Medication Aide

Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of Nursing or designee, administering select medications and treatments and providing basic nursing and restorative care to detainees of the Youth Center.

• Administer medications and treatments within defined scope of practice and administration guidelines ensuring compliance with nursing / physician orders.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Review detainee allergies prior to administering medication / treatments.* Verify the correct medication was received prior to delivery.
• Document administration or refusal of medications / treatments in the electronic health record (EHR) and notify RN of medication / treatment refusal.
• Adhere to all nursing and Douglas County Youth Center (DCYC) policies and procedures.* Encourage and support detainees in maintaining or regaining independence.
• Document vital signs, height / weight, intake / output, care / restorative nursing, and other nursing interactions.* Notify RN of physical or behavioral changes (e.

g. difficulty breathing or waking, confusion, skin breakdown, cuts, bruising, bleeding, blisters). * Assist with restorative nursing based on care plan.

• Assist with admissions and dismissals in the EHR including required document uploads.* Comply with confidentiality and privacy requirements / regulations.
• Attend and participate in rounds, daily report, and assigned meetings.* Provide superior customer service to detainees, visitors and coworkers.
• Maintain workspace, common space and medication / treatment cart cleanliness. * Report any suspected abuse, neglect, and / or exploitation.
• Observe and adhere to safety and emergency procedures reporting any unsafe conditions to supervisor. * Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) activities.
• Maintain job knowledge and skills (e.g. research, webinars, seminars, continuing education courses).* Answer phones and assist with appointments and designated office activities.
• Report to work at assigned location with regular, consistent attendance.* Perform other duties as assigned and directed.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.* Completion of a State certified 75-hour Nursing Assistant course required and maintained in good standing.
• Attainment of a State certified 40-hour Medication Aide certification class and exam upon hire and maintained in good standing required.
• Completion of the 10 required competencies of a Medication Aide as defined in Nebraska State Statute within the first 14 days of employment required.
• Basic life support / cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS / CPR) certification upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.
• Must be at least 19 years of age.* Three (3) years as a medication aide required.* Experience with electronic medical records preferred.
• Completion of pre-employment criminal record check, post offer drug screen, and physical assessment required.* The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.* Work is generally performed in a detention facility.

Noise level is usually moderate to loud. Work hours are assigned shifts; however, schedule may vary (e.g. days, shifts, holidays, weekends, overtime / extra hours, emergency call-in).

Work involves potential exposure to biohazards and risk of injury from distraught individuals. Work may be stressful when dealing with time constraints, multiple / changing priorities, limited resources and uncooperative / irate individuals.

Work requires some physical activity, including extended periods of walking, standing, frequent reaching, and occasional climbing, carrying, balancing, kneeling, crouching and bending.

Work also requires the ability to frequently lift and / or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds as well as pushing / pulling up to 50 pounds of force with grip strength of 65 pounds.

Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, includes close, distance and color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbent must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.