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Hi Betsy,
It's Kathy Macleod - I AGREE with you!!! I hope that your input will be
valued as our CRMA's have a great deal of responsibility and let's face it
with a requirement of only a 10th grade education - our expectations to get
this material without resources available is unrealistic and sets them up
for failure...those entrusted in our care will be the ones to suffer!
Please keep me posted on any progress that is made!!! Respectfully, Kathy
_____
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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