Medication Aide 4/8/24

The purpose of this course is to prepare individuals to safely administer non-parenteral medications in agencies/facilities licensed by DIA.  The emphasis is on safe administration and students are provided with classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences to assist in achieving the course competencies. A minimum of 10 hours of clinical must be completed at the student’s place of employment where the student must be evaluated by an RN there assigned to directly supervise actual medication administration to satisfy the clinical there. Following completion of clinical, participants will have 2 chances to pass the state med aide examination for certification.
 
 
Course Pre-requisites*: In order to take this course, the applicant must be drug free and working in an agency/facility licensed by DIA.  Other requirements include:
 

• If employed in a certified nursing facility
  • All applicants must be employed for at least six months by the facility sponsor
  • Must be eligible on the Iowa Nurse Aide Registry
  • Provide recommendation from the administrator in the facility in which they are employed

 

• If employed in a residential or related type of agency licensed by DIA  
  •    Provide recommendation from the administrator in the facility in which they are employed

 

*The new rules apply only to individuals employed in residential care facilities licensed for more than 15 beds.  Residential care facilities licensed for 15 or fewer beds may continue to use medication managers to administer nonparenteral medications.  The requirement that CMAs working in nursing facilities or skilled nursing facilities must first be a certified nursing assistant remains unchanged as this is a federal requirement.