Medication Aide

A Med-aide assists in the general care and wellbeing of residents. The Med-aide administers oral and external medications to residents under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed practical /vocational nurse.

The Med-aide reports unusual symptoms and/or behaviors to the nurse and /or supervisor. A Med-aide may also need to act in the capacity of a certified nursing assistant during their shift.

The Med-aide is responsible for knowledge of resident’s conditions at all times. Reports any observation that appears abnormal and assists with or instituting remedial measures for adverse developments and will assist the nurse as needed, and within the scope of practice of the med-aide, to maintain residents’ health.

qualifications

Educational

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent as a minimum and completion of a certified nursing assistant course from an accredited college program and on North Carolina Registry.
• Must have a med-aide certification accredited to work in skilled care setting.
• Maintain yearly 12 hours educational requirements for certification.

Experience

• Desire 1-year current experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a long-term nursing facility or hospital.
• Previous experience as a med-aide is desired.

Specific Requirements

• Must possess a sincere desire and be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility as well as to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the public.
• Must have patience, tact, cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm, as well as be willing to handle residents based on whatever physical, emotional, social, or spiritual level the resident is able to understand and be able to maintain a functional status.
• Must be able to read, write and speak the English language.
• Computer skills will be required.
• Possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Specific Requirements Continued

• Maintaining the care and use of supplies, equipment, the facility, as well as assisting in maintaining the appearance of the nursing areas. Assist staff in keeping residents’ rooms neat and tidy as warranted.
• Must keep med carts stocked, clean and reorder medications as needed to prevent outages of medications.
• Possess the ability to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Adheres to safety guidelines.
• Perform the functions of a medication aide with knowledge and tact.
• Be able to perform the functions and duties of a certified nursing assistant.

Working Conditions

• Works in well-lighted/ventilated work areas, as well as throughout the nursing service area to include resident’s rooms.
• Sitting, standing, bending, lifting, and moving intermittently during working hours.
• Subject to frequent interruptions as well as loud noises.
• Involved with residents, family members, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions/circumstances.
• Subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• A willingness to work beyond normal working hours, and in other positions, when necessary. Must possess flexibility in assignment changes to meet the staffing needs of the facility.
• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs.
• Subjects to falls, burns from equipment, infectious diseases, substances, odors, etc., throughout the workday.
• Be economical and careful with supplies, equipment, time, and resources.
• Follow all our established policies and procedures, to include nursing care procedures, safety regulations, personnel policies, etc., to assure that quality resident care can be maintained.

Physical Demands

• Walks or stands in one place for long periods of time.
• Pushing/pulling/lifting more than 50 pounds.
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• 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, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.

duties and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Listed below is an outline of the major duties and responsibilities that you will be required to perform as a Medication Aide.

Even though your job description is broad, every effort has been made to make this outline as complete as possible. HOWEVER, we must emphasize that you will be required to perform other related duties and activities as determined by the Administrator and DNS of the facility.

duties and RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL DUTIES:

• Follow infection control procedures, as established by this facility.
• Assure that the call system is attached to the bed or within easy reach of each resident.
• Assist others in heavy lifting. USE PROPER EQUIPMENT.
• Report any resident abuse immediately. (i.e., harsh/abusive language, unnecessary roughness, etc.)
• Watch for and report any change in room temperature, ventilation, lighting, etc.
• Keep residents’ personal articles off the floor and properly stored.
• Keep floors dry and free of unnecessary equipment, supplies, etc., to prevent accidents.
• Assure that established smoking regulations are followed by personnel, visitors, residents, and the public. Report violations to the charge nurse immediately.
• Report all complaints to the hall nurse when the complaint is made.
• Must adhere to HIPPA regulations (Resident right to privacy) and maintain CONFIDENTIALITY of all pertinent resident care information to assure resident rights are protected.
• Ensure that residents’ rights to fair and equitable treatment, self-determination, individuality, privacy, property, and civil rights, including the right to wage a complaint, are followed by all department personnel.
• Check for food in the resident’s room. Discard as outlined within our nursing care procedure.
• Attend and participate in in-service educational programs, on-the-job training programs, etc., as directed. (Must receive 12 hours of continuing education annually.)

