortage, de value what we do, the hospital system devalued nursing in the nineties with patient centered care (to cut costs) should have been called cost- centered care and now they are wondering where did all the nurses go?, Does the ANA know about this bill, You had better contact them right away!!!!!!!!!Emergency Alert!! Support Federal Legislation for nurses patients and famiies support Fed legislation S991 the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act, Get A Union!! Visit http://www.safestaffing.com

ktwlpn, LPN · Mar 7, 2004

, if they want to pass the meds then go to school
and learn it all , not just mechanics of it

I don't think it is a matter of any UAP's WANTING to do this-it is the administrators and legislators that "see a way to help alleviate the nursing shotage " -or so they say...I think that is just their cover for maximizing profits at the expense of patient safety....

cnamaryl · Mar 8, 2004

:o i have been a c.n.a for the past 30years,and i think this one of the most dangerous ideas our goverment has come up with. c.n.a.'s do not want to do this ,the ones i have talked with said they are out of minds.and just asking for trouble.if we wanted to pass meds and do treatments, we would have become nurses.we dont have much time to spend with residents now.:uhoh21: there are so many things the brains behind this very big mistake, have not thought about.any one with comon sense could give meds on a daily routine.most of the country is doing everyday.but to do so with 30,60 90, or more.it is just plain crazy. hope it does not go through.

[color=#48d1cc] c.n.a in fl. about to retire if this goes in effect. :crying2:

jyoung1950 · Mar 8, 2004

I am a CNA at a nursing home. God forbid I have to add passing meds to my duties. I'm going 80 miles an hour, 40 hours a week as it is.

What gets me is that in my state, Pennsylvania, nursing assistants (not certified) at personal care/assisted living homes can pass out meds. Not that I want to pass meds, but I can't understand the logic.

VioletEyes · Mar 8, 2004

We have medication aides who pass meds in both long term care and nursing homes in Kansas, the meds are usually prepackaged in a bubble wrap for each patient, the only thing the aide has to do is make sure it is given to the right patient at the right time. This frees the nurses up to spend more time assessing

and being with the patients. Is not alot different than the patient actually taking it themselves. But like everything it has its high and low points. You have good med aides and bad ones, just like nurses, lol.

Caligurl · Mar 8, 2004

I would not do this if it were passed. I plan on becoming a nurse in the near future and I just don't see how in the world, some of the people I work with are going to handle it!

A lot of them are teens and early 20s and don't do half their job required. Who's going to make sure that these aides do their med passes? I am all for freeing up nurses times and giving them less to do but c'mon now! there's a better way than this.