What is required to become a Certified Medication Aide?

Please see blog dated April 16,2010 to learn about the 2 kinds of Medication Aides/ Med Techs that are used in North Carolina.
The state of North Carolina requirements for becoming a certified medication aide depend on whether you want to pass meds in a Nursing Home. If this is the case then you need to:

1. Have a high school diploma or a GED
2. Be 18 years or older
3. Be on the North Carolina CNA registry
4. Have successfully completed the 24 hour Medication Administration Course
5. Received a 70% or better on the State Exam administered by Pearson Vue for a $55 fee.
6. After all of the above are completed, you will be placed on the Medication Aide registry
In order to maintain certification, you must prove you have worked at least (1) eight hour shift as a medication aide in the past 2 years.

If you are not a CNA or if you wish to pass meds in a community based health care facility other than a Nursing Home; such as Assisted Living, Adult Group Home, Psychiatric Facility, Home Health, etc.,
you must:
1. Take the Adult Care Medication Aide Written Exam through the NC Division of Health Service Regulation Adult Care Licensure Section. This test is $25. To do this:
2. Request a registration form from DHHS, fill it out and return it. You should hear back from them within 14 days.
3. Successfully pass the test with a score of 90% or better.
4. You are then eligible to be trained by your employer and to complete a Clinical Checklist of Skills.
5. Once that has been sent in to the state by your employer, you will be placed on the Medication Aide registry.
In order to maintain your place on the registry you must take 8 hours of continuing education units per year.

The 24 hour class for Medication Administration required for CNA's is basically everything that is required on the Clinical Checklist. Some employers are now requiring even non CNA's to take this class, which is always taught by an RN certified to be a Medication Aide Instructor.

Karen Woodrum, RN Medication Aide Instructor
MedAideTrainingProgram.com

What is the difference between a Med Aide and a Med Tech is a question often asked here in North Carolina.
This state has the dubious honor of being the only state in the country to have 2 types of Med Aides.
It becomes confusing because both types are called Med Aides by the regulatory agency.

The main difference is whether the Med Aide may give meds in a Skilled Nursing Facility.

The type of Med Aide that is certified to give meds in a Nursing Home must also be a CNA.

The NC Division of Health Service Regulation requirements for being placed on the Medication Aide Registry are that the candidate:

1. Have a high school diploma or GED;
2. Successful completion of a 24 hour medication aide training program approved by the Board of Nursing;
a) Currently be on the CNA registry in NC
b) May pass meds in a Nursing Home
3. Successful completion of a state-approved competency evaluation program;
a) Does not require a CNA
b) May pass meds in other community based health care facilities such as assisted living, group homes, etc.
4. Listing on the NC Division of Health Service Regulation Medication Aide Registry.

DHHS collaborated with the Board of Nursing to develop the curriculum in the Medication Administration course.
However, the course is not required for passing medication in community based health care facilities other than Nursing Homes. Instead, the care giver completes a Clinical Checklist competency evaluation program. This type of Med Aide is frequently referred to as a Med Tech.
Non-CNA care givers will take an exam at the local Department of Social Services. There is no fee for this test.
There is an on-line study guide for this exam on the DHHS website.
After passing the exam (Pass/Fail), the candidate then goes to an employer for further training in medication administration.
The employer is required to document the candidates's successful completion of a Clinical Skills Checklist.
This Med Aide may administer medications in a wide variety of settings; the one exception is that they cannot pass meds in a Skilled Nursing Facility. This Med Aide is frequently referred to as a Med Tech.

Karen Woodrum, RN
medaidetrainingprogram.com

Medication Aides are a fairly new phenomenon to North Carolina. The first pilot program was in 2007 and proved that Med Aides are a safe and reliable adjunct to nursing care in Long Term Care facilities.
Multiple studies have been conducted by various states. Comprehensive research done by Illinois and New Mexico have shown Med Aides make the same or fewer med errors than LPN's and RN's.
Studies have found that Med Aides make errors for the same reasons that nurses do. Mainly having too much to do with too many distractions. Med errors were shown to occur in direct correlation to the number of interuptions and distractions that occured during the med pass.
These studies prove that decreasing distractions and interruptions should be of the utmost importance. Med Aides could provide the answer.
Imagine having at least 1 CNA per shift that is also a Med Aide and ready to step in and take over the med pass. Imagine being able to free up the nurse to deal immediately with the pressing issues- with the focus and concentration it deserves. And the Med Pass also gets the focus and concentration IT deserves!

#1 The Six Rights:
Our patients are protected by the 6 rights of Medication Administration. All patients are guaranteed these rights. All the time. Without exception. These guaranteed rights are:
1. The Right Patient
2. The Right Medication
3. The Right Dose
4. The Right Route
5. The Right Time
6. The Right Documentation ( Put your initials next to everything you give )

#2 The 3 checks:
As nurses, Med Techs, and Med Aides, we are the last safety check before a potentially harmful medication and the patient. These checks are performed before each medication is given.
1. Check the medication when you remove it from storage.
2. The second check is done before you remove it from its container.
3. The third check is done before you return medication to storage.

#3 No Interruptions. It is crucial to pay attention. If you are distracted, you will not notice the critical information needed to avoid a dangerous mistake. No phones. No earpieces.

#4 HIPPA standards should always be observed. The Right to Privacy is the patient’s seventh Right. Protect your patients’ privacy. The Right to Privacy is a Federal Law.

#5 Integrity. Patients and their families are trusting us to be careful and thoughtful about giving them potentially harmful meds. It’s what makes our job so important. Nurses, Med Aides, and Med Techs promise that when we take responsibility for their meds, we will always do the right thing. Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one can see you.

#6 Wash your Hands. This simple step is the best way to prevent infection from spreading patient to patient, staff to patient, and staff to staff. It is everyone’s job to prevent infection.

#7 Observation. Med Aides and Med Techs are the eyes and ears of the nurse. Observe your patient for anything out of the ordinary for that patient. Make sure they are capable of taking the meds safely. Observe the patient take the medication. Never leave any meds in the room.

#8 Maintain a clean work area. Just as hand washing prevents the spread of infection, keeping your cart and the Medication Administration Record clean prevent contamination of the medicine you are preparing. Nothing you have put your lips on should be on top of your cart. No drinks or food should be where you are pouring meds.

#9 Question everything. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t. Stop what you’re doing and figure it out, before any harm comes to the patient. It’s OK to ask questions. No one expects you to know everything. That’s why we have each other.

#10 Report everything. People are not fired for making mistakes. People are fired for covering up mistakes. Remember that as Med Aides and Med Techs, you are observing for the nurse. Report anything unusual or different about the patient.

Karen Woodrum, RN
medaidetrainingprogram.com