Medication Aide

Effective 05/06/08 application, renewal, and testing fees will be $18.00 each.

A Medication Aide (MA) may assist (1) competent individuals, (2) caretakers who are parents, foster parents, family, friends or legal guardians, and (3) licensed health care professionals to administer medications. A medication aide must be on the Medication Aide Registry kept by the Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Division. (continued description)

Access the Med Aide Registry Applications/Forms Brochures Competency Requirements Contact Us Examination Fees Guide to Licensure/       Regis for Foreign Educated Nurses Inactive

Listings MA 40 Hour Course MA 40 Hours from another state MA 40 Hour Nursing Students Name and Address Change Procedures to Apply for Registration Provision of Meds by a MA Renewal Requirements for Registration Rules and Regulations/Statutes

Medication Aide continued...
A medication aide must have demonstrated basic competency in the provision of medication according to the "five rights" to qualify for placement on the registry. Medication aides who provide medications in a nursing home, ICF-MR, or an assisted living facility must also have completed a course and passed a state administered examination.

The administration of medication is a regulated activity. Medication aides may only provide medications under circumstances when a competent individual, a caretaker, or licensed health care professional provides direction and monitoring. The medication aide is responsible to get the right drug to the right recipient in the right dosage by the right route at the right time (five rights). The individual providing direction and monitoring is responsible to observe and take appropriate action regarding any desired effects, side effects, interactions, and contraindications associated with the medication.

Exceptions to the Regulation of Medication Administration

Individuals who provide medications in child care settings and schools must have demonstrated competence in the provision of medication but are not required to be on the medication aide registry. The Medication Aide Act does not apply to medications administered in the home unless provided by a licensed home health agency or through certified home and community-based providers. The Act also does not apply to the administration of medication in foster family homes, group homes, child-caring agencies and child placing agencies.

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Requirements for Registration

To qualify for placement on registry as a Medication Aide, an applicant must:

1. Have demonstrated the minimum competencies for placement on the registry;
2. Be at least 18 years of age; and
3. Be of good moral character.
4. Be a U.S. citizen, or qualified alien under the Federal Immigration Naturalization Act.

To qualify for placement on the registry as a Medication Aide 40 Hour an applicant must:

1. Have demonstrated the minimum competencies for placement on the registry;
2. Be at least 18 years of age;
3. Be of good moral character;
4. Have completed a 40 hour course; and
5. Have passed an examination administered by the department.
6. Be a U.S. citizen, or qualified alien under the Federal Immigration Naturalization Act.

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Procedures to Apply for Registration

To apply for registration as a Medication Aide, you must:

1. Submit an application
2. Pay an application fee of $18 (this fee is non-refundable)
3. Provide an official record documenting demonstration of minimum competency in medication provision.

To apply for registration as a Medication Aide 40 Hour, you must:

1. Submit an application
2. Pay an application fee of $18 (this fee is non-refundable)
3. Provide an official record documenting demonstration of minimum competency in medication provision.
4. Provide an official record showing successful completion of a 40-hour medication course. (Documentation of Course Completion form)
5. Pay the $18 examination fee and successfully complete the state administered examination for Medication Aides - 40 Hour. Application for testing, registration and schedule of 2010 exam dates and locations.  You do not need to take any action to demonstrate successful completion of the examination as the records are maintained in the department.

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Competency Requirements

In addition to Medication aides, child care providers and staff members of schools must demonstrate competency in the provision of medication. Childcare providers and staff members of schools should maintain their own records of competency assessment. Medication aides and medication aide 40 hours, must submit to the Licensure Unit, an application for registration as a medication aide, which includes a documentation of compentency section.

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Examination

Medication aides who provide medications in a nursing home, an ICF-MR, or an assisted living facility must pass a state-administered examination testing minimum competency for medication provision. The examination is administered at various locations across the state on a monthly basis. (See schedule of 2010 written exam dates and locations) There is a $18 examination fee.  Passing score is 72% or greater.  Individuals will not be notified of exam scores unless they fail the exam.  Once all the requirements have been met, an individual will be placed on the Medication Aide Registry and will be issued a medication aide card.

To apply to take the examination, you must:

1. Submit an application for testing. (schedule of 2009, 2010 written examination)
2. Pay the testing fee of $18.

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Fees

Effective 05/06/08 application and renewal fees will be $18.00

Fee Schedule

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Applications

These forms may be completed online, however, they cannot be submitted via e-mail due to the fact that all applications and forms require original signatures. If you complete the form online, you must print the form and mail it to the address listed.

Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
Medication Aides
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

Address Change Form
Affidavit of Not Providing Services/Providing Services
Application for registration
Application for testing
      (2010 schedule of written exam dates and locations)
**PLEASE NOTE APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE TEST DATE
Application for Renewal
Course Completion
Name Change Form
Reissuance of Medication Aide Registration Card(s) Form

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Renewal

** If your medication aide registration has expired, do not use the "application for renewal" form. To reapply to the medication aide registry, go to the section titled "Inactive", for the correct forms to reapply to the medication aide registry.

All medication aide registrations shall expire two years after the date of registration. Renewal notices will be mailed to individuals at least 90 days prior to their expiration date. To renew, a medication aide must complete the information required on the renewal application Application for Renewal within six months preceding the period for which the requested registration will be effective and pay the $18 renewal fee. If you are unsure of expiration date, you may check the Medication Aide Registry. If you have not received your renewal notice, please check the Medication Aide Registry to verify the Department has your most current address. All registrants who fail to renew their registration by the expiration date will automatically have their registration lapse.

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Inactive or Expired or Care Staff Member

If you are an inactive or expired medication aide, or medication aide 40 hour, you will need to complete  the following forms and pay an $18 registration fee.

Application for Registration.
Affidavit of Not Providing Services/Providing Services

If you are an INACTIVE Medication Aide you will need to complete the following:

• Fill out the Application for Registration;
  
• You will need to complete the Affidavit of Not Providing Services/Providing Services;

• Pay an $18.00 registration fee.

If you are an EXPIRED Medication Aide you will need to complete the following:

Fill out the Application for Registration;

• You will need to complete the Affidavit of Not Providing Services/Providing Services;

• Pay an $18.00 registration fee.

If you are an INACTIVE Medication Aide 40 Hour will need to complete the following:

• Fill out the Application for Registration;

• You will need to complete the Affidavit of Not Providing Services/Providing Services;

• Pay an $18.00 registration fee.

If you are an EXPIRED Medication Aide 40 Hour you will need to complete the following:

Fill out the Application for Registration;

• You will need to complete the Affidavit of Not Providing Services/Providing Services;

• Pay an $18.00 registration fee.

If you are an OLD CARE STAFF MEMBER Medication Aide you will need to complete the following:

Fill out the Application for Registration; 

• You will need to complete the Affidavit of Not Providing Services/Providing Services;

• Pay an $18.00 registration fee.

Remember you only have to take the State Examination one time.  You do not need to take a course either.

Provision of Medications by a Medication Aide

The administration of medication is a regulated activity. Administration of medication includes three components:

1. The physical act of taking/providing/applying a medication;
2. Documentation of the physical act (in some circumstances); and
3. Monitoring the therapeutic effects of the medication and taking appropriate action.

All of the components of administration may be performed by a recipient with the capability and capacity to make informed decision about medications, a caretaker (parents, foster parents, family, friends or legal guardians), or by a licensed health care professional. There are circumstances under which it is appropriate and desirable for recipients, caretakers, and licensed health care professionals to receive help with the administration of medication. Medication Aides provide this help by performing the first two components of administration.

Medication aides may provide medications according to the five rights and document the provision only when a recipient with capability and capacity, a caretaker, or a licensed health care professional has authorized such provision and agrees to provide monitoring of the therapeutic effects of the medication and direction to the medication aide.

When direction and monitoring is provided, medication aides may provide routine medications by the oral, inhalation, topical and instillation routes. Routine medications are those for which the frequency of administration of medication, and the amount, strength, and method of administration is specifically fixed. Under certain conditions medication aides may be authorized to provide PRN medications, medications by additional routes, and to participate in monitoring.

Please note that individuals must have an active registration in order to provide medications. 

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Medication Aide 40 Hour Course

Medication Aides working in Assisted Living Facilities, ICF-MR Facilities or Nursing Homes are required to complete a 40 hour course on the competencies required for the provision of medication. The courses are typically offered by facilities and the community colleges. The State of Nebraska does not have a listing of available courses. Interested persons should contact a prospective employer or community college for further information.

Nursing students can meet the course requirements by having an instructor in an approved program verify that the student has completed coursework related to the competencies. Applicants from other states can meet the course requirements by providing a record of course completion in the other state as long as their course consisted of at least 40 hours. Nursing students and out-of-state applicants who meet the course requirement are still required to demonstrate competency and take and pass the state-administered examination.

