Medication Technician, Post-Acute

Thedacare • City of Berlin, WI

75d • Onsite

About The Position

Work under the supervision of the Registered Nurse, the Medication Technician, Post-Acute performs patient-centered, evidence-based nursing care activities to meet the physical and psychosocial needs of the patient by preparing, administering, and recording oral, nasal, transdermal, rectal, inhalant, and ophthalmic scheduled medications. Through collaborative practice with all members of the care team, is responsible for patient outcomes that meet the high quality of care provided by ThedaCare. Contributes to the goals of the department by being accountable for the delivery of compassionate, safe care and demonstrated commitment to continuous growth and professional development.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED preferred • Must be 18 years of age • Be current on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry.
• Be current on the federal nurse aide directory.
• American Heart Association HealthCare Provider Life Support (BLS)
• Have at least 2,000 hours of experience in direct patient care within the past three years.
• Have worked at least 40 hours within the past 90 days with residents receiving medications.
• Have worked 100 hours each calendar year as a medication aide and have four hours of pharmacy related medication training each calendar year (for med technicians with >1 year of experience).
• Be recommended in writing by the director of nursing and the administrator of the agency where you'll be working.
• Be recommended in writing by two licensed charge nurses under whose licenses you'll be giving medications.
• Must have completed a state approved program to become a medication aide or qualify for an exemption per Wisconsin Department of Health Services/ Department of Quality Assurance for training and experience such as: Nursing students with specific criteria, Graduate nurses who don't hold a license or Nurse aides who've worked as medication aides in nursing homes in other states.
• You must be a CNA as well as a licensed med tech for a nursing home (not CBRF)

Responsibilities

• Performs delegated medication administration activities using evidence-based practice and specific competencies for the patient population served.
• Prepares and passes all prescribed medications to residents as physician ordered using proper dosage, routine, timing, and technique.
• Demonstrates the ability to record the name of the drugs, the dosage, the time of administration and other relevant information in the medical record.
• Able to take all required vital signs needed prior to administering medications.
• Must be able to recognize side effects of medications and reports to nurse.
• Must be able to know all 5 rules of medication management: right resident, right medication, right dose, right time and right route.
• Read and understand medication orders and accurately administer as ordered.
• Assists in meeting the care needs of the patient in collaboration with the care team to ensure quality, cost-effective safe patient care practices.
• Demonstrates clinical expertise in the provision of care in the clinical specialty assigned and performs all functions of the caregiver which are age appropriate, developmentally sensitive, and culturally specific.
• Respectfully addresses situations or decisions to ensure patient concerns and needs are met. Identifies ways to improve the patient’s experience of care, streamline care processes, and lower costs to improve patient, family, and team member satisfaction.
• Identifies and escalates patient risk to prevent crises.
• Demonstrates professional and therapeutic relationships with patients, families, team members, and providers.
• Reinforces patient education to improve care outcomes and safe patient practices.
• Performs and documents medication administration and ensures the care environment promotes patient safety.
• Works directly with other nursing staff to ensure all tasks are done with confidence and utilizes licensed nursing staff for guidance and support to provide the best care for the residents.
• Must administer medications which you have been trained on: Medication aide base courses do not train on: how to give an injection, any procedure done through a tube, nebulizers, or how to give as-needed/PRN medications.

Benefits

• Lifestyle Engagement
• e.g. health coaches, relaxation rooms, health focused apps (Wonder, Ripple), mental health support
• Access & Affordability
• e.g. minimal or zero copays, team member cost sharing premiums, daycare

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees