1. The Medication Assistant
Chapter 1

2. Basics Nursing Assistive Personnel
Individuals employed to give direct hands-on care & perform delegated nursing care tasks under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
Medication Assistants-Certified (MA-C)
Nursing Assistive personnel who are allowed by state law to distribute & administer medications (within limits defined by state law)
Requirements:
Additional education & training
Passed required certification tests
Must be supervised by a licensed nurse

3. State Laws Nurse Practice Act State law regulates nursing practice
Protects the public’s welfare & safety
Defines RN and LPN
Describes the scope of practice for RNs and LPNs
Describes education & licensing requirements for RNs & LPNs
Protects the public from person practicing nursing without a license
Allows for denying, revoking and suspending licenses & certifications
Ex. Criminal background, practicing medicine outside your given scope of practice, negligence, etc.

4. Regulatory Agencies State Board of Nursing
Given powers by the State’s Nurse Practice Act
Protects the public’s health, safety and welfare
Regulates nursing education and nursing practice
Ensures the standards of care are met
Standards of care refer to the skills, care and judgement required by nursing assistive personnel under similar conditions
Takes disciplinary action if a NAC or MA-C has violated a law
Maintains a state registry for nursing assistive personnel

5. Professional Boundaries
Separate helpful from not helpful behaviors
Boundary Crossing:
Brief act or behavior outside of the helpful zone
May be thoughtless or something that you did not intend to do
Boundary Violation:
Act or behavior that meets your needs, not the person’s, i.e. unethical behavior
Ex. Abuse, disclosing personal information, keeping secrets

6. Professional Boundaries (continued)
Sexual Misconduct:
Act, behavior or comment that is sexual in nature and occurs within the scope pf employment.
These types of action may also be criminal
Boundary Signs:
Acts, behaviors or thoughts that warn of a boundary crossing or violation
What would you do if a client offered you a gift? Is accepting a gift crossing any boundary?

7. Becoming an MA-C Eligibility Requirements: Certification Renewal:
High School Diploma/GED
WA State Nursing Assistant Certification
1000 hours work experience as an NAC in a skilled nursing facility
7 hours HIV/AIDS BBP Certification
CPR/AED and First Aid Certification
Current TB Test
Background Check
Certification Renewal:
Must renew both NAC and MA-C annually

8. Role and Range of Functions
Scope of Practice/Range of Functions:
Role as a MA-C is to administer medications
While fulfilling these job duties you should not be simultaneously performing patient care duties
Ex. Personal hygiene, elimination, transporting, etc.
Avoid getting distracted while distributing and administer medications….distractions equate to mistakes.

9. Questions…