I wouldn't feel comfortable as a CNA giving meds to patients, without knowing the physiological and psychological  affects of  the bodys reaction to  a drug, and as a LVN boards test candidate, I am not sure about passing meds myself, I wouldn't be responsible for a medtech working under my license, under no circumstances. Example, I  had just got certified as a lab tech, and I was doing some blood draws, and there was a CNA/lab tech, who  I asked to do a stick for me, I ask her was she a good sticker, she said yes, so I watched her do a Venipuncture for me, the CNA/suppose to be labtech, didn't know a from_hole, she dig the needle so deep inside the patient vein, that the patient developed a hemotoma, I said I thought you can draw blood, mind you, this was a hospital crash course in phelobotomy. So I am against any crash course, that involves invasive treatment, I think it should be left up to the professionals, that is in my opinion.

YES LPNS ARE NEEDED!!! THANKS NURSING VOICE!!!! ITS GREAT TO HEAR YOUR VOICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am new to the site as well, however, I have been in LTC for 20 years, starting out as a CNA and a LPN for 16 years in the states of Iowa and Illinois, have held positions from Charge Nurse, ADON, Interim DON, MDS/CPC and Wound Care Nurse.  Iowa utilizes CMA's and have worked with some absolute wonderful and knowledgeable ones and well there is the less desireable ones.  I have worked with 2 that I trusted more than many co-nurses, yes they can give scheduled medications, need a nurse to assess the patient prior to any PRN's to be given, accu checks and insulins are to be given per the nurse.  There has been many times working the floor that when the floor went CAOTIC I was able to depend upon the CMA and not a co-nurse to step in and take over the med cart so I could deal with the issue at hand. CMA's have not and will not take the places of NURSES. They are great to be there in a crisis.  Illinois has just started to investigate tabling the CMA concept and much controversiry as has been shown here is popping up all over the place, however, with the shortages of healthcare professionals out there honestly what is going to happen and what is the answer?????  Increasing the 60-hour Med Tech schooling????  Would that make other nurses more comfortable????  And kudos to all CNA's "You guys/gals are our eyes and ears!!!!"

bridget1969 says ...

I am new to the site as well, however, I have been in LTC for 20 years, starting out as a CNA and a LPN for 16 years in the states of Iowa and Illinois, have held positions from Charge Nurse, ADON, Interim DON, MDS/CPC and Wound Care Nurse.  Iowa utilizes CMA's and have worked with some absolute wonderful and knowledgeable ones and well there is the less desireable ones.  I have worked with 2 that I trusted more than many co-nurses, yes they can give scheduled medications, need a nurse to assess the patient prior to any PRN's to be given, accu checks and insulins are to be given per the nurse.  There has been many times working the floor that when the floor went CAOTIC I was able to depend upon the CMA and not a co-nurse to step in and take over the med cart so I could deal with the issue at hand. CMA's have not and will not take the places of NURSES. They are great to be there in a crisis.  Illinois has just started to investigate tabling the CMA concept and much controversiry as has been shown here is popping up all over the place, however, with the shortages of healthcare professionals out there honestly what is going to happen and what is the answer?????  Increasing the 60-hour Med Tech schooling????  Would that make other nurses more comfortable????  And kudos to all CNA's "You guys/gals are our eyes and ears!!!!"

Again, I have to say that our response to staffing shortages needs to be something other than compromising patient care and safety, or lowering standards.  I refuse to budge on this point.  When a person makes the decision to place themselves or their loved one into a skilled nursing facility, they expect and deserve skilled NURSING care, nothing less.  Tasks that can be delegated to UAP's do not, should not, and never should, include the administration of medication.  It jeopardizes patient safety and patient care in the nursing setting.  It's not a shade of grey issue, folks - it's black and white.  It has nothing to do with the intelligence, dedication, or standards of these dedicated, wonderful, unlicensed professionals we work with.  It comes down to expected standards of care and who is answerable, morally, legally, and ethically.  We have the responsibility to our patients to demand that facilities staff appropriately, not cut corners by making an end-run around patient care standards and "certifying" UAPs to perform nursing tasks.  If you look at the certification standards - CMA's truly cannot administer any medication that requires a nursing assessment before or after administration - THAT MEANS ANY MEDICATION in any skilled nursing or acute nursing environment!  For the sake of our patients, we must not allow unsafe practice, and that includes requiring UAPs to perform work outside their scope.  That's unfair to them, to the patients, and ultimately to nursing practice as a whole.

Lenix: ooooohhhhh. How could you think such a thing?

I have not heard of  CMAs untill today.....I think no one should do any kind of medical practice unless they have been properly trained......i have read pros and cons......CMAs need to be  trained properly so that they can effectively provide a service that seems to be a necessity....We as professionals in the healthcare and nursing career, are responsible to make available the best and most sufficent care to our  patients....Being a CNA i have seen alot of  mistakes on LVNs,RNs(whom were DONs at the time) and general with meds period....I believe that as CNAs we need to be more informed on meds as well...just for knowledge sake...... As an individual we must take our time...stop and asess all situations. If something does not seem right, we must stop and guestion our actions..... I guess i am pro due to the fact that proper and thorugh training is provided to the fullest..... but if not, i am againts it.