Certified medication Aide

PACS•Pleasanton, CA

About The Position

The Certified Medication Aide assists with administering medications to residents as ordered by the attending physician and under the direction of the attending physician, nurse supervisor or charge nurse, and Director of Nursing Services. Medication administration must comply with established nursing standards, facility policies and procedures, and applicable state requirements. The aide prepares, administers, and documents commonly used oral and topical medications, observes whether medications are taken or applied as directed, documents refusals and other instances when medication is not administered, and reports medication errors or reactions. The role also involves recording and reporting vital signs, maintaining medication records and labels, following procedures for medication receipt, storage, discontinuation, transfer, and destruction, and protecting residents’ confidential health information. The position requires a high school education or equivalent and a current medication aide license obtained through a state-approved training program and any required examinations. It has no supervisory responsibilities. The employee may occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds and may need to assist with resident evacuation during emergencies. The work environment is usually low to moderately noisy. The stated rate is $17.50.

Requirements

High school education or equivalent.
Licensed Medication Aide who has successfully completed a state-approved training program and any required examinations in accordance with state law.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from managers and employees.
Ability to apply fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Ability to solve practical problems involving concrete variables and limited standardization.
Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammed, or scheduled instructions.
Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Prolonged use of a desktop or laptop computer; regular sitting, standing, walking, talking, reading, or hearing; and frequent use of office equipment including a copier/scanner/fax, telephone, and calculator.
May need to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergencies.

Responsibilities

Follow facility policies and procedures for administering medications to residents.
Note and report medication administration errors, and assist with facility efforts to identify and prevent medication errors.
Complete and submit required forms, charts, reports, and other administrative records.
Maintain productive working relationships with nursing department members, attending physicians, the Medical Director, and pharmacists.
Report resident complaints or grievances to the Director of Nursing Services.
Participate in facility surveys and inspections when requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing Services.
Participate in Quality Assurance programs, the Pharmaceutical Services Committee, and other programs or committees related to medication administration and process improvement.
Accurately and safely prepare, administer, and document commonly used oral and topical medications ordered for residents.
Ensure medications brought in by newly admitted residents are examined and identified by the attending physician or facility pharmacy or pharmacist.
Follow medication destruction procedures and assist with required documentation under the direction of the facility pharmacist or Director of Nursing Services.
Follow facility medication labeling policies and ensure administered medications are properly labeled.
Follow facility procedures for charting medications and documenting and removing medications discontinued by the attending physician.
Follow procedures for drug receipt errors, notify the delivery source and Director of Nursing Services, and ensure the error report is signed by the aide and an observer or witness.
Follow procedures for holding medications for residents transferred from the facility or whose medications have been discontinued.
Observe and verify that medications are ingested or applied as directed; document medications not administered and the reasons for refusal.
Promptly notify the Charge Nurse, Nurse Supervisor, or Director of Nursing Services of medication errors or resident reactions.
Verify resident identity before administering medication treatment.
Accurately measure, record, and report residents’ vital signs.
Follow facility procedures that allow residents to self-administer medications.
Use common medical abbreviations, symbols, and terms related to medication administration.
Attend continuing education programs and maintain current certification.
Protect residents’ protected health information, report suspected or known unauthorized disclosures, and report suspected unauthorized attempts to access the facility information system.
Perform assigned tasks in accordance with facility policies, procedures, instructions, work assignments, and schedules.
Cooperate with interdepartmental and other facility personnel to ensure nursing services meet residents’ needs.