Licensed Practical Nurse

Full time day shift, 7am-7pm including rotating weekends and holidays, as required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Licensed Practical Nurse reports pertinent observations in regard to individual patient care needs and makes suggestions regarding the medical treatment plan. Competently implements/instructs all care in the appropriate nursing practice to staff with oversight by the Registered Nurse.
• Under the oversight of the RN, performs nursing Level of Care (LOC) and reviews patient histories to document all necessary information in the Electronic Medical Record on admitted patients.
• Prepares patients for examination: height/weight, vitals, collect and process lab specimens including Urine Drug Screen (UDS), Urinalysis (UA), Chem Sticks, etc., following proper infection control procedures.
• Utilizes safe and effective practices of medication management as defined by policy, including administration of medications.
• Administers and monitors the effects of medications, ensures accurate medication is administered for controlled substances and conduct accurate med counts. Accurately and in a timely manner orders medication from the pharmacy as directed by physician order, to replenish stock, and/or refill patient medications.
• Correctly enters, acknowledges, and implements physician orders.
• Provides appropriate patient education as determined by patient assessments/needs and treatment plans, if applicable.
• Monitors and/or performs diagnostic screening tests as ordered by the physician.
• Monitors and/or performs withdrawal assessments and appropriately implement/instruct the necessary nursing interventions.
• Accurately performs and/or reviews triage information including accurate and thorough Drug &Alcohol history and contacts the physician for admission medical orders.
• Accurately and thoroughly documents in the medical record utilizing approved medical record language and abbreviations adhering to the medical record policies and procedures.
• Provides thorough and accurate patient information during shift exchange for end of shift report.
• Works with administrative staff to schedules patient appointments related to their medical treatment.
• Works a flexible schedule based upon service demands, which may include overtime.
• Serves as a resource to treatment team members.
• Attends multi-disciplinary treatment team meetings, as needed.
• Maintains the quality control logs.
• Notifies the RN in an appropriate and timely manner of changes in the patient's medical condition.
• Ensures the highest level of professionalism for self and staff and maintain a clean, organized work environment.
• This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions and does not prescribe or restrict additional tasks or expectations that may be required or assigned.

 Physical Requirements:

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Lifting: up to 50 pounds on occasion.
• Standing: up to several hours at a time, this may include walking, climbing steps, and descending steps.
• Walking: must be able to ambulate throughout the assigned facilities on campus or Caron properties.
• Sitting: up to several hours at a time for data entry into the computer or medical record documentation.

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current licensed as LPN in state in which hired to work required.
• 1-2 years' experience working as a Licensed Practical Nurse preferred.
• Previous hospital and/or substance use disorder treatment experience is preferred.
• A working knowledge of addictions with age specific patient populations preferred. 
• Current CPR/First Aid training/certification required.
• 21 years of age or older is required.
• 2 years' continuous sobriety preferred if in recovery.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES: 

• Able to demonstrate a working knowledge of use of an electronic medical record and charting. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of use of medical equipment.

 Competencies / Measurements:

• Knowledge of commonly used withdrawal and psychotropic medications and their side effects – Competency exam
• Knowledge of chemical dependency symptoms, process and treatment modalities - Competency exam.
• Ability to utilize medical equipment including EKG machine, glucometers, aerosol treatment machines, oxygen tanks, and suction machine - Annual training, proficiency demonstration
• Administer medications correctly and document thoroughly - Quality control occurrence report.
• Nursing documentation - Quality control of medical documentation according to predetermined standards.
• Perform diagnostic screening tests such as identified waived testing - Proficiency demonstration.