Medication Assistant-Certified
Course Description
This introductory course will provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the health care profession as an entry-level medication assistant. Once certified, medication assistants will be authorized to administer certain medications and perform certain treatment in a nursing home, under the direct supervision of a designated registered nurse. Students will receive 100 hours of lecture and clinical instruction. Upon completion, students will be provided with the skills necessary to become a Certified Medication Assistant through the State of Washington.
Prerequisites
- High school diploma/GED
- Active nursing assistant certification (NAC)
- Complete at least 1000 hours of work experience in a nursing home as a NAC within the immediate year prior to the date of application
- Must successfully complete the MA-C training program within 1 year to the date of application
- Current CPR/AED and First Aid Certification
- Current KNOW HIV-AIDS Blood Borne Pathogen Certification
- Negative TB test
- Criminal History Background Check
Clock Hours
Lecture: 50
Lab: 10
Clinical Practicum: 40
Total Clock Hours: 100
Learning Objectives
Behavioral demonstration of all objectives and related skills will be evaluated in skills lab and in the clinical rotation.
- Describe the different documents on which medications can be ordered and recorded
- Detail the elements of a complete medication order for safe administration
- Discuss the various tasks to be performed for medication to be safely stored
- Identify conditions necessitating disposal of medication or questioning an incomplete medication order
- State the ways to measure medications
- State the different forms in which medication can be manufactured
- Recognize that the same medication may have different names.
- Identify accepted abbreviations. Recognize abbreviations that should be avoided
- List the different effects medications can cause, locally and systemically
- State the types of information that should be known about a specific medication prior to giving that medication
- List the 3 safety checks of medication administration
- Identify the six rights of medication administration
- Describe basic steps of medication preparation prior to administration
- Identify information needed about the patient and the medication prior to administration
- Identify common causes of medication errors
- State what steps should be taken when a medication error occurs
- State when the nurse must be notified of a change in the client’s normal condition, including vital sign changes and or client’s pain
- State documentation requirements for medication administration
- Explain the responsibilities of the delegating/supervising nurse when delegating medication administration to the MA-C. Identify when a delegated task should/should not be performed by the MA-C
- Identify common methods of medication administration
- Identify factors that may affect how the body uses medication
- Identify the classifications of medications; state common effects of medication on the body
- Identify resources materials and professionals to contact for clarification of medication questions
- Describe the rights of the client
- Discuss the types of abuse that must be reported
- Recognize the numerous rights that must be followed before and after the medication is administered
- Demonstrate safe administration of medications to clients in a clinical setting
MA-C Course
Instructional Materials and References
- Mosby’s Textbook for Medication Assistants
- Mosby’s Textbook for Medication Assistants Workbook
Instructional Methods
This course uses a combination of lectures with discussion and feedback, textbooks, workbooks, supplemental handouts, group and peer discussion, instructor-led laboratory/clinical exercises, multi-media materials, PowerPoint presentations, and guest speakers. Although every attempt will be made by the instructor to cover assigned material in class, the student is responsible for all materials listed in the syllabus.
Course Requirements
The required course completion consists of 100 hours of classroom lab and clinical instruction.
Demonstration of your comprehension of the classroom instruction by passing course quizzes and exams with a minimum of 75% average of the questions answered correctly.
Skills will be a pass/fail using the standards of the skills checklist evaluation as listed in the Mosby Textbook
Demonstration of appropriate professional behavior of caregiver/resident and staff/co-worker interaction in class and clinical settings.
MA-C Tuition Costs
The total cost of the MA-C program is $1500 which is divided between tuition, registration fees.
Books: $120
MA-C Separate Fees
Certification Test Fee $80 (paid to Pearson Vue)
MA-C Washington State Application $25 (paid to the Washington State Department of Health)
MA-C Certificate of Completion
On successful completion of the program, a Certification of Completion will be given to the student along with a copy of his/her transcript. Directives will also be provided on the process for applying for the standards of practice and competencies of Medication Assistant Certified and are consistent with curriculum requirements of WAC 246-841-586 through WAC 246-841-595 and WAC 246-841-610. The competencies per RCW 18.88A.082 are also met. The student will be eligible for state testing following the successful completion of the Medication Assistant Certified Program provided through Sparrow Healthcare Education.
Contact Us
Have questions about our courses or the path to beginning your career in the healthcare industry? Send us a message.
Phone
(509) 290-5489
Address
11707 E. Sprague, Suite LL101
Spokane Valley, WA 99206