Certified Medication Aide Job Description Template
Certified medication aides, also called medication technicians (med techs), are nursing service personnel with specialized training in medication administration. They earn a medication aide certification after completing the required education and training hours. In many states, candidates must have experience as certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to become a medication aide. However, background requirements and practice privileges vary by state.
Medication aides are most commonly found working in long-term care settings such as assisted living. Adding a med tech to your team can offload some of the burdens on direct care nursing staff who already have challenging workloads. Here’s a medication aide job description template that will attract qualified candidates to your facility.
Certified Medication Aide
Tips: From the start, the candidate should have a clear understanding of the expectations for the role. Use the intro section to give an overview of the role and which aspects may be interesting to a potential candidate.
Because many facilities require medication aides to have a CNA background, they may be required to flex between the two roles. Consult with your nursing leadership team to confirm the certified medication aide’s duties within a care team. You don’t have to know which medications a medication aide can administer, but having an idea of their duties will guide the job posting.
A word of caution: Some states prohibit medication aides from having direct care duties, as it can distract from the medication administration process. For example, in Louisiana, a medication attendant certified (MAC) prepares and administers medication, but may not perform direct care. Check your state practice laws to ensure your facility is compliant with the necessary measures to prevent medication errors.
Template:
Under the direction of a licensed nurse, the certified medication aide administers oral and topical medications to assisted living residents. The medication aide must follow the five rights of medication administration while following provider’s orders for scheduled and PRN medications. This role is also expected to help with ADL’s such as assisting residents with meal setup, dressing, and bathing.
Benefits
Tips: After leading with a catchy intro to your med tech aide job description, show the candidate what’ll make them want to stay. Leverage your facility’s financial incentives that will motivate them to apply.
Template:
- Referral and sign-on bonus opportunities
- $1,000 retention bonus after 6 months of employment
- 401(k) with employer match
- Health, vision, and dental insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Tuition assistance
- Employee wellness discounts
- Collaborative team environment
Certified Medication Aide Duties and Responsibilities
Tips: Certified medication aide job duties are different in each state, so check with your state board of nursing to confirm the nuances of the role. For example, in Maine, certified residential medication aides can check blood glucose levels and administer insulin. Special privileges like this may appeal to the candidate, so be sure to highlight similar job features in your medication aide job description.
Template:
- Preparing and administering medications to residents on assisted living and memory care floors
- Supervising medication resident self-administration or performing medication reminders
- Accessing Medication Administration Record (MAR) to verify the right person, drug, dose, route, and time against the resident’s record
- Appropriately documenting vital signs, interventions, or other pertinent data related to medication administration
- Maintaining resident confidentiality
- Reporting any issues to the supervising nurse
- Assisting residents with ADLs
Compensation and Shifts
Tips: CNAs may be interested in advancing their skillset to better serve their residents as certified medication aides. Another incentive for this career advancement is a pay increase. The average hourly rate for a CNA is around $13-15/hour, whereas the average pay for medication aides is between $15-18/hour.
In this section of your medication aide job description, be sure to highlight the pay increase at your facility to motivate potential candidates to apply for the role, or to encourage CNAs to get certified.
Template:
- Five 8’s, day or evening shift, 7a – 3p or 3p – 11p; every other weekend
- Starting pay $17/hr
- Shift differentials
- Weekly pay
- Direct deposit — get paid instantly every week
Certified Medication Aide Qualifications and Skills
Tips: It takes more than completing a medication aide skills checklist to become a medication aide. In addition to didactic studies and skills training, candidates must pass a nationalized exam to become certified. Passage of the Medication Administration Certification Exam (MACE) demonstrates competency in safe medication administration. This section should include the education, training, and skills required to take on the role.
Template:
- High school diploma
- Certified Medication Aide certification
- 1-2 years of experience as a Medication Aide in assisted living or long-term care
- AHA Basic Life Support (BLS)
- COVID-19 vaccination and annual flu shot
Call to Action
Tips: Bring your medication aide job description to a close with a strong call to action. This section allows the candidate to act on their momentum and submit an application. Show them how and where to apply, and list any requirements such as a reference letter.
Template:
Get rewarded for hard work, skills, and education as a medication aide. Submit an application today to become a valued member of our team. Apply now.
Fill Your Certified Medication Aide Positions Effortlessly
Ready to round out your care team with a certified medication aide? Reach more candidates by leaving the medication aide job description to an experienced staffing partner committed to bringing you qualified nurses and aides.