Job Description
A certified medication technician works under the supervision of a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse.
Popular work environments for certified medication technicians are hospitals, clinics, and assisted facilities.
They administer medication to patients who are usually taking many medicines to treat one or several health issues.
Certified medication technicians follow physicians’ orders to administer medication. They verify the identity of patients to whom medication is to be given along with ensuring that correct drug information is recorded for reference purposes.
A major part of a certified medication technician’s work is to observe the effect of drugs on patients, which is why they need to be vigilant individuals.
They also need to maintain knowledge of the field of medicine by continually researching information and upgrading their skills.
Another important part of their work is to prepare notes and reports on each patient that they cater to so that healthcare providers can refer to them for further treatment.
See also: CMT Resume
Certified Medication Technician Duties and Responsibilities
• Take the patients’ information in outpatient departments and verify the need for the requested medication.
• Scrutinize prescription to ensure the authenticity of the information.
• Administer requested medication to patients orally and through IVs.
• Educate patients in the self-administering of medication such as subcutaneous and oral medicines.
• Follow medication administering instructions provided by the physician in an accurate manner.
• Observe patients’ responses to existing and new treatment plans and make decisions to perform intervention activities where required.
• Maintain accounting of all medications, primarily controlled substances.
• Create, maintain, and update patient records and medication information on a regular basis.
• Write accurate reports regarding patients’ responses to administered medication.
• Maintain awareness of medication interactions and side effects.
• Take patients’ vitals such as blood pressure and pulse to determine changes brought about by new medication.
• Document reasons when a prescribed drug is not administered.
• Confer with patients’ physicians if in doubt about administering a particular medicine to a specific patient.
• Interview patients to determine their medical history and any drug allergies that they may have.
• Order medicines and supplies such as syringes, saline water, swabs, and spirit.
• Maintain and restock medication inventories and waste any expired medication or supplies on an immediate basis.
Position Requirements
Typically, certified medication technicians need to possess a high school diploma to meet eligibility requirements – certification as a medication technician is, of course, a necessary prerequisite to obtaining a job at this position.
Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of HIPPA regulations and the ability to demonstrate accuracy in observation and communicate effectively are major prerequisites of working at the position of a certified medication technician.