The primary purpose of your job position is to assist in the administering of medications to residents as ordered by the attending physician, under the direction of the attending physician, the nurse supervisor or charge nurse, and the Director of Nursing Services. The administration of medications shall be in accordance with established nursing standards, the policies, procedures, and practices of this facility, and the requirements of this state.
Essential Job Functions
- Under on-site supervision of a licensed nurse, the Medication aide administers medications to residents, as ordered by the physician, in accordance with state and federal rules and regulations.
- Operates within the constraints of established policy and procedure and consistent with accepted/allowed standards of practice relevant to certification.
- Be able to assist certified aides in implementation of resident care plans by performing personal cares according to care plans and daily schedules and in such a way as to promote safety, comfort, security, and to the greatest degree of independence possible.
- Follow the policies and procedures of the facility governing the administering of routine medications to residents.
- Records administration of drugs as per facility policy.
- Observes and reports any reactions or side effects of medications to a licensed nurse.
- Administers PRN medications in accordance with state and federal regulations and consistent with facility policy.
- Accounts for narcotics in accordance with the regulation/policy of the facility.
- Report errors in the administration of medications as per facility policy.
- Assist in developing and implementing procedures or programs of the facility that seek to determine what medication errors are taking place, when, where, and why they occur, and how they can be prevented.
- Perform administrative requirements, such as completing necessary forms, charts, reports, etc., and submit these as may be required.
- Maintain a friendly, productive, working relationship with other members of the department of nursing, attending physicians, the Medical Director, and pharmacists.
- Report any complaints or grievances made by residents to the Director of Nursing Services.
- Participate and cooperate with any facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing Services.
- Participate in Quality Assurance programs, and any other facility committee or program, which affects the medication pass and seeks to improve the performance and accuracy of the medication process.
- Attend and participate in care plan meetings as necessary.
- Assist with admission, discharge and transfer of residents as directed by charge nurse/or Director of nursing.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by your supervisor/or Director of nursing.
- Function as a certified nurse’s aide if indicated to meet resident needs and assigned by your supervisor/or Director of nursing.
- Accurately and safely prepare, administer, and document the oral, ear, eye, inhalers, rectal, and/or topical medications that are commonly used in this facility and that are ordered for the resident by the attending physician or the Medical Director.
- Understand what each medication given is being given for, expected outcomes, and side effects.
- Injections, medications per tube, and IV medications will be administered by only a licensed nurse as per standards of practice and in compliance with licensure of the nurse.
- Verify that any medications brought into the facility by a newly admitted resident are examined and identified by the charge nurse, attending physician /or pharmacist.
- Follow the labeling policies and practices of the facility.
- Ensure that all medications administered are properly labeled.
- Follow accepted policies for giving PRN medications. Assist the nurse in monitoring effectiveness of medication.
- Follow accepted policies for giving narcotic medications.
- Follow facility procedures in regard to charting of medications.
- Follow facility policies and procedures regarding the destroying of medications; assist in carrying out these rules under the direction of the facility pharmacist or Director of Nursing Services, including the documentation requirements.
- Assist in documenting and removing medications that are discontinued by the attending physician.
- Follow facility procedures governing drug receipt errors, including notifying the delivery source and the Director of Nursing Services.
- Ensure that medication is returned and reordered.
- Ensure that documentation of the drug receipt error includes a written error report, signed by an observer/witness and you.
- Follow facility procedures in holding medications for residents who are transferred from the facility or when the attending physician discontinues a medication.
- Accurately measure, record, and report the vital signs of residents as assigned or may be relevant to certain medications.
- Observe and verify that medication is ingested or applied as directed. Document any instance where prescribed medication is not administered, including reason(s) for refusal.
- Promptly notify the Charge Nurse, Nurse Supervisor, or Director of Nursing Services of any errors or reactions to medications by residents.
- Follow the medication administration practices of the facility.
- Ensure that no medication is administered without a written, signed, dated order from an attending licensed physician/ nurse practitioner.
- Follow the facility procedure for recording the order in the resident’s clinical record, including the type, route, dosage, frequency and strength of each medication.
- Verify the identity of the resident before administering the medication treatment.
- Follow the facility’s procedures allowing residents to self-administer their medications.
- Assist the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse in monitoring and documenting all aspects of such self-administering.
- Promptly notify the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of failure of a resident to properly take any medications to include refusal of self-medications.
- Follow established guidelines concerning the storage of drugs and biologicals.
- Be familiar with the meaning and usage of common medical abbreviations, symbols, and terms relative to the administration of medications as used by the facility, pharmacists, and physicians.
- Participate in the development and implementation of the resident’s comprehensive assessment as necessary.
- Attend and participate in continuing education programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your med aide certification on a current status.
- Attend and participate in continuing education programs as required to keep nurse aide status current.
- Attend annual OSHA, HAZCOM, and TB training programs as scheduled.
- Attend and participate in orientation programs as necessary.
- Participate in information exchange with staff from preceding and following shifts to assure continuity of care to assigned residents.
- Use personal protective equipment when performing procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
- Report all hazardous conditions and equipment to the nurse supervisor/charge nurse immediately. Performs incidental housekeeping or maintenance tasks as they may arise during the course of their shift in order to maintain a clean, safe, pleasant environment for residents, visitors, and staff.
- Follow established safety precautions in the performance of all duties.
- Wash hands before and after performing any service for the resident.
- Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
- Complies with procedures for safe lifting, transferring, and handling residents; assumes responsibility for safety of residents under immediate supervision, reports and documents incidents/injuries according to facility policy.
- Properly secures medication carts/medication rooms in accordance with regulations and facility policy.
- Assists to keep medication room/carts clean and stocked with appropriate items.
- Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
- Ensure that resident interviews are conducted in private.
- Report any complaints or grievances made by residents to the Director of Nursing Services.
- Ensure that you treat all residents fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
- Knock before entering the resident’s room.
- Report incidents or suspected incidents of resident abuse to the DON immediately.
- Honor the resident’s refusal of treatments or medications request.
- Report a resident’s refusal of treatments or medications to the nurse supervisor/charge nurse.