Can a Certified Medication Aide (CMA) administer controlled substances?​

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Yes, under certain circumstances.​

•  CMA I and CMA II credential holders may administer medications under the delegation of a nurse within the limits set forth in Kentucky Administrative Regulations, 201 KAR 20:700.
• CMA I can “administer oral or topical medication under the delegation of a nurse upon successful completion of a board-approved examination that validates the competency of the topics covered by the    CMA curriculum." See, 201 KAR 20:700, Section 2(1)(b).
• CMA II role includes the scope of practice of a CMA I (described above). Additionally, they can “administer only insulin via preloaded insulin pen upon successful completion of a board approved examination that validates the competency of administration of insulin via preloaded insulin pen and the topics covered by the CMA II curriculum . . . ." See, 201 KAR 20:700, Section 2(2)(b) and Section 7(7).
  
  

Nursing homes (902 KAR 20:048) and assisted living communities (902 KAR 20:480) both expressly permit a nurse to delegate the administration of controlled substances to a CMA under specified conditions. In both settings:

• A nurse may delegate administration of a regularly scheduled controlled substance to a CMA if the medication has been prescribed and labeled in a container for a specific resident.
•  For a controlled substance ordered on a PRN basis, a nurse may delegate administration to a CMA if:
• ​The medication has been prescribed and labeled in a container for a specific resident;
• ​The nurse assesses the resident, in person or virtually, prior to administration of the PRN controlled substance;
• ​The nurse assesses the resident, in p​​erson or virtually, following the administration of the PRN controlled substance; and
• ​The nurse documents administration of the PRN controlled substance by a CMA in the resident's record.

For additional information, see:

• 201 KAR 20:700 Medication aide training programs and credentialing of medication aides.
• 902 KAR 20:048 Section 3 (11)(b)(c). Operation and services; nursing homes.
• 201 KAR 20:400 Delegation of Nursing Tasks.
• 902 KAR 20:480.  Assisted living communities 
• 902 KAR 20:320. Level I and Level II psychiatric residential treatment facility operations and services 
• 902 KAR 20:086. Operation and services; intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities 
• 902 KAR 20:291 . Alzheimer's nursing homes​
  
  

Contact CHFS for additional information at:

Cabinet for Health and Family Services

275 E. Main St. 3E-E 

Frankfort, KY 40601 

Phone:(502) 564-6930

https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/Pages/default.aspx

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