Medication Aide - Memory Care - Full-Time 3rd Shift - Nye Health Services

Summary

Manages, monitors, evaluates, and supervises the day-to-day nursing activities of the memory care neighborhood during the assigned shift including directing the day-to-day care, services and companionship of the cognitively-impaired residents/tenants in accordance with practice guidelines, doctor’s orders, tenant service agreement, established company policies and procedures, standards, and guidelines; and current federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the memory care neighborhood and campus, and as directed by the supervisor by performing the following duties either personally or through subordinates.

Education and/or Experience

• Successful completion of a state approved Medication Aide course and certified by the state DHHS
• Must be on the state Medication Aide Registry
• Valid and current CPR and First Aid certification or able to obtain a certification
• Must be willing to continue learning about quality dementia care and communication

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be a minimum of 18 years of age and must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

An individual in the role of Medication Aide on a memory care neighborhood must be able to prioritize residents before tasks. The ability to slow down, establish a relationship with each resident, and create a positive experience while completing tasks is key to the success of individuals working with cognitivelyimpaired residents. Medication Aides on a memory care neighborhood will also assist residents with engagement opportunities, which may include 1:1 or small group activities.

Duties and Responsibilities (required tasks) include the following. (Please note: This in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of certain duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Other duties may be assigned as deemed necessary and appropriate.)

• Possess, maintain, and use a practical knowledge base regarding issues and regulations affecting medication administration, the memory care neighborhood, campus and the nursing department, as well as the individual residents/tenants.
• Perform all work assignments and/or work schedules as instructed by supervisor in accordance with established policies and procedures including, but not limited to, Memory Care Policies and Procedures, Safety, Infection Control, Nursing, Personnel, Resident/Tenant Rights including confidentiality and grievances, Abuse and Neglect, and HIPAA. Report any concerns regarding standard of practice of other staff members immediately to their supervisor. Follow specific instructions given in shift report, work assignments, work schedules, service agreements, and/or as directed by the supervisor and ask for clarification regarding procedures as needed.
• Provide comprehensive care to residents/tenants. Complete cares thoroughly, with patience. This assistance may be to varying degrees and with or without assistive devices including, but not limited to:
  • Answer and assist resident/tenant requests for assistance;
  • Assistance with oral cares;
  • Elimination assistance including appropriate peri care;
  • Obtaining specimens;
  • Indwelling catheter care;
  • Assistance with personal hygiene (e.g. nail and hair care, shaving);
  • Assistance with bathing;
  • Assistance with dressing/undressing including special slings, stockings, or other adaptive supplies;
  • Set-up and cuing for successful dining experience;
  • Assistance with eye and ear care such as cleaning of glasses/hearing aids;
  • Assist residents/tenants to/from meals, activities, appointments, etc.;
  • Medication administering, including observing and taking appropriate action regarding desired effects, side effects, interventions, and contraindication associated with the medication;
  • Ensure resident/tenant rooms and living and working areas are clean, neat, and meeting the needs of the resident/tenant;
  • Coordinating transportation services for residents/tenants to appointments;
  • Admit, transfer, and discharge residents/tenants as needed;
  • Monitor supply levels at the campus to ensure there are supplies to adequately meet the needs of the residents/tenants and staff; q. Laundry services;
  • Make beds and change bed linens and towels and ensure residents/tenants have adequate linens;
  • Coordinating resident/tenant care between staff, physicians, and their family or representative and other resident/tenant services to ensure continuity and quality of the resident’s total regime of care;
  • Request, receive, and complete follow-through of physician orders;
  • Administering injections as able in the scope of practice and as trained in competencies; v. Obtaining lab specimens;
  • Performing treatments as ordered by MD and within scope of practice;
  • Monitor and evaluate resident/tenants, reporting any problems, changes in condition, or concerns to the physician, responsible party, Charge Nurse, Director of Nursing and/or other needed individuals including changes in physical, emotional, and cognition status; y. Give and receive report regarding a resident/tenant’s status;
  • ake and record temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration rates, and food and fluid intake and output, weight, height, as directed; and aa. Report any concerns voiced by residents/tenants and their families immediately.
• Administer medications and treatments per protocol.
  • Medication administering according to the 5 R’s under the direction and monitoring of the tenant/resident/physician/responsible party and/or Charge Nurse and/or Director of Nursing including observing and taking appropriate action regarding desired effects, side effects, interventions, and contraindication associated with the medication. This may include routine, PRN, over the counter medications and may include the following routes: oral, inhalation, topical, and instillation into the eyes, ears, and nose;
  • Administering oxygen, Accu-Chek(s), and other treatments as ordered by physician and as able in the practice guidelines;
  • Additional administrations and activities after competency training and determination;
  • Monitor and ensure there are adequate medication levels at the campus to adequately meet the needs of the residents/tenants;
  • Maintain and secure medication cart and clinic area as required;
  • Follow policies and procedures for checking in medications from the pharmacy, narcotic count, medication errors, discontinued medications, medication destruction, PRN medication administration, and related issues;
  • Reporting medication errors immediately; and
  • Ensure medication cart is clean and adequately stocked.
• Communicate with the Charge Nurse and/or Director of Nursing regarding issues affecting the medication administration, the nursing department, memory care neighborhood and/or the campus including, but not limited to staffing, resident/tenant care issues, changes, and/or any additional problems/needs/concerns.
• Documenting all entries accurately and completely including, but not limited to evaluations/assessments, service agreements, progress notes, flow sheets notes, MARS, charts, and related documents including level of assistance, intakes/outputs, and bowel movements.
• Participate and assist with regularly scheduled meetings such as nursing meetings, QA meetings, staff meetings, and similar meetings.
• Other duties as assigned