ACHCA highlights member, Sherri Gunasekera, LNHA, MHA, MSN, RN-BC, LNC, and her medication aide training workshops with facility RNs and AITs. Sherri teaches the only Medication Aide program in Southwest Ohio. Her training workshops instruct registered nurses and administrators-in-training on how to start their own Medication Aide programs in their facility.

"I walk [trainees] through the application process and how to teach the program. It is a 9-hour course (two hours on Zoom to discuss OAC regarding Medication Aides) then 7 hours in the in-person workshop.

By offering a program in their facility, AL and LTC/SNFs can attract resident assistants in AL and STNAs in any of the facilities. They will also be able to retain older nurses who cannot physically handle the long med passes and new nursing graduates who tell me they do not go to school to spend the entire shift passing meds. Facilities will be able to admit higher acuity residents because the nurses will not have to spend 6 out of 8 hours passing meds but be at the bedside completing assessments and care. The Medication Aide also provides resident care when not passing meds."

"This is one way [for me] to help with the staffing crisis and reduce the use of staffing agency."

Contact Sherri if you have any questions.

Sherri Gunasekera
(937) 776-2344
Nursing Training Center
nursingtrainingcenter.com