Social worker giving meds ?

[Chrys26]

Hi. I’m new to the world of substance abuse nursing. I am working in a residential substance abuse house for adolescents. Now they seem SUPER under staffed, which isn’t alarming. What seems alarming to me is that when the nurse who’s training me (and she says it will happen during my shift too) when the nurse leaves and there’s no nurse to relieve she gives the keys to the med room to a social worker “or any other house staff” and they will administer medications as needed.  
I have never heard of or seen anything like this before. Is that within their scope ? (I’m in NYC)  Supposedly they are “trained” to administer meds by one of the more senior nurses who works the weekends… I just feel uncomfortable. 

[Teala F]

Hi Chrys26

I am an LPN in Alabama and work in a community mental health center. We fall under a program through the Alabama Department of Mental Health and the Alabama Board of Nursing known as the Nursing Delegation Program. Through utilization of the NDP program, training nurses in Medication Assistant Supervision, and training unlicensed personnel in Medication Assistant Certification they are allowed to ASSIST residential clients with medication administration. Ultimately, it is up to the nurse to ensure all nursing care is completed within a scope of practice. A nurse must always be accessible to the MAC workers. It is a very structured program with specific guidelines. There may be something similar in NY that your company falls under, however you should be trained in the program. Hope that helps!

Teala

[Tkay, MSN, RN]

I work both as a triage nurse for an addiction company and as a developmental disabilities nurse. We delegate assisting with medication administration to non medical staff but I am on call and other nurses for PRNs, med extensions, and incidents. Heck, even the MDs and NPs have delegated med refills and certain med protocols to the RNs too.