Medication Technician

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to assist licensed nursing staff by administering daily medications as ordered by the physician in accordance with established nursing standards, facility policies and procedures and state requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS STATEMENT:

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

SAFETY FACTORS:

Risk Potential to Blood/Body Fluids:

• Category I: Tasks in this category involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, and require the use of personal protective equipment.

Category II: Tasks in this category involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, and/or tissues, but employment may require performing unplanned category I task.

Category III: These task require no exposure to blood, body fluids, and /or tissues, and category I tasks are not a condition of employment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Delivers routine daily oral, inhalation and topical medications to residents under direct supervision of a licensed nurse unless otherwise allowed by state law.
• Observes for any adverse drug reactions and reports any problems to the nurse.
• Records medication administration according to company policies and procedures.
• Follows written or verbal instructions on how to manage medications.
• Observes residents for changes and documents changes in their condition accordingly.
• Performs tasks associated with medication administration, including vital signs, medication dose calculations, stocking of the medication carts, and removal of discontinued medications.
• Practices safe handling and storage of medications.

Personnel Functions

• Ensure that department personnel, residents, and visitors follow the department's established policies and procedures at all times.
• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to ensure that nursing services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.
• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by your assigned personnel. Make appropriate reports to the Nurse Supervisor as required or as may be necessary. Follow facility's established procedures.
• Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

Nursing Care Functions

• Check foods brought into the facility by the resident's family/visitors to ensure that it is within the resident's dietary allowances. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor and Dietary Supervisor.
• Ensure that personnel providing direct care to residents are providing such care in accordance with the resident's care plan and wishes.
• Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
• Meet with residents, and/or family members, as necessary. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents as necessary.
• Ensure that discharged residents are escorted to the pick-up area.

Safety and Sanitation

• Monitor your assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Ensure that your assigned nursing personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including dress codes.
• Assist the Director and/or Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
• Ensure that your assigned work areas (i.e., nurses' stations, medicine preparation rooms, etc.) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Ensure that your unit's resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
• Ensure that your assigned personnel follow established hand washing techniques in the administering of nursing care procedures.
• Ensure that your assigned personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the infection control program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel.
• Ensure that your assigned personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
• Ensure that nursing personnel follow established procedures in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
• Participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of the procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving residents.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.

Equipment and Supplies

• Recommend to the Nurse Supervisor the equipment and supply needs of you unit/shift.
• Ensure that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on your unit/shift at all times to meet the needs of the residents.
• Participate in the development and implementation of the procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel operate nursing service equipment in a safe manner.
• Monitor nursing procedures to ensure that nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

Resident Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock before entering the resident's room.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents' responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Nurse Supervisor indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow the facility's established procedures.
• Maintain a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.
• Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
• Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident's refusal of treatment request. Ensure that such requests are in accordance with the facility's policies governing advance directives.

Working Conditions

• Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses' stations, 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 and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to callback during emergency conditions (e.g., 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 to 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 residents' needs.

Specific Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be a certified nursing assistant.
• Must have medication aide certification.
• Minimum of 1 year of health care industry experience or 2 years' experience as medication aide.
• Good understanding of medical and pharmacological terminology. Current CPR certification
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements

(With or Without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to operate office, business and accounting machines, data processors, word processors, etc.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of twenty-five pounds.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.