Medication Aide Certificate

The Medication Aide course (HSC 179 ) prepares people to safely administer non-parenteral medications in nursing facilities and related areas. The emphasis is on safe administration of medications. It qualifies the aide to administer medications in long-term care, residential care, nursing, skilled, adult day care, and assisted living facilities. Successful completion of the State Medication Aide exam is required to pass the course.

Prerequisites:

• The applicant must be drug free and working in an agency/facility licensed by Department of Inspections and Appeals.
• Other requirements include:

(1) If employed in a certified nursing facility: All applicants must be employed for at least six months by the facility sponsor, must be eligible on the Iowa Nurse Aide Registry and provide recommendation from the administrator in the facility in which they are employed; 

OR (2) A residential or related type of licensed facility – minimum of six months employment by facility sponsor, must provide evidence of successful completion of residential attendant course, and must provide documentation from administer of facility in which he/she is employed;

OR (3) An assisted living program – minimum of 6 months employment by facility sponsor, must provide documentation from administrator of facility in which he/she is employed, and must have completed the Nurse Aide Course or Residential Attendant Course.

• Aptitude for reading, writing, and mathematics. At the time of enrollment each student must identify the RN who will supervise the validation of competencies in the clinical area.

Iowa Code requires all participants to satisfactorily complete the Prepare to Care Core module prior to taking the Medication Aide Course.