Medication Aide / Technician
Quick Facts
Median Salary$36,520
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth+40.44%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
A Medication Aide or Technician provides medication to patients in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. This role provides one pathway into licensed nursing training. May help measure and record vital signs, and assist in activities of daily living (ADLS).
Core Tasks:
- Turn or reposition bedridden patients.
- Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- Feed patients or assist patients to eat or drink.
- Measure and record food and liquid intake or urinary and fecal output, reporting changes to medical or nursing staff.
- Document or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to nurses.
- Provide physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
- Remind patients to take medications or nutritional supplements.
- Observe or examine patients to detect symptoms that may require medical attention, such as bruises, open wounds, or blood in urine.
- Review patients' dietary restrictions, food allergies, and preferences to ensure patient receives appropriate diet.
- Undress, wash, and dress patients who are unable to do so for themselves.
- Communicate with patients to ascertain feelings or need for assistance or social and emotional support.
- Record vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration rate, as directed by medical or nursing staff.
- Supply, collect, or empty bedpans.
- Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
- Gather information from caregivers, nurses, or physicians about patient condition, treatment plans, or appropriate activities.
- Prepare or serve food trays.
- Wash, groom, shave, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
- Change bed linens or make beds.
- Exercise patients who are comatose, paralyzed, or have restricted mobility.
- Restock patient rooms with personal hygiene items, such as towels, washcloths, soap, or toilet paper.
- Assist nurses or physicians in the operation of medical equipment or provision of patient care.
- Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- Record height or weight of patients.
- Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- Collect specimens, such as urine, feces, or sputum.
- Provide information, such as directions, visiting hours, or patient status information to visitors or callers.
What to expect as a Medication Aide / Technician
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
51% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Medication Aide / Technician related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
4601 openings for Medication Aides / Technicians
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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