Staffing, Quality Outcomes in States That Allow Medication Aide Use

​In a study of skilled nursing facilities in eight southeastern states, organizations in states that allowed use of medication aides had similar rates of registered nurse (RN), nurse administrator, and licensed practical nurse (LPN) staffing compared with those in states that did not allow medication aide use, reports an article in the December 2014 issue of the Gerontologist. More states have recently decided to allow use of medication aides, but some have voiced concerns about the impact of the practice on safety, quality, and nurse staffing. In the study, three of the eight states (Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee) allowed use of medication aides; the other five (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina) did not.