LPN

Overview

Job Definition:

Under general supervision of the DON and Nursing Supervisor, renders nursing services in the treatment and care of patients.  Assigns duties to non-professional personnel and supervises and evaluates work performance.

 

Qualifications:

·       Graduate from an accredited Practical Nurse Program and Pharmacology course. Current licensure for Practical Nursing in the State of Indiana.

·       Six to twelve months experience in medical, surgical, or rehab preferred.

·       Comprehensive knowledge of general nursing theory and practice.  Knowledge of principles of personnel administration in assigning, supervising and evaluating activities of staff.  Familiarity with the organization and functions of all departments.  Understanding of the needs of the patients, the ability to relate to the patients and their families.  Ability to respond promptly to emergency situations.

 

Status

Full-time, Part-time, PRN position.  The holiday schedule is according to patient care needs; may require to work on short notice or on a different unit if necessary to meet resident care needs.

 

Job Relationships

Responsible to:           Responsible and directly accountable to the DON and Nurse Supervisor.

Workers Supervised:  Certified Nursing Assistants.

Interrelationships:      Works closely with Nursing, Therapy and Activities.

 

Equipment Used:

Medication carts, IV pumps, oxygen equipment, common electric switches, hydraulic lifts, wheelchairs, walkers, transport shower chairs, bedside commodes, bathing equipment, thermometers, carts, electronic beds, and special mattresses.

 

Job Location and Working Conditions

·       Lifts/carries objects such as resident’s charts, Kardexes, resident care treatment items, etc. without assistance.

·       Occasionally transfers up to 100 pounds with assistance while lifting, positioning, and transferring residents.

·       Pushes/pulls medication carts requiring force to 10-30 pounds on tiles and carpeted floors.

·       Pushes/pulls residents weighing up to 250 pounds in bed for treatments, nursing procedures and as needed.

·       Manipulates carts through doorways and into close-fitted areas.

·       Stands/walks up to 80% of an eight-hour day to provide resident care.

·       Stoops, bends, and squats as required to reach lower drawers in med carts, adjust resident items, etc.  Occasional stair climbing is required.

·       Remains steady to take blood pressure, temperature, etc.

·       Possess coordination to administer injections and adjust flow rates, etc.

·       Able to wear gloves and other protective equipment.

·       Occasionally reaches overhead to obtain supplies or medications.

·       Possess skills for continuous handling, fingering, and feeling required for palpation, operating and maintaining equipment, and providing medical treatments for abnormal conditions, i.e. wound care, resident care, and medication administration.

·       Possess necessary skills to continuously comprehend and communicate with residents and coworkers to follow written plans of care and to respond to emergency alarms.

·       Identifies residents, call lights, and unusual occurrences on length of the unit.

·       Reads small print in typed and written materials, thermometers, assesses changes in resident’s condition, monitors equipment, etc.

·       Distinguishes normal sounds with background noise ranging from conversational levels to high pitched sounding alarms.  Distinguishes sound via stethoscopes the respiratory status of residents, and interprets low voice levels.

·       Concentrates on moderate and/or fine detail with frequent interruptions necessary to perform a variety of tasks related to nursing.

·       Understands and relates to multi-disciplinary theories behind several related concepts.

·       Remembers multiple messages, information and assignments given to self and others from eight hours

·       Majority of work performed on nursing units in direct contact with residents.

·       Occasional exposure to blood or body fluids as required to perform personal care for residents.

·       Continuous exposure to hazardous chemicals, such as disinfectants, cleaners, soap, etc.

·       Continuous exposure to latex, plastic and/or materials that are used for personal protective equipment

·       Occasional exposure to bodily injuries due to unpredictable behavior of residents.

·       Frequent exposure to unpleasant noises due to the unpredict behavior of residents.

·       Frequent exposure to unpleasant odors as related to incontinent residents.

·       Seasonal exposure to high humidity due to resident’s option to control their own environment.

·       Potential for exposure to verbal and physical abuse from residents.

·       Frequent exposure to microbial, bacterial and other infectious agents inherent to the care of ill/dying residents.

 

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

 

A.    Organization

·       Demonstrates behaviors consistent with organizational mission and goals.

·       Maintains accurate records and Quality Improvement Systems.  Identifies and reports QI issues accordingly.

·       Validates that competence of personnel is maintained.

·       Maintains current professional credentials.

·       Demonstrates behaviors that promote teambuilding.

·       Participates in facility Quality Improvement Programs as determined by supervisor.

·       Demonstrates behaviors that promote positive customer relations with staff, patients and visitors.

·       Follows Patient Rights policies at all times.

·       Accepts accountability for information contained in Healthwin’s Policy & Procedures.

·       Follows policies and procedures for infection control.  Facility safety and hazardous material in accordance with regulatory guidelines.

·       Attend all mandatory in-services.

·       Demonstrate accurate knowledge of adult resident care appropriately for age group adult/geriatrics.

·       Demonstrate practices to keep all medical information protected and confidential.

·       Demonstrate the correct use of a fire extinguisher.

·       Comes to work as scheduled and consistently demonstrates dependability and punctuality.

·       Accepts assigned duties in a cooperative manner.

 

B.    Job Specific

 

·       Provides and directs resident care in accordance with SNF/ICF guidelines, Nursing Home Rules & Regulations, Resident’s Bill of Rights, Nursing Service Policies & Procedures and the organization’s Employee Personnel Handbook.

·       Calls for or accepts verbal and written orders from resident’s physician, transcribes and carries them out and documents accurately.

·       Performs patient assessments accurately and in a timely manner on admission and according to policy thereafter.

·       Orders and administers prescribed medications according to Nursing Policies & Procedures; observes and records response to same; to include oral, IM, IV and other routes of administration.

·       Performs treatments and procedures according to physician’s orders and Nursing Policy & Procedures, records patient’s response.

·       Assists in general nursing care by answering call lights, assisting with resident’s transfers, ambulation, bathing, and making beds.  Assist in the care of the deceased.

 

·       Performs emergency measures as necessary and initiates corrected measures as necessary, reports same to Nursing Supervisor, records as indicated.  Operates equipment required for resident care in a safe correct manner.

·       Assists physicians during examination and/or treatment of resident.  Reviews orders with physicians and suggest changes based on the resident’s condition.  Assist with the level of care determination of resident.

·       Observes nursing care and visits all patients under his/her care to ensure that nursing care is carried out as directed and treatment is administered in accordance with physician instruction and to ascertain the need for additional or modified services.  Participates in multidisciplinary staffing as directed.

·       Maintains a safe environment for residents by monitoring and observing aseptics, lifting, transferring, safety techniques, and documentation of nursing assistants on the unit.

·       Initiates and updates care plans for residents.