# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 39 — Board of Nursing — Certificate Holders

### Chapter 03 — Certified Medicine Aides

#### Regulation .03 Medicine Aide Course Requirements.

*COMAR 10.39.03.03*

A. Medicine Aide Course Curriculum. The Board shall approve a CMA program that:

  (1) Requires a candidate for admission to the program have current employment and work experience as set forth in Regulation .02A(2) of this chapter;

  (2) Requires before admission that a candidate have a positive recommendation from the director of nursing in the facility where the candidate is employed;

  (3) Is at least 60 hours in length with a minimum of 30 clock hours devoted to theoretical instruction and a minimum of 30 clock hours of supervised clinical training experience in a facility licensed under COMAR 10.07.02;

  (4) Includes instruction in both theory and clinical regarding all approved routes of medication administration and the scope of responsibility of the CMA; and

  (5) Includes each of the following subjects:

    (a) Responsibilities and limitations of the CMA;

    (b) Drug standards, references, and resources;

    (c) Legislation concerning drug utilization;

    (d) Characteristics of the elderly client or client with multiple handicaps;

    (e) Sources and purposes of drugs;

    (f) Dosage forms and methods of administration;

    (g) Drug life;

    (h) The medication order;

    (i) The pharmacy label;

    (j) The administration of nonparenteral medications;

    (k) Procedures and techniques for administering drugs;

    (l) Drug classification, related health problems, and patient care responsibilities;

    (m) Drug solutions and measurements; and

    (n) Monitoring side effects of drugs and drug interactions.

B. Medicine Aide Continuing Education Curriculum. Continuing education courses required for continued listing as a CMA as required in Regulation .02C of this chapter shall contain:

  (1) A 3-hour core content that includes:

    (a) Current State regulations related to the role of the medicine aide;

    (b) Uses, actions, and possible interactions of and related precautions for current medications used in the care of the geriatric patient;

    (c) New care procedures; and

    (d) Resources available to the medicine aide which clarify and expand the knowledge of the medicine aide; and

  (2) 3 hours on at least three of the following topics:

    (a) Documentation;

    (b) Nutrition;

    (c) The physiological system of the geriatric patient;

    (d) De-institutionalization of the intellectually disabled or psychiatric patient; or

    (e) Other aspects of pharmacology; and

  (3) 2 hours of assessment testing administered at the completion of the continuing education course.