Medication Aide

Role Overview

The primary function of the Medication Aide is to assist in administering medications to facility residents following physician orders, under the supervision of nurses and the Director of Nursing Services, adhering to nursing standards, facility policies, and state regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Adhere to facility policies on medication administration to residents.
• Identify and report medication administration errors promptly.
• Help in developing and implementing procedures to detect and prevent medication errors.
• Complete and submit necessary documentation such as forms, charts, and reports.
• Maintain cooperative relationships with nursing staff, attending physicians, Medical Director, and pharmacists.
• Report resident complaints or grievances to the Director of Nursing Services.
• Participate in government facility surveys when requested by management.
• Engage in Quality Assurance programs and committees improving medication administration processes.
• Accurately prepare, administer, and document oral and topical medications ordered by physicians.
• Ensure medications brought by new residents are verified by attending physicians or pharmacists.
• Follow policies for medication destruction under supervision, including documentation requirements.
• Ensure proper labeling of all medications.
• Document medications administered as per facility protocols.
• Remove and document discontinued medications as ordered by physicians.
• Report and document drug receipt errors properly including signed error reports with witnesses.
• Manage medications for transferred residents or those with discontinued prescriptions as per policy.
• Observe and confirm medication ingestion or application, documenting any refusals with reasons.
• Alert nurse supervisors promptly about medication errors or adverse resident reactions.
• Verify resident identity before administering medication.
• Measure, record, and report residents’ vital signs accurately.
• Support resident self-administration of medications following facility guidelines.
• Understand common medical abbreviations and terminology relevant to medication administration.
• Attend continuing education programs to maintain current certification and professional knowledge.
• Maintain confidentiality of residents' protected health information and report any violations.
• Report unauthorized attempts to access facility information systems.
• Execute assigned tasks following policies, supervisors' instructions, and schedules.
• Collaborate with interdepartmental and facility personnel to ensure residents' needs are met.
• Protect confidentiality of all resident care information and report any unauthorized disclosures.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business, professional, or regulatory information.
• Skilled in writing reports, business communication, and procedural manuals.
• Effective communication skills to interact with managers and employees.
• Knowledge of mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and adaptability in variable situations.
• Ability to understand written, spoken, and diagrammatic instructions.
• Must hold a current Medication Aide license obtained through state-approved training and examinations.

Physical Demands

• Occasional lifting or moving of items up to 25 pounds.
• Prolonged use of computers (desktop or laptop).
• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, and read during the workday.
• Frequent use of office equipment including copier, fax, telephone, and calculator.
• May assist in resident evacuation during emergencies.

Work Environment

The work environment is generally quiet to moderate in noise level. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Additional Information

Management reserves the right to assign duties as necessary. This general job description does not encompass all duties and responsibilities. The employer is an equal opportunity organization committed to non-discrimination based on legally protected characteristics.