MEDICATION AIDE

Job Details
Level: Experienced
Job Location: St Helens, OR 97051
Position Type: Full Time
Salary Range: $24.89 - $30.20 Hourly
Job Shift: Any
Job Category: Nurse

Job Description

Certified Medication Aide

Department

Nursing

Position

To assist in providing appropriate aspects of quality patient care under the supervision of licensed Nurses.

Reporting To

This position reports to the LPNs and RNs within the facility and the Director of Nursing.

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Qualifications / Requirements

• Education: Current state certification as a medication aide
• License: Current, active license as Medication Aide and a CNA, and CPR Certification
• Work Experience: Experience in long term care preferred. Able to work on multiple tasks at the same time.
• Language Skills: Must be able to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical information and communicate verbally in English.
• Mathematical Skills: Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to perform these operations using units of weight measurement and volume.
• Communication Skills: Must have exceptional communication and customer service skills and be empathetic. Ability to effectively communicate with patients, families, responsible parties, staff and outside resources and agencies. Exudes professionalism in presentation.

Essential Job Functions

• Receives report at the beginning of shift with nurses. Reports any observations concerning resident/patient condition, emergency situations or difficulties with medications to the supervising nurse throughout shift if they occur.
• Administers medications as prescribed by the physician. Documents same on MAR.
• Maintains medication supply, assists with ordering of new medications, reorders existing medications and restocks medicine carts as needed.
• Recognizes the significance and is able to perform accurate vital sign monitoring when indicated by drug therapy.
• Reports changes in resident/patient conditions or reactions to medications to the nurse supervisor.
• Maintains current knowledge base regarding any medication he/she administers. Investigates/looks up unknown medications before administration.
• Checks all first doses against physician order sheet, does not administer medication based on verbal order of nurse.
• Prepares, administers and charts oral, topical and suppository medications as prescribed by physician.
• Processes physician’s orders to ensure proper administration.
• Follows locked medication room and medication cart policies and procedures as required.
• Ensures assigned work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Performs Certified Nursing Assistant duties as directed (has signed Certified Nursing Assistant Position Description).
• Attends and participates in in-service training, performance improvement (“PI”) committees and other meetings as scheduled and directed.
• Complies with laws and regulations applicable to position and acts in accordance with Center’s Compliance Program.
• Treats all residents, visitors, and staff with courtesy.
• Assists in orientation and training of employees as assigned.
• Follows center dress and hygiene policies.

Safety

• Knows and follows center rules.
• Demonstrates proper use of equipment. Reports equipment needs/repairs to management.
• Reports and documents any incident reports or accidents of residents, staff or visitors to the appropriate center personnel.
• Reports all hazardous conditions/equipment to a supervisor.
• Performs duties which may include transportation of residents as assigned in the Center Disaster Plan.
• Uses required protective equipment.
• Follows infection control standards, policies and procedures.

Resident Rights

• Knows Resident Rights. Helps the resident/patients exercise and/or protect their rights.
• Reports resident/patient complaints to management.
• Maintains confidentiality of residents/patients 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 (applies only if position requires access to PHI under Role Based Access Grid).
• Reports all suspected violations of company’s HIPAA policies or procedures to a Center Privacy Designee.

Physical Capacities

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility which includes an annual TB screening and physical examination.
• Must be able to lift up and over 100 pounds with assistance according to resident’s abilities.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and walk for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to travel to reach assigned destination in a reasonable time frame.
• Must be able to bend, squat, push, stoop and pull as needed especially in fulfilling resident care activities.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Environmental Conditions

Inside work, normal temperatures, some noise, occasional fumes/odors, chemical exposure and potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24‑hour skilled care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and cognitively impaired residents in an aging population. Examples of these stresses include but are not limited to: emergency health or safety response, weekend and holiday duty, unusual or impaired behavior by residents, family reactions to having a loved one in a nursing home, death and dying, oversight of state surveyors, ombudsmen and federal officials, presence of consultants and attorneys, and variable involvement of medical staff.

HIPAA Compliance and Mandated Reporting

This position is a Mandated Reporter regarding the suspicion of elder abuse and may have access to Protected Health Information (PHI).

Qualifications

Must have an Oregon State Board of Nursing Medication Aide License.