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Betsy,
Although I have not done a Recert. Class yet, I am reluctant to even do one as I'm sure the response will be the same from my people as well. Hard as I try to get the job of filling out the Mar sheets alternated amoungst the different staff, I find multiple mistakes over and over again because it is only once every 5 - 6 months they get a turn at doing the job. To expect 100% competency on the first try is unreal. Thus you end up failing some of them and find some of your most caring staff leaving because they feel like failures. And the piece on the systems of measures is rediculous as well, as they do not use this information on a daily basis to even attempt to remember it, let alone a test on it. Every Recert. Class I have ever done in previous years, most of the students have told me that they really learned alot in the recert class as alot of the information taught in the original class is too much for them to absorb in a few days. Thus the Recert. was an excellant review for them and they walked away feeling like they had a good understanding of their job. This class, you teach nothing and they walk away furious, like you said. How can they learn from their mistakes if we do not provide the tools??????????
The meeting on the 23rd of August at Woodfords should prove to be a hot one. Here's hoping we can work out the bugs. I'm hoping as many people can come as possible.
Joyce Amoroso, RN
-----Original Message-----
From: MARBET73@aol.com [mailto:MARBET73@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 7:18 AM
To: beas-crma@lists.maine.gov
Subject: CRMA Recert day
Just checking to see how everyone is making out with the new recert competency day---I conducted my first yesterday and all I can say is Good Lord!!!! The students were furious when they found out that it was competency based and that they could not have a copy of the curriculum manual ----I thought by 930 that I may not have a group left to certify--I could teach them nothing, as they can't learn without the materials in front of them---the day consisted of testing only----I am assuming that the intro letter of thanks was from Peter Mauro, although unsigned, and I would love to know who was on the committee for the course. I personally faxed weekly for one year requesting to be on the committee, as I had a lot to offer, being that we taught the most courses in the state last year. I obviously was not chosen for the committee and I don't know anyone who was. The curriculum came in at the last minute and it is useless if the students can't even see it----I agree that we need to weed out the incompetent CRMA in the state, however the testing is not realistic to most of the situations they work in---most of our CRMA's never deal with MAR transcription on a daily basis---it is either printed out by the pharmaceutical company, by and RN/LPN or by a lead CRMA. Expecting 100% on the first try is rediculous!! If they don't do it routinely, and haven't been refreshed in this area, how are they to do this? Parts of the testing make no sense, especially the measurement system matchings----who in the world memorizes the systems unless you need to use them everyday? Most of the CRMA's in the state, never have to convert, therefore do not memorize---they refer to a chart in the drug book or one hanging on the wall in the med room. The curriculum manual is nothing but a reference for the instructor, useless to the students, and the appendix handouts are not welcomed by the students. I thought we would be "refreshing" with curriculum in the morning and "testing" in the afternoon-----any recert I have to attend, always provides me with materials to review before testing----in a time of a national shortage of caregivers, in a state where we pay little money for the responsibility of passing meds, we should be providing education to those who work so hard---not just test them out the door---my students felt they were being punished, and I have a feeling that Wal Mart rec'd. quite a few applications last night---they can make more money, and perhaps be more respected than this day provided via the new program. The facilities should have all been told ahead of time that this day would be all about competency, so the CRMA could be ready. And we should have been told as well----as for the limit on students, I will comply, however until there are policies and procedures governing this course, as required for any other, I recognize it to be only a recommendation from the person who put the manual together. We are in need for a policy manual regarding all courses, as most of the rules come from the top of the head daily. If that person were to leave, so go the verbal rules. I would want any CRMA in the state to know their job, yes, but why can't we help them do it as well---I think we will lose alot of CRMA's and a few instructors as well---in my 32 year career of teaching and nursing I have NEVER seen anything like this----are the meetings in September for feedback day, or to tell us how to run the day?--if so, it is a little after the fact, since the courses started Aug. 1 for some. Boy, oh boy---it is amazing where our tax money goes! Anxious for feedback--Betsy E.M. Crowell, RN
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