Hello everyone! Always wanted to post but never had anything to say until today. A little about me: I just graduated as a Certified Medical Assistant, but after working in Assisted Living facilities for the last year and a half I have decided to stay with my current job and continue with my degree in Registered Nursing.
In assisted living we have "med techs" that pass pills and handle medications such as eye drops, as well as doing the 24 hour reports. Yesterday was my last training as a Med Tech after being just normal Direct Care Staff at this facility for ~3 months.
During my 3 days of med tech training, I've had ONE resident give me issues that I wouldn't normally expect. This resident, ALTHOUGH she has in the past been confused about where she is, I would say is of mostly sound mind. She's ok with me giving her HS pills, but refuses to let me give her eye drops. She always has the excuse that she "always" waits until she's in bed to get them, but I've asked the other med techs and they said she's never said that to them. Basically, every other med tech walks into the room with the bottle and she immediately takes her glasses off.
This has kept me up all night trying to figure out why she would refuse me giving her eye drops. Being a male that works in healthcare, I know and understand that some women residents want a woman to assist them with toileting and bathing. She is one of those people, but has gotten used to me and allows me to toilet her. It's just that she's refusing.... Eye drops!!!!
It's not that I feel like a failure or feel depressed about this. It's just that it's so bizarre. We have a memory care unit and I get told "eat ****" and get swung at/screamed at/scratched nearly every day. It's just this ONE resident, on the regular assisted living unit, that is giving me issues.
I guess my question is, how do I just "make this happen"? I've been considering just telling her "[other med tech] and [other med tech] give you your drops at this time every day. They keep your eyes healthy!" And just telling her that my shift ends soon so if she doesn't take them she has to wait until tommorow night to get them. Even on memory care I've never had a resident go to bed without their meds (there's been a couple refusals, but they took them later on without issue). I've just been having the aides on the floor give them to her, which she allows and I WOULD be ok with doing this forever. The thing is, it just takes time out of my shift when I have a TON of HS pills and inhalers and eye drops to be passing on both units. Every minute counts.
Thank you! I have medscape on my phone that I use to look up for medications when I do have time (because you are correct, we don't have a lot of time) but it doesn't give me a whole lot. I'll have to try Epocrates. I'll have more time tonight on Noc shift ☺ï¸
If you go to give a med and you don't know what it's for you should be looking it up.
This is the standard for a licensed nurse. I don't think an unlicensed med tech is going to be held to that standard. I certainly wouldn't expect that of a med tech. Bonus if they know though.
This is the standard for a licensed nurse. I don't think an unlicensed med tech is going to be held to that standard. I certainly wouldn't expect that of a med tech. Bonus if they know though.
If you look at his first post, he is not a nurse. I still agree that he should know what they are for.
If I could explain why she won't let you give her eye drops, maybe I could explain why one of my residents wants her jewelry put on when it's 12:30 am and she's in bed!
Here's a different but slightly-related story: I have no trouble putting eyedrops in most people. But I have one guy, with big eyelashes, who, although his eyes are piercing and widely open when you just see him sitting there, squints his eyes into tiny slits when you're trying to put drops in. I'm finally doing better, forcing them apart a little bit, but it's still a constant little battle & dilemma.
Hello everyone! Always wanted to post but never had anything to say until today. A little about me: I just graduated as a Certified Medical Assistant, but after working in Assisted Living facilities for the last year and a half I have decided to stay with my current job and continue with my degree in Registered Nursing.
You will get a degree in Nursing, not "Registered Nursing" (that struck me as funny-cute funny-when I read that). :) Then you will take the NCLEX exam, pass it, receive your license, and will then be able to call yourself a Registered Nurse.
Count me as one who is not comfortable with someone lacking in pharmacology education giving out tons of meds without fully understanding their indications, modes of action, interactions, contraindications, adverse effects, etc. And not only that, not having the luxury or time to look up unfamiliar meds before giving them to patients.
Maybe I missed it but... did you ask the patient why she is refusing the eye drops? Maybe you have a rough hand or there is some other reason that could easily be explained.
If she really is of sound mind like you said, then I would suggest that having the conversation with her about why she refuses. Doesn't have to be confrontational - just say something like "I know that you let Sarah and Bryan give you your eye drops every night at this time. Is there a reason that you don't like to have them at this time when I am here? Is there something that I could do differently that would help?"
Open up a dialogue, but keep the focus on what YOU could change to make things better. She might have a surprising but easily solved reason.
Seriously you need to relax. I have no idea why she is doing this with you. But.... she has the right to refuse and I wouldn't get in a knot about it. You will find when you become a nurse you have lots bigger things to worry about.
It could develop into a more serious situation if she refuses long-term, so I can't really agree that he shouldn't be concerned when the resident isn't getting her drops as ordered.
OP - inform the RN so he or she can let the doctor know the pt isn't getting her drops.
And even though it might happen in real life that people who are not med techs or licensed nurses sometimes give meds to patients, it is likely a punishable behavior for you to have a med given by unlicensed, essentially untrained personnel.
They have not been trained and approved by the facility or licensed, they might give them to their own loved ones or themselves, but they likely are barred from doing this on the job.
They are practicing outside of their scope of practice. Could be huge problem for you, them, the facility. Don't do it any more.
This is the standard for a licensed nurse. I don't think an unlicensed med tech is going to be held to that standard. I certainly wouldn't expect that of a med tech. Bonus if they know though.
OF course he should be looking up meds he doesn't know. No matter what the standard is. He has to know when to hold them because of a complication, for instance.
J2016
14 Posts
Thank you! I have medscape on my phone that I use to look up for medications when I do have time (because you are correct, we don't have a lot of time) but it doesn't give me a whole lot. I'll have to try Epocrates. I'll have more time tonight on Noc shift ☺ï¸