[Marie]

I worked in Maryland and there is special training available so a CNA can give meds. My mom has the same situation in WY. There is also a system of checks and ballances so that mistakes are minimal. Both CNA's were present when the medications were counted out and we only medicated one patient at a time. Fill the order, both sign that it was filled, give the meds, both sign that it was given, then go on to the next client. At the end of the day the RN would check the paperwork to make sure there were no problems.

It's unrealistic for the company to find enough RN's just to medicate a hundred patients 3 to 5 times a day so they gave us all a two-week class. Every time there was a new med to be given, a RN would be present to watch us give it for the first time to make sure we had it straight. Actually, it was almost overkill, but I could see why they had such strict guidelines. If there were any problems, we called the on-call RN, who would come over to handle the situation. We handled everything from adults with birth defects, severe brain damage to old age. Both agencys I'm familiar with are privately owned and state funded. It's my understanding that most places have similar systems. (We couldn't give injections, IV's or tube feedings. Just oral and topical.)

[tertiary01]

This is really a scarey situation. Just ask yourself, how much can a CNA learn in a two week course, in the way of patient assessment or pharmacology? Just how many side effects can they recognize and do they know how to differentiate between them and allergic reactions? HOW do they know when a patient is having a problem? Also many of the CNA's I've worked with can barely communicate in English, and often do not have knowledge of medical terminology.
In every area in which this model has been tried, the death rate skyrockets. There are lots of well documented studies which can be Googled.
You need to ask the company if there is such a nursing shortage are they helping out by sponsoring nursing students, or hiring LVN's or LPN's?

[mrustow]

The job you are describing sounds much different than what is customarily a CNA position. In the State of New York, my understanding is that the law forbids CNA from handling any sort of medication, which is done by LPNs.