Kathleen Perry of the Illinois Nurses Association penned a
highly misleading and inaccurate Letter to the Editor
published in the April 12th Sun-Times
("Proposal would jeopardize nursing home safety").
She was critical of House Bill 822, which would establish a
Certified Medication Aide program in Illinois nursing homes
and assisted living facilities. Currently 30 other states
utilize these trained, dedicated and state-certified specialty
workers to pass oral medications, freeing up valuable time for
nurses to provide more bedside assessment and treatment. The
program also allows lower-wage workers an opportunity for
additional training as a concrete step toward a career in
nursing.
Ms. Perry is inaccurate in claiming that these workers
would be unqualified and unregulated. Each medication aide
will be certified and regulated by the Illinois Department of
Public Health through, among other things:
Taking a 120-hour basic nursing course;
Passing a 60-hour course in pharmacology;
Receiving 40 hours of direct clinical supervision in
passing medication;
Receiving 16 hours of continuing education every two
years in order to be recertified by the Department of Public
Health; and
Passing a series of state-regulated competency exams.
This is the same model that has worked successfully in
Wisconsin and Indiana for more than 20 years.
Moreover, the Certified Medication Aide program provides a
step in the right direction by providing the necessary
training while a person continues to work. Lower wage
workers often cannot afford to stop working to attend school
full-time. Ms. Perry claims that lower wage workers don’t
need a career ladder because the Illinois Articulation
Initiative already provides career opportunities for nurses.
The Illinois Articulation Initiative assumes someone can go to
nursing school full-time for a year or more.
Finally, an amendment to HB 822 prohibits Certified
Medication Aides from being used to satisfy Public Health
staffing requirements for nurses and nursing assistants in
nursing homes. Ms. Perry claims that the "real"
purpose of the program is to save money by replacing nurses.
HB 822 is intended to create more staff in nursing homes not
less.
Ms. Perry’s claims are without foundation. We urge the
Illinois Nurses Association to support this program that
protects patient safety, allows nurses to do more for
residents throughout the day, creates important career
opportunities in healthcare, has the endorsement of AARP in
Illinois, and is working successfully in 30 other states.
Sincerely,
Terrence P. Sullivan, Executive Director,
