Description of a Medication Aide
Like many paraprofessionals working in direct patient care, the rules for medication aides vary from state to state. Medication aides generally deliver medications to a patient or care home resident. According to the U.S. Bureau of Health Professions (BHP), the variation in job titles makes data collection difficult. Some states classify these employees by the jobs they do, while in other states classification is by work location.
Settings
Medication aides work most often in long-term care settings, including correctional facilities, in some states. Candidates for medication aide positions, like others in nursing-related jobs, typically are required to pass criminal background checks.
Care delivery
The method of payment sometimes defines who may or may not do certain tasks, both in facilities and in homecare. For instance, when Medicare or Medicaid is picking up the tab, the rules may be different than if a resident paid for the service privately. Therefore, it is possible that a medication aide in a nursing home could work with some patients in long-term care but not with others.
Education
The training for medication aides varies in admission requirements, hours of class time and clinical study required, curriculum and cost. Some courses require that students are certified nursing assistants (CNAs), have a high school diploma and a minimum of 1,000 provable hours working as a CNA. Amount of time in training varies from 150 hours to as little as 16 hours. Costs also vary, also with tuition per class ranging $65 to more than $500 noted around the country, and financial aid is often available. Some states have different levels of responsibility for medication aides, which may account for the difference in the training and cost.
Other requirements
Good mental and physical health, and understanding of written and spoken English are required for medication aides. Successful communication with the patient or resident in long-term care---as well as with the nursing staff, attending physicians and the patient's family---is vital. The five rights of the patient are critical, emphasizes the Nurses Service Organization: The right medication, for the right patient, in the right dose, via the right route of delivery, at the right time.
Salary
As with most jobs, the salary varies for medication aides across the United States. Salaries in late 2009 range from $16,000 a year in North Carolina to $33,000 in New Jersey, with variable benefits. Another consideration, as with other health care careers, is potential liability, and job candidates should consider obtaining professional liability insurance.
Tags: Description Medication, Description Medication Aide, long-term care, medication aide, medication aides, medication aides