Medication Aides, Assistants, Technicians

More than half the states have recognized the role of medication assistant / aide / technician (hereafter referred to as MA) in statute and /or regulation in at least one setting, often excluding some categories of medications and routes. Some health care administrators, legislators and regulators believe this is one way to respond to a nursing shortage. Long term care administrators have argued this approach is a way to avoid regulatory penalties when medications are not administered in a timely fashion; supported by the belief that MAs will not be interrupted during the medication pass as nurses are and that the burden is being lifted from nurses. However, there is a great deal of variation between states as to the agency with oversight as well as the required training and who may train. Adding to quandary are settings either unregulated or loosely regulated in which employers have created MA positions, without authority by the state.

What do we know about medication administration? What has been the impact of the use of MAs? What is the role for Registered Nurses To learn more click here.