Medication Assistant-Certified (MA-C)

Job Title: Medication Assistant-Certified (MA-C) Reports To: Director of Nursing and/or Assistant Director of Nursing Summary He/she is responsible for preparing, administering, and charting medication in compliance with state and federal requirements and facility standards and procedures under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
Follows all company policies and procedures.
Responsibilities 1.
Receives report at beginning of shift with nurses.
2.
Reports any observations concerning residents’ condition, emergency situations or difficulties with medications to the supervising nurse throughout the shift.
3.
Administers medications as prescribed by the physician and documents on eMAR.
a.
Approved medication routes: i.
Orally ii.
Topically iii.
Drops for eye, ear, or nose iv.
Vaginally v.
Rectally vi.
Transdermally vii.
Oral inhaler b.
Not within scope of work: i.
Access or administer controlled substances ii.
Administer parenteral, enteral, or injectable medications iii.
Administer any substance by nasogastric or gastrostomy tube iv.
Calculate drug doses v.
Destroy medications vi.
Receive written or verbal orders vii.
Transcribe orders viii.
Oder initial medications ix.
Evaluate medication error reports x.
Perform treatments xi.
Conduct patient assessments or evaluations xii.
Engage in patient teaching activities xiii.
Order or receive medication by a route that the medication assistant-certified cannot administer 4.
Recognizes the significance and is able to perform accurate vital sign monitoring when indicated by drug therapy.
5.
Reports any changes in resident conditions or reactions to the medications to the charge nurse throughout the shift.
6.
Maintains current knowledge base regarding any medication he/she administers.
7.
Investigates unknown medications before administration.
8.
Communicates all first doses of medications to nurse to administer first dose.
9.
Prepares, administers and charts oral, topical, and suppository medication as prescribed by physician.
10.
Maintains medication supply and restocks medication cart as needed.
11.
Follows locked medication room and medication cart policy and procedures.
12.
Ensures that facility rules, infection control standards, policies and procedures are followed.
13.
Attends meetings and training sessions as directed including in-services.
14.
Performs other duties as directed by charge nurse.
Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
1.
Currently listed in good standing on the state’s certified nurse aide registry.
2.
Has maintained registration on the state’s certified nurse aide registry continuously for a minimum of one year.
3.
Has completed at least one continuous year of full-time experience as a certified nurse aide in the state.
4.
Has a high school diploma or the equivalent.
5.
Has successfully completed a literacy and reading comprehension screening process approved by the board.
6.
Has successfully completed a medication assistant-certified training course approved by the board.
7.
Has successfully passed a board approved certification examination on subjects the board determines or has completed a portion of a nursing education program equivalent to the medication assistant person training course and passed the board’s medication assistant certification.
8.
Maintains effective interpersonal relationships.
9.
Is of good emotional, mental, and physical health, having sound judgment and high professionally standards.
10.
Is courteous in working with residents, families, and employees.
11.
Maintains a neat, well-groomed and professional appearance at all times.
12.
Has a desire to work with the geriatric resident and their current and prospective needs.
13.
Must be willing to be in the facility ready to begin assigned duties on time.
14.
Must be willing to be in the facility during the weekdays as well as weekend hours.
15.
Must be willing to work preferred shifts as scheduled and assist in other shifts as needed to assure adequate staffing to meet the needs of each resident.
16.
Must demonstrate ability to evaluate the geriatric resident’s needs and provide intervention timely to assure each resident’s needs are met.
17.
Must demonstrate ability to function as a cooperative team member with each member of the Nursing Department and other departments.
18.
Must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with the nurse supervisor.
19.
Must have an annual Tuberculosis screening exam.
Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by and employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and talk or hear.
The employee frequently is required to climb or balance.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Job Location Must work throughout the nursing areas of the facility.
May require working irregular hours and may be exposed to communicable disease and/or body fluids, medical preparations, toxic substances and occasionally ionizing radiation.
Working Conditions · Works throughout the nursing service area (i.
e.
, drug rooms, nurses’ station, resident rooms, etc.
).
· Moves intermittently during working hours.
· Is subject to frequent interruptions.
· Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc.
, under all conditions/ circumstances.
· Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, visitors, etc.
· Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department directors.
· Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
· Is subject to callback during emergency conditions (i.
e.
, severe weather, evacuation, post-disaster, etc.
).
· Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
· Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc.
, throughout the workday, as well as reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
· Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc.
, including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
· May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
· Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc.
, to adequately plan for the resident’s needs.