Employment

Primary Function

Primarily to assist the nurses in the administration of routine medications to residents residing in the nursing facility. The medication administration shall be under the direction of the floor nurse and in accordance with the established nursing standards, policies, procedures and practices of this facility and the governing regulations of nursing facilities established by the federal and state governments. The medication aide will also be required to perform the duties in the facility's C.N.A. Job Description on a daily basis.

UNAUTHORIZED DUTIES OF MEDICATION AIDE:

A licensed nurse may not delegate the professional judgment or decision-making responsibility to the Medication Aide which includes:

• Recognizing side effects;
• Recognizing toxic effects;
• Recognizing allergic reactions;
• Recognizing immediate desired effects;
• Recognizing unusual and unexpected effects;
• Recognizing changes in resident's condition that contraindicates continued administration of the medication;
• Anticipating those effects which may rapidly endanger a resident's life or well-being; and making judgments and decisions concerning actions to take in the event such untoward effects occur.

  Job Description

• Medication Administration through the following routes: oral, eye, ear, nasal, inhalant, transdermal, topical, vaginal and rectal
• Administers routine medications to residents as indicated on the Medication Administration Record (MAR) and as described in the "authorized" and "unauthorized" sections above.
• Will follow all the requirements and duties in the CNA-I job description, in addition to passing medications to residents within regulated time frame and within lawful requirements while being respectful of residents. The Medication Aide will perform his/her duties with minimal supervision.
• Completes assignments and/or medication administration in a timely and proficient manner giving quality care. Accepts assignments outside of routine duties when deemed necessary.
• Demonstrates capability to perform CNA-I level procedures and treatments.
• Follows directions of Nurse in charge/RN Supervisor/DON and plan of care.
• Reports changes in resident condition immediately.
• Demonstrates ability to deal effectively with older adults.
• Knows the Six Rights of medication administration and is able to demonstrate skills performance at any time.
• Implements the ordered plan of care for residents in the assigned caseload and schedule.
• Is required to work on weekends and holidays on a rotating basis.
• Takes vital signs as specified in CNA Plan of Care, understands normal parameters and reports results outside of normal parameters to residents' primary RN or PCS supervisor immediately if indicated and otherwise within the working day.
• Organizes daily schedule to make good use of time and care of residents.
• Demonstrates safe practices by using proper body mechanics, following policies for sharp/dangerous material handling and disposal, reporting and/or acting to correct unsafe or costly conditions.
• Cleans and restocks CNA supplies monthly and as needed to maintain current and complete nursing assistant supplies.
• Maintains current CPR certification, TB test, driver's license, and CNA certification without lapse and provides copies to supervisor.
• Attends all mandatory agency in-service/education programs as scheduled during the evaluation period.
• Attends at least 12 hours/year of work-related educational programs.
• Participates in QA and Performance Improvements projects as assigned.
• Participates in at least two work-related self-development or team activities per year (i.e. volunteering for committee assignments, community activities, etc.).
• Attends monthly staff meetings and scheduled case conferences involving assigned residents, unless excused by supervisor. Documents the reading of minutes when unable to attend staff meetings.
• Assists in the office with filing, copying, answering telephones, and special projects as needed as schedule allows.
• Performs other duties assigned by supervisor to promote efficient operation of the facility.

  Other tasks may include those which:

  • Frequently recur in the daily care of a client or group of clients;
  • Are performed according to an established sequence of steps;
  • Involve little or no modification from one client-care situation to another;
  • May be performed with a predictable outcome; and
  • Do not inherently involve on-going assessment, interpretation, or decision-making which cannot be logically separated from the procedure(s) itself.

               

    Education /Experience     

• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must already be a Certified Nursing Assistant
• Must have successfully completed the 24-hour training course through a state-approved program and be listed on the NC Medication Aide Registry with no substantiated findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of resident property;
• Must have NA-1 certification from an approved program and be listed on the NC NA-1 Registry with no substantiated findings of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of resident property;
• Must successfully complete a clinical skills validation for those medication administration tasks to be performed in the facility. This validation must be conducted by an RN;
• Must be under the immediate supervisor of a licensed nurse at all times;
• Must renew Medication Aide and NA-1 Certification every 2 years.
• Three to six months would be necessary to become proficient in most phases of this position.
• Experience providing care to ill or elderly would be helpful.
• Must possess sufficient and legible written and verbal skills in order to communicate with residents and health care providers.

Job Knowledge

Must have thorough knowledge of the policies, procedures, and guidelines of the EBCI Health Delivery, standard CNA practices, applicable OSHA mandates, and related regulatory controls. Requires the ability to perform various CNA skills using assigned clinical equipment. Must have basic clerical skills, including the ability to maintain records, files, and logs. Must be able to collate data and prepare reports as required. Must maintain specified certifications and a North Carolina driver's license. Must have good communication skills, both written and verbal. Must have an understanding of the EBCI culture, life styles, and risk factors.

Contact with Others  

Has frequent contact with coworkers, other health professionals, residents and their families; where tact, courtesy, and diplomacy are required to maintain positive relationships. Requires good communication skills, both written and oral. Requires sensitivity to others while dealing with residents and their families who may be under stress while dealing with issues of disease and poor health. Purpose of contacts is to exchange information, gain assistance, and dispense data.

Confidential Data      

Must adhere to all tribal confidentiality policies and procedures. An above average degree of discretion is required while handling resident and related medical information.

Mental /Visual /Physical         

Job duties can be mentally /emotionally stressful at times. Close mental concentration and attention to detail are required for most nursing assistant duties that can be for short or extended periods of time. Physical activities require the ability to walk, sit, reach, extensive bending and heavy lifting while assisting residents to walk or turn, and when transferring residents. Must have visual acuity, manual dexterity, and the ability to speak and hear.

Environment  

Works in office and hospital environment and is exposed to biohazard, disease, etc.; which requires strict adherence to OSHA guidelines and protocol for maintaining sterile conditions and aseptic technique.

Responsibility for Accuracy   

Requires a high degree of accuracy is reporting health abnormalities to the residents' primary RN, and in the documentation of services provided. Undetected errors could have minimal or life threatening results. Government regulations, compliance with grants, and third party payers require the submitting of accurate patient information to allow for appropriate reimbursement for residents. The submission of false or inaccurate information would place the facility at risk for fraudulent claims, resulting in loss of facility certification, and the nursing assistant's certification would be in jeopardy. Review of work following established procedures, protocol and quality audits would prevent most errors.

Resourcefulness & Initiative  

Must demonstrate good observation skills with sufficient knowledge to recognize health abnormalities and report them to the patient's primary RN. Requires good organizational skills in order to follow a schedule and calendar of visits for resident care, assemble needed supplies, prioritize resident needs, and plan visits to make good use of time.

Customer Service

Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills to patients and customers by exhibiting the qualities of the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority’s (CIHA) Mission, Vision and Values.  Exemplifies CIHA’s Guiding Principles in their daily interactions with all patients and customers to ensure excellent customer service.