The "Certified Medication Aide in Nursing Homes Staffing Support Act;" authorizes certified medication aides to administer medications to nursing home residents.

This bill, S 2858, would allow certified medication aides to administer medications to residents in New Jersey nursing homes. Currently, this practice is permitted in 38 other states and in other care settings like assisted living facilities, but not in New Jersey nursing homes. The legislation amends certification rules to expand medication administration duties for these aides, addressing severe staffing shortages that have persisted since the pandemic. Nursing homes would benefit by utilizing certified medication aides to help meet staffing ratios and reduce burdens on existing staff, without changing background check requirements for certification.