Licensed Vocational Nurse- Float Pool

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do - in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

Benefits Eligible
Full-Time Benefit Eligible

Work Shift
Day (United States of America)

Department
6170 Float Pool-General Nursing

Under the direction of the registered nurse or other licensed independent practitioner, and within the LVN scope of practice, the purpose of this position is to protect and promote health, prevent illness and injury, and alleviate suffering by providing holistic care to patients and families served.

QUALIFICATIONS

License /Certification

Required:

CA Licensed Vocational Nurse

BLS

Experience
Preferred: Hospital experience

Testing
For Chronic Disease Mgmt Clinic: Requires successful completion of the Language Resource Assistant (LRA) test at a General level. LRA is a language assessment test that demonstrates written and oral interpretation/translation technique skills. Test will be administered if selected.

Department Specific Requirements

Intravenous therapy certification and blood withdrawal certification within six months of hire/transfer. For NICU, certifications must be obtained upon hire.

For Emergency Dept or Acute Psych: requires Kaweah Health approved crisis intervention training within 60 days of hire/transfer.

For Sub Acute: requires six months experience within the past two years working in a general acute care facility, or an acquired equivalent experience appropriate to the type of subacute patient the facility provides care for.

For Kaweah Health Exeter Health Clinic: prefer bilingual in Spanish.

For Hospice: at least one year nursing experience as an LVN required. Prefer bilingual in Spanish. Experience working in acute care and/or with end-of-life patients highly desirable.

For Chronic Disease Mgmt Clinic: requires bilingual in Spanish.

For Home Health: must have a valid California Drivers License, auto insurance, and be willing to operate personal car necessitated by nature of job.

For Clinical Education/DSD: must have a minimum of one year experience in long term care. Prefer current State designation as a DSD.

For OB Postpartum PALS and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Provider within six months of hire/transfer.

For NICU: Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) must be obtained within six months of hire/transfer

For Pediatrics: PALS is required within six months of hire/transfer.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

Practice is guided by the practice outlined by the LVN Board for State of California and as delegated by the RN.

Uses the results of quality of care/performance improvement activities to initiate changes in nursing practice.

Collects clinical data for the RN to monitor quality and effectiveness of nursing care.

Identifies aspects of care that are important for quality monitoring.

Acts as a patient/resident advocate under the direction of the RN.

Collaborates and communicates with the patient/resident, family, and other health care providers.

Makes referrals, including provisions for continuity of care, as needed.

Assists in development and implementation of policies, procedures, and practice guidelines to improve quality of care and nursing practice.

Participates on interdisciplinary teams.

Actions on behalf of patients/residents are determined in an ethical manner.

Maintains patient confidentiality and privacy within legal and regulatory parameters.

Delivers care in a nonjudgmental and nondiscriminatory manner that preserves patient autonomy, dignity and rights.

Addendum (essential for specific dept)

ENDOSCOPY ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Assists in the management of patient undergoing endoscopic examination and/or treatment. Participates in preprocedural patient preparation. Gathers data pertinent to preprocedural assessment. Provides preprocedural explanation and education. Under direction of the physician, administers preprocedural and topical medications within the scope of practice. Assists physician during endoscopic procedure. Sets up appropriate equipment and instrumentation. Provides suctioning as appropriate. Assists in the monitoring of patient's vital signs. Handles all patient specimens safely. Assists in obtaining specimens. Accurately labels specimen with patient and tissue information. Delivers specimen to clinical laboratory. Manages equipment, instrumentation, and supplies to optimize patient safety and physician support. Makes sure appropriate supplies will be available to support patient care and physician need. Orders and restocks endoscopy supplies daily. Ensures appropriate tracking of inventory for turnover and charging. Assists in the maintenance of accurate documentation of all endoscopic activity.

KAWEAH HEALTH RURAL HEALTH CLINICS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Verifies and signs off Medical Assistant calculation for approved medications to be administered by Medical Assistant. Responsible for refill authorization requisitions and prior authorization medication requests by submitting documentation to appropriate provider. Screens daily lab results by placing normal results in provider's box. Abnormal are given to provider with Medical Record immediately. Receives critical lab values over phone and notifies provider immediately and follows up per provider instruction. Obtains information from patient/caregiver and presents to provider for assessment. Orders medical supplies, medications, and vaccines from appropriate resources. Assists/performs in procedures under the guidelines of the LVN Board for State of California and in compliance with Kaweah Health policy. Maintain logs and generate reports as assigned (Q/A, Q/C & PI). Provides patient education. Documents on all required forms. Administers medications as directed by the physician under the guidelines of the California State Board of Nursing and in compliance with Kaweah Health Policy.

