Should medication aides exist?

[BradleyRN]

Medication aides should not exist. Nurses must band together to fight against taking our skills and giving them to under-qualified persons. Sure we are overloaded with work, but they should hire more nurses to alleviate our burden. We should never accept an unsafe, undereducated "medication aide" to assist us. If they keep giving away our skills to uneducated people, soon we will be competing against them for jobs while they are willing to take half the pay. Then who do you think companies will hire?

Do you think medication aides should exist?

[lpnflorida]

One of my best friends, a retired nurse, had her 90 some year old mother in an Assisted Living Facility. When she inquired if someone could supervise her mothers medications as sometimes her mom forgot to take them. Her mom at that time was taking 3 medications a day. She was quoted $1000.00 a month to have someone check her moms medications. Let me tell you she was flaberglasted. When we discussed this, and how was it possible they could charge so much. My comment was, you are paying for that person's liability in the giving of those medications. Well, my friend made a point of driving daily first thing in the morning to supervise her mother taking her morning meds, and then she would drive or before bedtime for the same thing.

I do not believe this facility had medication aides, as I had never heard of a medication aide until I read about them on this web site. It sure might have saved my friend in this individual case.

[withasmilelpn]

Did the facility have med aides or a nurse on staff that gave meds out to other patients? Doing the math, it seems like they paid that person about $33/hr to do that function. I'm sure as well that if it was a nurse, they would be responsible for monitoring the medicines effects, paperwork, etc.

3 meds don't sound like much, but as people get older and sicker that tends to grow. Did your friend look into hiring someone on her own? Regardless of how Medication aides may save money, I don't think they are qualified to adminster meds in a facility setting. One on one at home, yes within reason. But only one patient. The more factors you put into the mix, (more patient's, more distractions...), the more likely a med error. And it seems like the trend is to abuse these poor med aides by piling on more and more patients and duties. I don't think they have the education to realize how truly unsafe what they do is. But I am sure the trend will continue, unfortunately.

[lpnflorida]

I would only be guessing, but I do not think they had medication aides available. My friend did end up hiring a private duty cna for her mom after a month of her own going twice a day. That was also costly,but had the added benefit of someone being with her for 8 hours a day while she was in the assisted living facility. She then only had to go herself at bedtime for the night med and to help tuck her in.

As an update after 2 years her mother is now in a Skilled nursing facility , she declined too much to be able to continue in assisted living.

[RN and Mommy]

Way back when, I used to be a Med Aide. This was my very first job in health care. Back then, I had no idea what any of the drugs were used for. I had no business giving them. Now that I am an RN I know how important it is to be familiar with the drugs, to know the side effects, and to know what to assess for.

No, Medication Aides have no business in health care.

[mscsrjhm]

Since when does unlicensed aides administer insulin, do sterile dressing changes, etc. These, along with medication administration, are professional duties of licensed nurses.

Lindarn, RN, BSN ,CCRN

Spokane, Washington

In Missouri, PCTs (patient care techs) monitor blood sugar, can give insulin, and insert and dc catheters at the hospitals, along with stage I dressings.

CMTs in RCF, LTC, ALF can do the same.

This has been ongoing since the late 90s.

I first saw it in a large metro HCA hospital- PCTs were CNAs with diabetic/insulin admin. training, and catheter training.

[lindarn]

In Missouri, PCTs (patient care techs) monitor blood sugar, can give insulin, and insert and dc catheters at the hospitals, along with stage I dressings.

CMTs in RCF, LTC, ALF can do the same.

This has been ongoing since the late 90s.

I first saw it in a large metro HCA hospital- PCTs were CNAs with diabetic/insulin admin. training, and catheter training.

The nursing profession is going to hell in a handbasket!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

[SmilingBluEyes]

Like one nurse here always said:

"if you want medications passed, hire a NURSE!"

Absolutely darn straight. No need for medication aides. Nurses are already qualified and the safest ones to do this important and potentially life-threatening or life-saving task. Med aides are not qualified to do the most important part of "med passes"-----assessment. I cannot ever see changing my stance on this.

[WickedRedRN, BSN, RN]

Years ago...(okay, back in that late 80's, early 90's) I worked as a psych attendant for a state hospital. They put us through a QMA class (qualified Medication Aide). We had to pass all the competency tests, do an 80 hour practicum which consisted of passing meds while being supervised by an RN. ( Just an aside, she was the most intelligent, intimidating person I had ever met back then). Anyway, once that was over we had to sit for a state examination to obtain our certification. After that, we were allowed to pass meds and do the monthly MAR recaps.

I shudder to think today how much I DIDN'T know back then. Only by the Grace of God did I not hurt someone. I routinely passed out oral Thorazine, Prolixin, Haldol and Lithium, not to mention cardiac meds. The only med a nurse actually had to give were injections. Count me in as one who does not like the idea of med aides, too many possibilites for injury or worse.

[Iam46yearsold]

The nursing profession is going to hell in a handbasket!

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Spokane, Washington

Nursing has never been as wonderful and exciting as it is currently. The growth potential, the money. Gotta Love it. truly you do.

Peace

[NurseAlwaysNForever]

Basically, I don't want anyone giving my patients meds other than myself while I am their nurse and in charge of them. Med aide, other nurse, etc. Stay away from my meds!!!! I had a med aide at one point and time, she was not able to give narcotics without me signing behind them, however, I also once had an LVN acting as a med aide for several weeks and it didn't work for me either. When one person is passing meds and the other is responsible for their care, there is always a lack of communication and things get missed, there is always room for problems. Also, my med pass is a time for me to assess my patients mood, orientation, etc. I owe them that time. I also find that nurses seem more adept in talking pts in to doing different things. Like taking meds, showers, eating, etc. I don't know how many times during a med pass I have found a soiled pt that needed cleaned, a pt too low in the bed that needed pulled up, a pt almost falling out of bed/w/c. Not to mention noticed altered mental status and other things. Med pass is a great time for assessing pt needs.

[jgalt]

No. MD's do not dole out duties due to patient ratios they defend every penny! - only licensed nursing professionals please.

[R*Star*RN, BSN, RN]

Medication aides made my job harder when I worked as an LPN in long term care. Sure, they passed medications, but it also made me responsible for twice as many patients and I also had to double check thier work, do all the treatments, and give injections. It was tough! I dont think medication aides should exist. I feel that it's setting up both the nurse and the medication aide to make errors.