A medical facility needs several employees in order to run. You find Receptionists, Technicians, Physiologists, Doctors, Therapists, Nurses and many more working there; some help with administration and others with taking care of patients. However, there is one particular job that deals daily with patients and is responsible for administering their medications: it is the Medication Aide Technicians. Therefore, what does a Medication Aide do? Where do they work? What is their pay scale? What are their responsibilities and duties? Moreover, what does it take to be a Medication Aide?
What Does a Medication Aide Do?
A Certified Medication Aide is a certified nursing assistant (CNA) responsible for administering daily medication to patients in a medical facility. Also referred to as Medical Aide Technicians, their duties include monitoring patients, reporting changes, and collecting samples.
Where Does a CMA Work?
Medication aides work in long-term care facilities, hospitals, medical centers, assisted living care centers and correctional facilities.
What Is a CMA Pay Scale?
Medication Aides earn on average $28,203 a year, with entry-level employees earning $13,500 and those with more experience bringing home over $39,000 a year. Some aides will work a typical 9-to-5 work week, but most work evenings, overnight and weekends, as patients must take medication at all times of the day.
What Are CMA Responsibilities?
Many nursing homes and assisted living facilities employ certified medication aides to distribute medicines to patients and residents. Like other nursing disciplines, women make up the majority of medication aides, nearly 88 percent of all nursing aides, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Therefore, who works in this field needs to:
- Deliver routine daily medications, either prescription or non-prescription, to patients.
- Coordinate with different nurses to assist with patient care and medications.
- Follow written or verbal instructions on how to manage medications.
- Record medication dosages and times.
- Observe patients and document changes in their condition.
- Gather samples for analysis.
- Ensure equipment is routinely inspected and cleaned.
- Uphold all health and safety standards.
- Respond to patient emergency call signals, bells, or intercom systems to identify patient needs.
What are CMA Duties?
A CMA is a qualified and self-motivated and extremely detail-oriented person. The need to possess in-depth knowledge of patient care procedures. Providing excellent patient care is a vital part of this job, that is why excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required and being attentive to patients’ conditions is a must too.
What Does It Take to Be a Medication Aide?
Medication Aide education programs require only a few month’s commitment and take place at community colleges, tech schools and medical centers. Typically, a medication aide training program takes three to six months to complete and includes both classroom and hands-on training. Before starting a training program, most providers require students to have a high school diploma or GED and be currently certified nursing assistants or hold a nursing degree. Some programs also ask that students have some experience in a long-term care facility before taking the course. Training courses cover medication prep and how to deal with side effects and drug safety. In addition, a certification is essential for a Medication Aide; earning a license or permit generally requires filling out an application, meeting the education qualifications and paying an application fee. Candidates must also take and pass an exam.
As a result, a Certified Medication Aide Job requires:
- High school diploma or relevant qualification.
- Must be a certified medication aide.
- A previous experience as a medication aide (not a usual requirement).
- Able to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Good understanding of medical and pharmacological terminology.
While it may seem like a simple task, dispensing medication to patients requires special training. Even mild drugs like aspirin can have devastating effects when given to the wrong patients, which requires someone with the know-how to safely administer medication. A Medication Aide job is tough; however, whoever works in this field is notably a lean person.
If you are interested in becoming a certified Medication Aid, Phlebotomy Career Training is the perfect choice. As the Nation’s Leader in Medical Health Care careers and certification for over 10 years, PCT produces students that are well prepared, professional, and ready to embark on their new careers.
Our classes and programs are nationally accredited and offered both on-line and in-class. They include: Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Electrocardiogram Technician, Dialysis Technician, Medical Assistant and more! If you are interested in a rewarding career in the medical health, visit phlebotomycareertraining.com or call 888-410-6416 to learn more.
Call PCT at 888-410-6416 to learn more about a rewarding career in medical health!