Meadowlark Hills is currently seeking Certified Medication Aides to work in our Health Care Households. Full-time and part-time positions are available. Must be able to work at least every other weekend. Benefits are available to full-time and part-time employees.

POSITION SUMMARY

A CMA distributes physician prescribed medications and treatments under the guidance of a household nurse, within the boundaries of the state’s Nurse Practice Act. A CMA provides medical, physical and emotional care to residents of Meadowlark Hills to meet their daily needs, while enabling them to be as independent as possible. The CMA provides support, friendship and kindness and works with the household team to promote the residents’ psychosocial well-being through meaningful relationship building. The CMA plans and facilitates life enhancement activities for residents; providing meaningful ways to spend time through recreation, exercise, and fun. The CMA also supports the homemaker and CNA in maintaining a clean, safe, household environment. All CMA responsibilities are performed in accordance with current standards, guidelines and regulations, in a safe, confidential, and efficient manner.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Accurately and safely prepares, administers and documents the administration of all appropriate, physician-ordered medications and treatments.
• Ensures that all medications and treatments are administered following Meadowlark Hills’ policies and procedures in a manner supporting resident choice and dignity.
• Supports Meadowlark Hills’ procedures for resident self-administration of medications, encouraging residents to actively participate in the process as much as possible.
• Observes residents closely, identifying concerns, changing needs, conditions, reactions to medications, and refusal to take meds, which must be immediately reported to appropriate leaders (household nurses, household coordinator, clinical coordinator, household leadership).

• Attends to all resident personal hygiene and personal care needs.
• Provides therapy under the guidance of therapy professionals or clinical coordinators.
• Participates actively in the resident’s care planning.
• Maintains appropriate and accurate documentation.
• Leads and participates in learning circles with residents and the household team, and consistently works with team members to seek opportunities to meet residents’ social and psychosocial needs.
• Works with household team members to ensure that all personal and household cleaning and laundry needs are met, including: resident rooms, kitchen, dining room, common household spaces, equipment, games, and supplies.
• Follows universal precautions, proper infection control, sanitation, and safety standards in all work and activities.
• Demonstrate a willingness to work out any personal conflicts with others in a way that is in keeping with the household culture.

• Uses confidentiality and proper chain of command when passing along information, changes, or concerns of residents.
• Personally responsible and held accountable for following Meadowlark Hills’ mission and values while maintaining and living out our philosophy of person centered care - person first.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Train other CMA’s, according to these essential job functions.
• Supports each other in meeting all job requirements, actively participates in being a learning and teaching organization. Willingness to continue to learn and seek improvement.
• Attends in-service training programs.
• Responsible for staying abreast of current laws, regulations, policies, procedures and best practices and adapting to company and industry changes.
• Responsible for performing other duties as assigned.

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employee is required to follow any other instructions and perform other assigned duties.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements below are representative of the qualifications, knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions/responsibilities.

Experience:  A CMA is expected to have acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the job satisfactorily in accordance with current standards, guidelines and regulations of Meadowlark Hills.

Education:  High School Diploma or GED equivalent preferred. Graduate of a State approved program for Certified Nurse Aide and Certified Medication Aide required.

Certification Requirements: Current Kansas Medication Administration Certificate required.  Competency evaluated, tested, and registered with the State of Kansas.

Personal Skills: Accurate, detailed, and dependable, with the ability to help make safe logical decisions regarding resident care. Strong initiative, patience, interpersonal relations, relationship building, communication, conflict resolution, problem solving, and critical thinking skills are a must. The ability to prioritize and adjust to changing situations while remaining professional in a “person first” environment is also required. Relates well with residents and is able to motivate and empathize. Has strong ability to elicit residents’ input into shaping activities and facilitates resident involvement to the greatest degree.

Supervision:  This position has no direct supervision of other Meadowlark Hills team members.

Financial Accountability:  Responsible for making optimal use of all resources including time, while respecting residents and Meadowlark Hills’ property.

Personal Relations: CMA’s work closely with all members of the household team and honors all resident and family preferences through support, friendship, kindness, sincerity, communication and relationship building.

Working Environment: As a CMA, one may be in close contact with individuals who have infectious diseases.  Being in close contact with toxic, harmful, or potentially hazardous compounds, solutions, and medications is also a possibility. CMA’s often are exposed to loud noises, some unhygienic conditions and cleaning supplies, and will perform duties such as emptying trash, changing soiled bed linens, etc.  A CMA must observe rigid, standardized guidelines to guard against disease and other dangers, wearing protective equipment when needed. A CMA must also work closely with residents, guests, and family in emotionally charged environments. CMA’s primarily work in a climate control setting.

Physical Demands:  CMA’s often face heavy workloads and physical activity is required to perform the daily duties of a CMA. Because CMA’s spend long periods of time assisting residents, the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, squat, reach, stretch, and lift a minimum of 50lbs is required. Must use universal precautions in all situations. Must be able to operate office equipment (phone, computer, printer, copier, fax machine, etc), and various equipment and mobility devices (wheelchair, walker, gait belt, mechanical lift, etc) used by/for residents. These operations must be performed with normal visual range, acuity, color determination, and the ability to distinguish letters and numbers. Good oral communication skills, the ability to speak clearly, and the ability to listen attentively with appropriate hearing acuity is required.

Work Hours: Residents and guests require 24-hour a day care; so the ability to work nights, weekends and holidays may be required.  Primary work hours are dependent upon the shift(s) needed for full-time and part-time positions. Prefer no more than 40 hours per week. CMA’s are on an on-call rotation and subject to emergency call outs on short notice. Hours may vary depending upon residents’ needs.  Adjustments to the schedule are made to accommodate these demands when necessary.

Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community is a not for profit, active community specializing in Independent Living, Assisted Living, Transitional, and Long Term care. Meadowlark Hills is a leading organization in Culture Change, and resident- directed care in a household model.

Employment Application

If you are interested in working at Meadowlark Hills, please fill out our online application. Submit your cover letter, and resume to: hrteam@meadowlark.org