MEDCATION PASS:

• Follows all the facility’s established policies, procedures, protocols as well as the rules & regulations of governing bodies and The NC Board of Nursling’s rules & regulations.
• Report to nurse on the hall when coming on and going off duty.
• Will consult with your direct supervising nurse with any questions or concerns including but not limited to a treatment or regimen believed to be inaccurate, ineffective, or contraindicated.
• Prepare, administer, and document medications following accepted practices.
• Identify residents before administering medications.
• Records the administration of medication on the residents EMAR at the time the medication is given.
• Administers medications within 60 minutes of scheduled time and /or as designated by The Board of Nursing.
• Takes and records vital signs PRIOR to administration of medications when required.
• Observes, follows, and correctly performs manufacturer’s recommendations including:

Shake well. Refrigerate. Do not crush. Keep upright.

Adequate fluids. Medication taken with or without food, or not with antacids.

Installation of eye medication. Sublingual medications. Medication via metered dose inhalers, Etc.

• Knows the rationale for the effect of medications and treatments and correctly administers them.
• Secure medication carts and always keep medication cart keys with you.
• Reports a drug administration error or drug reaction to the licensed or registered nurse and to the Director of Nursing and assists in completing the medication error report.
• Monitors residents who self -administer medications and report deviation from the plan of care to the licensed or registered nurse.
• Provide Med Pass 2.0 as directed by the EMAR for those residents that it is ordered for.
• Report any medication found in the resident’s room immediately. This includes anything over the counter like topical or oral medications.

MED CART COMPLIANCE:

• Removes discontinued, expired, outdated, or deteriorated drugs from inventory, off the cart, and reorders as needed.
• Writes up medications to be returned to pharmacy.
• Ensures that all over the counter medications, eye drops, nasal sprays etc are dated when opened.
• Check sharps boxes daily to ensure that they are not full and replace as required.
• The top of med carts are kept clean, tidy and free from any food or drinks at all times.
• Serve drinking water as required. Assure that water pitchers are cleaned and filled with fresh drinking water regularly and are sent to the kitchen to be sanitized before the end of your shift daily and clean water pitchers are placed and filled before end of duty.
• Other duties and activities assigned by the Director of Nursing and/or Administrator.
• Help assist, as needed, in preparing a list of residents that need to be seen by dentist, podiatrist, physician or other medical personnel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Assure that work/assignment areas are clean and equipment, tools, supplies, etc., are properly stored before leaving such areas on breaks, end of workday, etc.
• Clean any equipment after the discharge of a resident and place it in proper storage areas.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and facility.
• Report all accidents/incidents, regardless of how minor, to the charge nurse as soon as possible.
• Report all hazardous conditions and equipment to the charge nurse immediately.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Administrator or DNS of the facility.

LIMITATIONS OF THE POSITION:

It is of the utmost importance that the Medication aide be aware of the limitations of the position, which include, but are not limited to, the following:

• May not administer medications by the injection route including :

Hypodermoclysis, Intradermal, Intramuscular, Intravenous, Subcutaneous

• May not administer medications used for intermittent positive- pressure breathing (IPPB) treatments.
• May not administer PRN medications unless authorization is obtained from the facility’s nurse or the resident’s treating physician and there is an order in place.
• May not administer the initial dose of a medication that has not been previously administered to the resident.
• May not calculate for administration any resident’s doses.
• May not crush medications unless the initial prior authorization is obtained from the facility’s licensed nurse and is within the pharmacy guidelines for that medication.
• May not administer medications by way of the nasogastric tube, J-tube or G-tube.
• May not receive or assume responsibility for reducing to a written form, any verbal or telephone orders from a physician.
• May not give out information to any family member regarding their loved one.
• May not apply topical medications that involve the treatment of skin that is broken or when a specified aseptic technique is ordered by the attending physician.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 12 hour shift
• 4 hour shift
• Day shift
• Morning shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $22