Minimum Standards For Medication Aide Programs

A. Objectives - there shall be written objectives for the medication aide program which serve as the basis for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program. (1) The objectives shall be developed by the medication aide program nurse educator and shall describe the competencies of the medication aide and shall include: (a) principles of safety in the administration of medication; (b) rights in preparing and administering medications; (c) methods commonly used to safeguard medications; (d) process of infection control; (e) terms related to administration of medications; (f) abbreviations commonly used when prescribing and administering medications; (g) uses, dosages, and necessary precautions in administering medications; (h) ability to correctly calculate dosages; (i) appropriately reporting changes in a consumer’s condition; (j) importance of remaining with consumer while administering medication; (k) accurate documentation of medication administration; (l) legal parameters of the medication aide role; (m) authorized and prohibited functions; (n) responsibility for own actions; (o) maintenance of confidential information; (p) appropriate skills in medication administration; (q) understanding of the consumer population; and (r) confidentiality issues. (2) The objectives shall be written clearly and shall identify expected competencies of the beginning medication aide. (3) The objectives shall be reviewed annually and revised as necessary by the nurse educator. B. Curriculum: (1) The curriculum shall be developed, implemented, evaluated by the medication aide program nurse educator within the framework of the objectives. (2) The curriculum shall extend over a period of time sufficient to provide essential, sequenced learning experiences which enable a student to develop competence consistent with principles of learning and sound educational practice. (a) There shall be a minimum of 60 hours of classroom study of which 40 hours is the medication administration curriculum and 20 hours of population specific care curriculum. (b) There shall be a minimum of 20 hours of supervised clinical experience. The nurse educator retains accountability and determines the need for additional clinical experience hours. (c) Supervised clinical experience shall provide opportunities for the application of theory and for the achievement of stated objectives in a population specific care setting and shall include clinical learning experiences to develop the proficiency/quality assurance required by the individual to function safely as a 16.12.5 NMAC 13 medication aide. A nurse educator or clinical preceptor must be physically present and accessible to the student in the population specific care area. (d) The CMA II curriculum shall include a minimum of 16 additional hours of classroom study and a minimum of 20 supervised insulin injections. The CMA II student shall successfully administer insulin to one or more consumers a minimum of 20 times. The nurse educator must verify the successful completion of training by submitting a written letter to the board with the application to test as a CMA II. (3) The curriculum shall provide, at a minimum, instruction in the subject areas listed in