Purpose of Your Job Position

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.

Delegation of Authority

As a Certified Medication Aide, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Job Functions

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative Functions

Follow the policies and procedures of the facility governing the administering of medications to residents.

Note and report errors in the administration of medications.

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.

Agree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password 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 attempt to access facility’s information system.

Other duties as assigned.

Committee Functions

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.

Other duties as assigned.

Drug Administration Functions

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.

Assist with 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.

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 except emergency drugs.

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 medications.

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.

Assist the Nurse Supervisor/Charge Nurse in monitoring and documenting 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.

Other duties as assigned.

Personnel Functions

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 established facility policy guidelines.

Other duties as assigned.

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.

Other duties as assigned.

Safety and Sanitation

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.

Other duties as assigned.

Budget and Planning Functions

Report suspected or known incidence of fraud relative to false billings, cost reports, kickbacks, etc.

Other duties as assigned.

Resident Rights

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.