CMA

Description

Responsible to:  Licensed Vocational Nurse or Registered Nurse

General Description:  Prepares, administers, and documents all routine and PRN medications to assigned residents under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse.

Duties and Responsibilities: include, but not limited to the following:  

• Administers regularly prescribed medications which the CMA has been trained to administer under the direct supervision of the RN/LVN and in accordance with the regulations of the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services, instructions of the primary physician, and Holly Hall nursing policies and procedures.

• Responsible for administration of routinely prescribed medications by the following routes: oral, ophthalmic, otic, nasal, vaginal and rectal.  Must take and record vital signs prior to administration of designated medications; if the vital signs are not consistent with safe administration, must report to RN/LVN and hold medication.  Reviews the MAR, prepares and administers medications in accordance with facility policies and procedures for medication administration.  MUST observe the resident taking the medication.  Documents all medications AFTER given on the resident’s MAR. Observes for side effects and reactions to medications and reports these to LVN for follow up and assessment.

• Administers PRN medications after authorization from RN/LVN.  Reviews

MAR, prepares, and administers medication as prescribed.  Documents on the MAR the symptoms requiring medication and time symptoms occurred.  Follows up with resident to determine if medication was effective.

• Administers oxygen by nasal cannula or a non-sealing face mask ONLY in an emergency.  The RN/LVN on duty must be notified immediately after the emergency for assessment and follow-up.  CMA should document actions and notification of RN/LVN in the designated location in the resident’s record.

• CMAs may NOT administer the following:

              *Medications by any injection route

             *IPPB or inhaled medications

              *Initial doses of any medication

             *Medications by G-tube or NG tube

              *Topical medications on broken or blistered skin

               *Topical medications requiring aseptic technique (such as burns)

• CMAs may NOT take verbal or telephone orders from physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, or other health care providers, or assume responsibility for transcription of such orders to the resident record.

• May NOT calculate doses of medication for administration.  MAY measure out a prescribed amount of liquid medication to be administered and may break a tablet for administration provided the RN/LVN has calculated the dosage.  The MAR should clearly reflect how the tablet must be altered prior to administration.

• MAY crush only those medications which are authorized by the RN/LVN to be crushed.  Authorization to crush medications will be clearly noted on the resident’s MAR.  Medications which cannot be crushed will also be clearly noted on the MAR.

• May NOT order resident medications from a pharmacy.  Notifies RN/LVN in a timely manner of any medications which need to be ordered.

• Responsible for keeping medication cart clean and restocked prior to end of each shift.  Must not keep medications on top of cart when CMA is not actively administering medications.  Must keep cart always locked and keys on person when not actively administering medications.  Must not keep personal or food items on top of cart.

• May NOT leave any medications at a resident’s bedside unless specific physician orders indicate self-administration.  

• Responds to residents, family members, physicians, nurse practitioners, and others in a professional and courteous manner.  Works cooperatively with other nursing personnel and other departments to resolve problems and minimize disruption.  Notifies RN/LVN of any resident complaints, problems or concerns in a timely manner to facilitate prompt resolution.

• Maintains a high level of safety awareness for potential threats to resident/employee safety and takes prompt action to report or resolve the problem.  Notifies RN/LVN of persistent, unresolved safety issues which could affect resident and/or employee safety.

• Adheres to infection control guidelines for body fluid exposure and prevention of disease transmission.

• Compliant with all Holly Hall administrative, personnel, and nursing policies and procedures.

• Compliant with CMA certification standards as governed by the State of Texas.  Maintain certification in an uninterrupted manner and provides proof of certification to DNS at time of renewal.  Responsible for obtaining necessary continuing education to maintain certification.

• Assists with physical care of residents as needed or assigned when not actively administering medications.  Includes answering nursing station phone, answering resident call lights, assisting with resident ambulation, feeding, dressing, showering, and toileting residents as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Qualifications

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Education and/or Experience: Medication Aide certification training at approved college or technical school; or one to two years related experience and/or training in long term care; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret physicians’ orders, medication orders, instructions in both oral and written format, policies and procedures, and memos; ability to write in a legible and comprehensible manner in resident records; and ability to speak effectively with residents, family members, physicians, other departments, and employees of Holly Hall.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals.  Ability to differentiate units of measure as it applies to medication dosages.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form; and ability to deal with problems with a limited number of variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Current certification as a Certified Medication Aide in the state of Texas.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Employee is regularly required to talk or hear; frequently required to stand and walk; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel or crouch; and taste or smell.  Employee is required to occasionally sit.  Employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Other Skills and Abilities:  Must display a pleasant, cooperative, service-oriented attitude at all times with residents, families, physicians, and facility personnel; and must be team-oriented and able to work cooperatively in groups to accomplish a common goal.

Requirements:

• Must have an interest in the elderly.
• Must be able to speak, read and understand verbal and written instructions in English; and must be able to be understood clearly and easily by residents as English is the prevailing language at Holly Hall Retirement Community.
• Must be able to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must be able to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the public.
• Must be able to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Sits, stands, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with other staff.
• Must be in good general heath and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to lift, push, pull, move and manipulate at least 50 pounds.
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of residents.

General Statement:  It is understood that this document may be changed in the future in the best interest of Holly Hall and/or those served.  Any changes will be discussed with the incumbent.