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Medication Aide 40 Hour from another state

The following is needed to become a Medication Aide 40-hour from another State:

1. Application for Testing Registration: (2010 schedule of written exam dates and locations)
   **PLEASE NOTE APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO TEST DATE
2. Application for Registration – 40 Hour:
3. Documentation of Course Completion:
4. Total Fees of $36.00:

Explanation of the above forms:

1. Application for Testing Registration: every individual, who comes from another state that wants to work in a nursing home, assisted living facility or long-term care hospital will need to take the State exam.  When you are filling out the “State Examination Location”, make sure you fill it out per the enclosed testing schedule. (2010 schedule of written exam dates and locations)
2. Application for Registration – 40 Hour: check the box that says Medication Aide –40 hour and complete and sign the rest of the application. The documentation of competency assessment is done by a licensed health care professional.
3. Documentation of Course Completion: which is a copy of your medication aide certificate with the length of hours on it or have your instructor complete the enclosed form
4. Fees:   $18.00 for the testing and $18.00 for registration and you can make out one check for both.

All of the above forms are enclosed or you can go to our web site at: www.dhhs.ne.gov/crl/nursing/ma/ma.htm

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Medication Aide 40 Hour - Nursing Students

Nursing Student who wants to become a Medication Aide 40-hour:

1. Application for Testing Registration: (2010 schedule of written exam dates and locations)
   **PLEASE NOTE APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO TEST DATE
2. Application for Registration – 40 Hour:
3. Documentation of Course Completion:
4. Total Fees of $36.00:

Explanation of the above forms:

1. Application for Testing Registration.  Every individual who want wants to work in a nursing home, assisted living facility or long-term care hospital will need to take the State exam.   When you are filling out the “State Examination Location”, make sure you fill it out per the enclosed testing schedule. (2010 schedule of written exam dates and locations)
2. Application for Registration – 40 Hour: check the box that says Medication Aide –40 hour and complete and sign the rest of the application.
3. Documentation of Course Completion: form which your instructor must complete or have your instructor send us a letter saying you completed the competency standards identified in Title 172 NAC 95.
4. Fees:   $18.00 for the testing and $18.00 for registration and you can make out one check for both.

All of the above forms are enclosed or you can go to our web site at: www.dhhs.ne.gov/crl/nursing/ma/ma.htm

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Rules and Regulations/Statutes

Regulations Governing the Provision of Medications by Medication Aides and other Unlicensed Persons - 172 NAC 95
Regulations Governing the Medication Aide Registry - 172 NAC 96
Statutes relating to the Medication Aide Act

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Name and Address Change

To request an address change, you can contact Kathy Eberly at (402) 471-4364 or E-Mail at kathy.eberly@nebraska.gov.

In order to change your name on your medication aide record, you must mail the name change form along with a copy of one item of documentation.  Acceptable documentation includes:  marriage certificate, divorce decree which states the name has been changed, or court order of legal change of name.  (If you have both a nurse aide and a medication aide registration, you only need one name change form to change your name on both registrations.) 

If you need a duplicate Medication Aide licensure card, there is a $10.00 fee and you will additionally need to fill out a Reissuance of Medication Aide Registration Card(s) Form.. 

You can also change your name when you are renewing your medication aide registration at no cost by crossing out the old name at the top of the renewal form and submitting a copy of the documentation with your renewal form.  Your renewed registration card would show the new name and there would not be a $10.00 fee. 

(If you also have a nurse aide record, please do NOT send any money for a new nurse aide licensure document as we do NOT issue any licensure documents for nurse aides in Nebraska.)  

If you are not able to print off the name change form, you could submit a written request which includes your old name, new name, Social Security Number, mailing address, phone number, reason for name change, and notarized signature.  Be sure to include one item of documentation. 

Licensure Unit
Office of Nursing and Nursing Support
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986

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Contact Us

Phone: (402) 471-4364
Fax: (402) 471-1066

Office Hours:

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (central time)
Monday through Friday

Application/Testing/Medication Aide Registry
Kathy Eberly, Health Licensing Specialist
Phone: (402) 471-4364
E-Mail: kathy.eberly@nebraska.gov

Teresa Luse, Health Licensing Specialist
Phone: (402) 471-4910
E-Mail: teresa.luse@nebraska.gov

Medication Aide Role/Practice Standards
Marletta Stark, Program Manager
Phone: (402) 471-4969
E-Mail: marletta.stark@nebraska.gov

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Brochures

Chemical Dependency in Health Care Professionals

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