Working with Expired CNA

[jtown38]

Upfront, I am not a nurse. However, being a former EMT I am somewhat familiar with how the Medical Field works. I know of someone that may be working as a patient tech in a assisted living facility possibly a private home. Now, I am not positive of the details, but the hair on my neck stood out when I heard this person has to administer Morphine, among other duties for a patient. On top of this, any CNA certificates that may have been are now long expired. My questions is.....possible penalties should the S***T hit the fan. I am worried about the person doing the care giving and would just assume pull this person out of there ASAP.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Assisted living facilites often have very loose regs equal to group homes in manystates. No requirement for certification aides. Training as med techs with as litte as eight hour training in some states ....sigh. Administering morphine not unusual if routine dose /blistered packed meds......

....not that I agree with any of above.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

When I worked in a group home, we had to complete a course in "community med administration" as required by the state. In the state that I was in, no previous medical training was required. Occasionally I did have a resident who took morphine or another controlled substance. Also being a group home, many residents had psych diagnosis and took some pretty serious psych meds... which can have some pretty serious side effects. Not to mention interactions when a new med was started or occasionally routine meds building up in the body to dangerous levels. A nurse visited the group home at least weekly to oversee the medical needs of the residents and was available by phone all the time. Vitals and weights of the residents were taken weekly. At the time it made me nervous, but now as a nursing student, it really scares me that this occurs (and I worked for a couple of reputable group home agencies... I know of some that don't even follow the already inadequate med administration policies).

Please understand though, a well run group home offers a person with a disability a chance to live a full, productive life and gives them opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have.

[jtown38]

Thank you for the replies so quickly. I am somewhat relieved from the info you have told me so far. At least I know that this person is good at what they do, competent, and documents well. I just was not sure of the rules and regs for the State of TN as I am in another state. At least I know this is only very short term (4 weeks) then hopefully that person will be here in my state. ( In the works) I guess I can only cross my fingers and hope nothing crazy happens untill then. ( Murphy's law has been working overtime lately it seems.) After this, a career change may take place to other less liable positions.