Certified Medication Aide CMA

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Follow the policies and procedures of the facility governing the administering of medications to residents.
• Note and report errors in the administration of medications.
• Absorb and implement new procedures or programs aimed at identifying medication errors.
• Complete necessary forms, charts, reports, and submit them as required.
• Maintain a friendly, productive, working relationship with other members of the nursing department, 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 facility surveys made by authorized government agencies as requested by the Administrator or Director of Nursing Services.
• Agree not to disclose assigned user ID codes and passwords for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
• Agree not to disclose resident's protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
• Report any known or suspected unauthorized attempts to access facility's information system.
• Participate in Quality Assurance programs, the Pharmaceutical Services Committee, and any other facility committee or program that 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.
• Accurately and safely prepare, administer, and document the oral and/or topical medications that are commonly used in this facility and that may be ordered for resident use by the attending physician or the Medical Director.
• Verify that any medications brought into the facility by a newly admitted resident are examined and identified by the attending physician or the facility pharmacy or pharmacist.
• Follow the labeling policies and practices of the facility.
• Ensure that all medications administered are properly labeled.
• Absorb and document medication charting as directed by the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse.
• 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.
• Absorb and remove 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 documentation of the drug receipt error includes a written error report, signed by an observer/witness and you.
• Absorb and document medications that are discontinued by the attending physician.
• Accurately measure, record, and report the vital signs of residents.
• 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 card practices of the facility.
• Ensure that no medication is administered without a written, signed, dated order from an attending licensed physician.
• 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 his or her medications.
• Absorb and monitor and document all aspects of such self-administering.
• Promptly notify the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse of any failure of a resident to properly take any "self-administered" 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.
• Report known or suspected incidents of fraud to the Administrator.
• Ensure that departmental computer workstations left unattended are properly logged off or the password protected automatic screen-saver activates within 3 established facility policy guidelines.
• Participate in continuing education programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your certification on a current status.
• Attend annual in-service training programs as scheduled (e.g., OSHA, TB, HIPAA, Abuse Prevention, Safety, Infection Control, etc.).
• Attend and participate in orientation programs as necessary.
• Participate in an in-service training program prior to performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood or body fluids.
• 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.
• 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.
• Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information including protected health information.
• Report known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of such information.
• Report any complaints or grievances made by residents to the Director of Nursing Services.
• 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.
• Maintain a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents' needs.
• Follow established procedures governing the handling and disposal of infectious waste.

Requirements

Must possess, as a minimum, a high school education or its equivalent.

Must be a licensed Certified Medication Aide having successfully completed a state approved training program and any necessary examination(s) in accordance with laws of this State.

Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.

Qualifications

Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.

Skills

Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.

Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.

Benefits

N/A

Pay

N/A

Schedule

N/A