LPN Licensed Practical Nurse

Job Summary:

The LPN Licensed Practical Nurse is a vital member of our healthcare team, responsible for providing high-quality patient care to our residents. As a Licensed Practical Nurse, you will work under the supervision of the Medical Director and attending physicians to deliver primary care to our residents, with a focus on evaluation, observation, data collection, illness prevention, and healthcare management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Confer with the Medical Director and attending physicians regarding specific residents assigned to you.
• Consult with the physician concerning resident evaluation and assist the Director of Nursing Services in planning and developing the nursing services to be performed for the resident.
• Initiate requests for consultation or referral and respond to requests from the resident, physician, or nursing staff.
• Examine the resident and their records and charts to distinguish between normal and abnormal findings in order to recognize early stages of serious physical, emotional, or mental problems.
• Determine when to refer the resident to a physician for evaluation, supervision, or directions.
• Perform administrative duties regarding assigned residents, such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc.
• Implement and maintain established policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, and environmental and infection control.
• Interpret these to the physician, resident, family members, and public, as appropriate.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the attending physician, Medical Director, or the Administrator concerning the status and care of the assigned resident.
• Participate in the planning and evaluation of the written policies and procedures that govern the day-to-day functions of the nursing service department.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies.
• Assist the Quality Assessment and Assurance Committee in developing and implementing appropriate plans of action to correct identified deficiencies.
• Serve on the Interdisciplinary Care Plan Team and work with the team in developing a comprehensive assessment and care plan for residents.
• Provide written and/or oral reports on the status of residents as requested or directed by committees.
• Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees as they may pertain to the medical activities of the facility and the care of residents.
• Serve on, participate in, and attend various committees of the facility (i.e., Infection Control, Policy Advisory, Pharmaceutical, Budget, Quality Assessment and Assurance, etc.) as required, and as appointed by the Administrator.
• Schedule, attend, and participate in developing the agenda for Care Plan committee meetings as necessary.
• Participate in regularly scheduled reviews of the Discharge Plans and make such plans available to the Care Plan Committee as required or as may be necessary.
• Cooperate with other personnel to achieve department objectives and maintain good employee relations, interdepartmental, and public relations.
• Meet with and solicit advice from the Medical Director, attending physicians, Director of Nursing Services, and nursing staff concerning the care of residents.
• Maintain an effective, friendly working relationship with health professionals, physicians, consultants, and family members involved.
• Conduct departmental performance evaluations in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures.
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.
• Welcome residents and orient them to the environment.
• Provide information and instruction to residents and their families in areas such as resident rights.
• Provide evaluation, observation, data collection, and diagnostic services to assigned residents.
• Perform an assessment evaluation and a complete in-depth physical examination.
• Use assessment techniques including observation, inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation.
• Perform optic and ophthalmic examinations.
• Record physical findings, and formulate plans and prognosis based on resident's condition.
• Report these to the attending physician.
• Order, interpret, and evaluate diagnostic tests to identify and assess resident's clinical problems and health care needs.
• Report these to the attending physician.
• Provide therapeutic services.
• Confer with the Care Planning Team in the development of the care plan.
• Identify and manage specific minor illnesses such as colds, diarrhea, skin abrasions, simple sprains, and simple foot problems such as corns and calluses.
• Provide, within established protocols and under the supervision of the physician, treatment for uncomplicated diabetes, hypertension, pneumonia, and such other conditions, as agreed upon in writing by the Nurse Practitioner and the physician.
• Provide surveillance of medical regimens for chronically ill persons, adjust regimens within established protocols, and recognize when to refer the resident to his/her physician.
• Give direct physical and psychological nursing care in emergencies, as well as in the presence of an illness or disability, in order to maintain life, provide comfort, reduce stress, and enhance the resident's ability to cope.
• Coordinate the admission or discharge of residents as necessary.
• Work with other health agencies and family members in the physical and emotional transitions of admission, care, and discharge of the resident.
• Assist in resident rehabilitation activities.
• Where required, perform range of motion, assist in ambulation, provide emotional support.
• Monitor the results of physical therapy activities.
• Provide preventive health care services.
• Make recommendations to the resident concerning nutrition and the prevention of common illnesses, accidents, etc.
• Provide information to resident and family members of prevention techniques and other ways to maintain or improve the general health and psychosocial status of the resident.
• Participate as requested by the Medical Director or Director of Nursing Services in the planning and conducting of in-service training classes including medical skills and procedures used within the facility.
• Participate in educational programs for residents, their family members, and the community.
• Assist in the In-service Director/Educator in developing annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard.
• Assist the In-service Director/Educator in developing advance directive in-service training programs for the staff and community.
• Attend and participate in continuing educational programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in the development of a TB management program.
• Assist support services in developing, implementing, and conducting in-service training programs.
• Assist in monitoring the inventory of medications, medical supplies, and equipment to ensure that an adequate supply is on hand to meet the needs of residents.
• Be familiar with, and use as appropriate, all items of personal protective equipment offered by the facility, including, but not limited to, masks, gowns, gloves, and face shields.
• Ensure that adequate supplies of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
• Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
• Participate in a program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases, including TB, among the residents and personnel.
• Ensure that nursing service personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
• Report all hazardous conditions or equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when moving or lifting residents.
• Ensure that the department's policy and procedure manuals identify safety precautions and equipment to use when performing tasks that could result in bodily injuries.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Monitor the activities of and care provided to all residents to ensure that they are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Report any complaints or grievances made by residents regarding their medical care to the Director of Nursing Service.
• Maintain a written record of any resident's complaints or grievances with a notation of actions taken.
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock before entering the resident's room.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents' responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
• Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
• Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident's refusal of treatment request.
• Ensure that such requests are in accordance with the facility's policies governing advance directives.
• Ensure that the facility's policies and procedures governing advance directives are reviewed with the resident and/or representative.

Working Conditions:

The LPN Licensed Practical Nurse works in a fast-paced environment, providing care to residents with diverse needs. The position requires frequent interruptions, and the nurse must be able to work effectively in a team environment. The nurse must also be able to communicate effectively with residents, family members, and healthcare professionals. The nurse may be required to work beyond normal working hours, including weekends and holidays, and may be subject to call-back during emergency conditions.

Requirements:

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition, and enthusiasm, as well as willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements:

The LPN Licensed Practical Nurse must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday, speak and write the English language in an understandable manner, cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position, see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met, function independently, and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.

Specific Requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Requires infrequent lifting of weight up to 50 pounds, and up to 100 pounds with assistance.
• Constant carrying of medications and other supplies.
• Frequent pushing and pulling of carts and transporting residents.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.