Summary/Objective:

Responsible for administering medications in the skilled nursing setting. Adheres to the standards of care on the unit, manages the environment to maintain resident safety. Performs duties through the nursing delegation process.

Essential Functions:  

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Performs work assignment in accordance with acceptable nursing standards as delegated by the RN
• Provides medication pass to assigned residents as ordered by physician and as delegated by the RN
• Utilizes pharmacy, drug references and licensed nurses for medication administration questions
• Maintains awareness of actual and potential side effects, adverse reactions, contraindications, and purposes of medication
• May not administer meds by the following routes:
• Central lines
• IV
• IV lock
• Nasogastric tube
• injection (including SQ or IM) (note: some states may allow with a completed competency but it is the policy of this Center that only nurses will administer injections including insulin injections)
• Takes and records vital signs and indicated. (should demonstrate competency for BPs if manual cuff is utilized). Reports results to nurse.
• Keeps medication cart stocked and clean
• Gives/receives report at shift change
• Maintains assigned work area, (i.e. nurse station, med cart, medication room, etc.) resident care rooms, and treatment areas in a clean, organized and sanitary manner
• Monitors medication supply and informs the nurse if medication orders are needed
• Informs nurse of any noted change in condition
• Attends regularly conducted staff meetings as scheduled by the Director of Nursing
• Resident Rights
• Knows Resident Rights. Helps the residents/patients exercise and/or protect their rights
• Reports resident/patient complaints to management
• Maintains confidentiality of resident/patient information
• HIPAA
• Follows and adheres to Center’s policies and procedures implementing HIPAA requirements for the privacy and security of protected health information
• Uses and/or discloses only minimum amount of Protected Health Information necessary to complete assigned tasks
• Reports all suspected violation of company’s HIPAA policies or procedures to Center Privacy Designee

Work Environment/Physical Requirements

The responsibilities of this position involve significant physical activities including standing, lifting (up to 50 pounds unassisted), bending, stooping, pushing, pulling and twisting. All nursing department employees of nursing homes may be required to provide lifting and transfer assistance to residents. Lifting and/or transferring some residents will require use of a lifting device and /or assistance of other staff. 

Required Education and Experience

• Current State certification as a Medication Aide/TMA
• Must maintain state required continuing education/in-servicing and keep three years of records showing required in-servicing.
• Must maintain required hours of work (per state guidelines) and keep three years of records showing required hours of work
• Minimum 1-year nurse assistant experience
• Must have and maintain current CPR certification

*In order to pass meds in a skilled nursing facility, candidates must have completed 2000 hours of work as a CNA and have completed a 90-hour course to become certified as a Med Aide specifically for nursing homes*

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience in a fast-paced environment
• Post-acute care or health care experience preferred. 

Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• Health insurance for full-time employees starting the first of the month following 30 days of employment
• Dental and vision insurance for full and part-time staff
• 401(K) Program for full and part-time staff
• 6 paid holidays plus one floating holiday for full-time staff
• Company paid life insurance for full-time staff
• Voluntary life and disability insurance for full-time staff
• Paid Time Off