MENTAL HEALTH LIAISON:

Responds to inquiries about services within one working day. Provides program information in a professional and thorough manner. Develops a positive working relationship with all physicians and staff involved in the referral and patient transfer process. Upon receiving patient referrals, performs a site visit within 24 hours. Reviews medical information, and assesses patient based on relevant program admission criteria. Documents observations on appropriate forms. Discusses program and patient needs with patient, family, physicians and staff to obtain a complete patient profile. Involves all parties, but particularly the patient and/or family in the decision making process regarding transfer. Communicates with psychiatrists to make final determination regarding appropriateness of admission. Establishes the availability of funds for the services required. Communicates with patient and appropriate administrative and patient accounting personnel throughout the process. Communicates with patient, family, referral source, physician, and/or others as appropriate regarding admission process and date. Provides information regarding other options if admission is not possible. Communicates with unit staff and leadership concerning the admission date, bed needs, and special needs/equipment of patient to be admitted. Represents and markets the program(s) to the community.

ACUTE PSYCH MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Monitors patient behavior in the milieu, setting limits when indicated, responsible for communicating observations to the team. Initiates and responds to Code Gray, participates in the holding of patients for involuntary medication administration, restraint administration, and transport of patients. Accompanies patients within KDMHH (dining room, gym, outdoors, entry, exit, etc) and to downtown campus for assessment/testing. Performs and documents Q15 checks, Line of Sight, audio/video monitoring and 1 to 1's as assigned. Monitors patient visitors as indicated. Participates in admission and discharge of patients, assists patients with changing into hospital gowns, completes contraband searches, and inventories patient belongings. Assists in gathering of patients for MD's, groups, meals, etc. Transports meals from dining area to unit for patients not clinically appropriate for off unit meals. Sets out nourishment for patients and cleans up after such. Answers phone, retrieves charts, completes patient paperwork and documentation as assigned.

HOSPICE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR:

Provides hospice care to terminally ill patients in their place of residence and in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team and other medical staff as appropriate. Provides support for the patient's family. Maintains communication with patient, family, and facility staff as required, including education on pain and symptom management. Attends interdisciplinary group meetings as requested. Gathers data for plan of care.
Observes patients and reports changes in condition to the RN Case Manager. Communicates with appropriate medical staff regarding patient acuity, scheduling, and pending physician communication.

WOUND CENTER AND HBO:

Interviews patients to obtain medical information and measure vital signs, weight, and height. Records patients' medical history, vital statistics and information such as test results into medical records. Prepares and administers medications or start intravenous fluids as directed by a physician. Explains treatment procedures, medications, diets and physicians' instructions to patients. Assists physicians or practitioners as deemed appropriate by the LVN Board. Works as part of a health care team to assess patient needs, plans and modifies care implements interventions. Obtains authorization for required services or referrals. Maintains treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping rooms stocked, neat and clean. Sets up and works on a sterile field. Cleans and sterilizes instruments. Prepares the hyperbaric chamber, equipment and materials for patients prior to treatment. Operates, maintains and ensures the safety of hyperbaric treatment to the patient. Explains purpose, procedure and safety measures of hyperbaric treatment to the patient. Carries out hyperbaric oxygen treatment as prescribed by the physician. Observes the patient throughout the course of the treatment. Provides clinical support and assists in the prevention and/or management of pressure related problems. Reports unusual occurrences to the physician and records patient's condition. Keeps complete and accurate patient records as they pertain to treatment documentation. Conducts pre and post dive checks of the chamber equipment. Monitors chamber operations throughout each patient treatment. Maintains operating, maintenance and safety logs and other required documentation. Maintains the cleanliness of the hyperbaric oxygen therapy equipment and performs preventative maintenance checks and services as outlined in the chamber maintenance handbook. Conducts transcutaneous oxygen tension testing (TCP02) when ordered by physician. Operates department photography equipment and maintains patient's photographic file.

CLINICAL EDUCATION/DSD:

Collaborates with Clinical Educator and department leadership to ensure competency of CNA staff members. Accurately maintains individual CNA and other staff member education files. Submits timely and accurate paperwork to the State for maintenance of CNA Continuing In-service Education. Provides ongoing education to staff based upon annual and ongoing written assessment. Identifies need for in-service and continued education through staff observation, information from Quality and Risk Management Departments, individual staff member performance improvement plan, professional practice standards and performance evaluations. In collaboration with Clinical Education and management, plans, implements and evaluates continuing education courses and in-service education for the CNAs and others as directed. Is knowledgeable of State and Federal regulations relating to orientation, in-service and ongoing training requirements for CNAs. Designs, develops, reviews and revises orientation tools and processes for newly hired/transferred staff as appropriate. Organizes, develops and evaluates orientation plans for newly hired staff members.

Additional

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and services appropriate to the population served on the assigned unit or work area. Knowledgeable of growth and development for all patient/family cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age specific needs. Able to effectively communicate and care for patient and family as reflected in the Plan for Provision of Care.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Pay Range
$30.17 -$45.26

If you want to use your talents alongside people who face each day with courage and purpose, in an environment that empowers you to do your absolute best, this is where you belong.

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