Night Shift Med Tech

• Routine Administration: Giving late-night or early-morning medications, such as thyroid treatments that must be taken on an empty stomach.

• PRN (As Needed) Medications: Evaluating resident needs for pain relief or sleep aids and administering them according to physician orders.

• Narcotic Counts: Conducting a formal "count" of all controlled substances with the outgoing shift at 11:00 p.m. and the incoming shift at 7:00 a.m. to ensure accuracy.

• Documentation: Immediately charting all administered medications and noting any refusals or adverse reactions.

Resident Monitoring & Care

Because staffing is lower at night, vigilant monitoring is a high priority.

• Safety Rounds: Conducting regular checks (usually every 1 to 2 hours) to ensure residents are safe in their rooms and have not fallen.

• Assistance with ADLs: Helping residents who wake up during the night with toileting, incontinence care, or repositioning to prevent pressure injuries.

• Emergency Response: Acting as a first responder to pull-cords or pendant alarms and initiating emergency protocols if a resident is in distress.

• Clinical Observation: Recognizing physical or cognitive changes, such as increased confusion or labored breathing, that warrant seeking medical attention.

Facility & Administrative Tasks

The quiet nature of the night shift allows for critical tasks that keep the clinical department organized.

• MAR Auditing: Reviewing records from the previous shifts to ensure no signatures were missed and all medications were properly accounted for.

• Pharmacy Coordination: Identifying medications that are running low and communicating with the pharmacy to ensure refills arrive before the supply is exhausted.

• Shift Report: Preparing a detailed hand-off for the morning management team regarding any incidents, "sundowning" behaviors, or changes in condition.

• Infection Control: Maintaining a clean med room and cart, following general infection control principles.

Core Requirements

As emphasized in recent regulatory findings, night shift Med Techs must have completed their initial orientation within their first 30 days, specifically including:

• Emergency Preparedness and First Aid.

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

• Resident Rights and Abuse Prevention.