Second Job "Etiquette"

mikejjmay · Nov 17, 2009

I wouldn't reference it as my other job. I would just say "I have seen it done this way" or "I have heard about this method" or even " it think this might be a good idea". No need to make yourself feel awkward if you don't need to

MedSurgeMess · Nov 17, 2009

I wouldn't reference it as my other job. I would just say "I have seen it done this way" or "I have heard about this method" or even " it think this might be a good idea". No need to make yourself feel awkward if you don't need to

Only offer the note of seeing it at your other job if asked. I get frustrated when we get someone who says "at my other job we......". Facilities have policies that fit their needs. It's always okay to offer alternatives, but be prepared for your audience to blow them off if they aren't life-altering situations. It would be nice if we could all have the same policies to make work easier, but that would be just too easy

WorkofHeart8 · Nov 17, 2009

Only offer the note of seeing it at your other job if asked. I get frustrated when we get someone who says "at my other job we......". Facilities have policies that fit their needs. It's always okay to offer alternatives, but be prepared for your audience to blow them off if they aren't life-altering situations. It would be nice if we could all have the same policies to make work easier, but that would be just too easy

The meeting was very simple, about how the CMA's are taking over all of the narcotics except coumadin...previously the nurse would give the lortabs, percocets, etc. while the CMA's would give the davocets, ativan, xanax, etc. The pharmacy told them that they are the only facility that they work with that has the nurse give some of the narcs. I believe it..."at my other job" we give all meds and do pain assesments. The advanced CMA's do all of the fingersticks, peg tubes, inhalers, breathing tx, while the one I had the meeting at only lets you do fingersticks and breathing tx even though by state law we are allowed to do it all. Shouldn't have to pay $200 to learn how to do fingersticks.

MedSurgeMess · Nov 17, 2009

The meeting was very simple, about how the CMA's are taking over all of the narcotics except coumadin...previously the nurse would give the lortabs, percocets, etc. while the CMA's would give the davocets, ativan, xanax, etc. The pharmacy told them that they are the only facility that they work with that has the nurse give some of the narcs. I believe it..."at my other job" we give all meds and do pain assesments. The advanced CMA's do all of the fingersticks, peg tubes, inhalers, breathing tx, while the one I had the meeting at only lets you do fingersticks and breathing tx even though by state law we are allowed to do it all. Shouldn't have to pay $200 to learn how to do fingersticks.

Ummmm, coumadin isn't a narc, it's an anticoagulant......but I have to ask, since I've never worked with a CMA, do you learn to read the labs associated with each med before giving it, does the RN tell you what to give and not give, or do how do you know what to hold, etc? Just curious.

WorkofHeart8 · Nov 17, 2009

Ummmm, coumadin isn't a narc, it's an anticoagulant......

Well Job A (where I had the meeting), they lock it up with the narcs. Job B doesn't lock it up at all. Job A also locks up darvocet and tramadol whereas Job B doesn't.

but I have to ask, since I've never worked with a CMA, do you learn to read the labs associated with each med before giving it, does the RN tell you what to give and not give, or do how do you know what to hold, etc? Just curious.

No we don't read labs. The LPN or RN writes "hold" on the MAR if something needs to be held.

caliotter3 · Nov 18, 2009

I would not talk about your second job. If possible, don't even let them ever know that you have a second job. They will use that information against you for no reason at all. Almost a certainty. Keep your jobs separate, just as you should keep your personal life separate from either of your jobs. Believe me, I've been there and done that, and this is good advice.

WorkofHeart8 · Nov 18, 2009

I would not talk about your second job. If possible, don't even let them ever know that you have a second job. They will use that information against you for no reason at all. Almost a certainty. Keep your jobs separate, just as you should keep your personal life separate from either of your jobs. Believe me, I've been there and done that, and this is good advice.

They already know about it.

stellina615 · Nov 18, 2009

Sage, please don't take offense to this post, but I really want to encourage you to know what meds you're passing out to patients. Even if you don't read labs and even if you work in tandem with a nurse, you will still be held accountable if there is a medication error. As a patient, I'd be pretty uncomfortable if the professional giving me my 1700 meds didn't know the difference between my blood thinner and my pain medication.

WorkofHeart8 · Nov 18, 2009

Sage, please don't take offense to this post, but I really want to encourage you to know what meds you're passing out to patients. Even if you don't read labs and even if you work in tandem with a nurse, you will still be held accountable if there is a medication error. As a patient, I'd be pretty uncomfortable if the professional giving me my 1700 meds didn't know the difference between my blood thinner and my pain medication.

I do know what the difference is. I have been doing this for a year. I did not say a blood thinner is pain medication. I meant that it is locked up with the narcs. I think I will edit my post so no one gets confused again.

ETA: Well, for some reason it won't let me edit it but it let me edit this one. Rest assured people, I do know what I'm doing. End of that subject...

stellina615 · Nov 18, 2009

Sorry for misunderstanding your post and for taking the subject off course!

rbyrdrn · Nov 18, 2009

Wow, I have never heard of a medication aide. Where are you employed, a private office, hospital? What is the scope of practice, is it different from LPN?