New Requirements the RN, CM/DN is to be Aware of:
Medication Technician Training Program Content
- SB405 defines the medication technician training program as a course of training approved by the Board that meets the basic medication technician core curriculum and the medication technician content training specific to the setting in which the medication technician will work. This means that the medication technician training program will have two parts.
- Part one – core content applicable to all practice settings, (e.g. – all medication technicians regardless of setting will learn how to transfer a medication order onto a medication administration record).
- Part two – content which is unique to each practice setting, (e.g. disease processes, medications, and high risk drugs specific to the practice setting).
- The total theory classroom time will increase to 20 clock hours.
- A new requirement includes a clinical observation of the student administering medication to a client in the practice setting. This new requirement is not included in the 20 classroom clock hours.
- New prerequisites to the course:
- Must pass a basic reading comprehension and basic math pre-test
- Must be an employee in an Assisted Living, or Department of Juvenile Services or School Health or Developmental Disabilities Administration.
- New chapter on the two year required Clinical Update for the Medication Technician to renew the certificate.
- The student must continue to demonstrate in the simulated skills laboratory a medication pass.
- New clinical competency requirement which includes instructor observation of the student’s pass medication with patient(s) in the assisted living setting.
- New classroom requirement that all mini-tests feedback exercises are to be completed in the class by each individual student - not as a group activity or take home examination.
- New classroom requirement which limits:
- each classroom session to no more than (six) 6 classroom clock hours at one time.
- each class size to one (1) instructor per 15 students in the classroom setting.
- In the clinical experience – one instructor may observe only one student (1:1) pass medication at one time. The instructor may have multiple students in the clinical setting but may only observe one student at one time as the student prepares and administers medication to the individual patient.
RNs approved to Teach the Medication Training Program
- All RNs who teach the Medication Technician Training Program MUST complete a new Board approved training program for RN Case Manager/delegating nurses.
- All RNs who delegate medication administration to the Medication Technician MUST complete the Board’s new training program for RN Case Manager/delegating nurses.
- All RNs who have been approved to teach the medication assistant training program in the past and all RNs who have been delegating to the medication assistant in the past MUST take this new training program. The training program requirement will take effect early in 2005.
- The RN training program for the RN will be approximately 16 hours in length.
- The Board is currently working with the community to develop the criteria for the RN who will be permitted to teach the new RN training program.
Where to Get the New Training Program
- The RN training program to delegate nursing functions including Medication Administration will be available at a community college (and other sites) approved by the Board
- The RN Training Program will provide the RN with new medication technician training programs.
