Job Title: Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.)
Department: Nursing
Reports To: Director of Nursing
Status: Full-time Day & Evening
Scope:
This position requires that the Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.) under the general direction of the Registered Nurse, provide age appropriate patient care for assigned adult and geriatric patients with a wide variety of medical/surgical conditions. The Licensed Practical Nurse is also responsible for administration of medications, IV therapy, appropriate and accurate documentation in patient records; facilitation of patient teaching as well as caregivers(s), spouse, guardian, significant other, and co-workers.
Education and Experience:
The Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.) must have the following:
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Graduate of an accredited school of nursing for licensed practical nursing
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Current Missouri LPN license and valid driver’s license
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1-2 years of IV experience and satisfactory completion of medical course and IV therapy course
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Experience in long-term care and/or psychiatric nursing is helpful, as is work with HIV/AIDS
Specific Requirements:
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Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language in an understandable manner
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Must possess the ability to make independent decisions, follow instructions, and accept constructive criticism
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Must possess the ability to deal with personnel, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies and the general public.
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Must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age
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Must maintain the care and use of supplies, equipment, etc., and maintain the appearance of laundry areas for sanitation, order and safety
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Must be willing to work harmoniously with other personnel and patients
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Must have effective oral and written communication skills to communicate with patients, family members, co-workers, and other businesses.
- Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure be it whole numbers, fractions, and percentages including correct usage of decimals; compute rate, ratio and percent; interpret graphs.
Delegation of Authority:
The Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.) is delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out assigned duties.
Job Duties:
The list of duties stated within this job description is not all inclusive of what is required of the Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.). The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is a logical assignment to the position.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Licensed Practical Nurse Functions:
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Process physician orders, administer medications, perform IV therapy intervention and document accurate and appropriate information in the medical record.
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Collaborate with health professionals regarding patient care. Updates Plan of Care as pertinent to patient’s health challenges; facilitates the process utilizing Care Pathways when appropriate.
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Performs nutrition activities including, but not limited to, assisting with feeding patients, enteral feeding and preparing nourishments. Performs enemas, ostomy care, toileting and monitoring urinary drainage systems including inserting foley catheters.
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Assists patients with activities of daily living (ADL). Assembles equipment and assists the RN with procedures.
Customer Service and Professional Skills
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Treats each person with dignity and respect
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Is courteous and friendly towards all
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Maintains confidentiality
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Is generous in assisting and supporting others
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Exhibits loyalty to and support of DSHF
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Always presents a professional appearance
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Holds appropriate conversation in public places
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Is tactful, direct, factual and truthful
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Uses resources wisely and effectively
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Will be an advocate for the patients within the facility
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Is always positive
Working Conditions:
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Works in all areas of the facility
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Sits, stands, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours
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Is subject to frequent interruptions
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Involved with patients, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances
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Subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members, etc.
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Communicates with different department personnel
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Willing to work beyond normal working hours, on weekends, and in other positions temporarily when necessary
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Attends and participants in continuing educational programs
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Subject to odors, etc., throughout the work day
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May be exposed to needles or other sharp objects, blood, and/or bodily fluids
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May be exposed to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including exposure to the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses
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May be required to work on weekends and holidays
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May be required to work on shifts other than the one hired
Committee Functions:
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Serve on various committees of the facility as assigned (i.e., Infection Control, Patient Services, etc.) and provide written/oral reports of nursing services an activities, as required by the committee’s guidelines or direction
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Evaluate and implement recommendations from established committees (i.e. Infection Control, Patient Services, etc.)
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Meet with patient nursing department on a regularly scheduled basis
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Assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and work towards the improvement of services
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Attend department head meetings, etc., as scheduled or as may be called
Personnel Functions:
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Attend departmental and staff meetings as directed or called
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Perform specific tasks in accordance with daily work assignment such as:
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Answer phones, check resident answering machine and deliver messages
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Make rounds as required
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Assist with 10:00 pm snack as needed
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Assist charge nurse in the event of an emergency
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Register guest, monitor who enters and exits the facility
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Ensure family members and visitors follow facility policies
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Other duties as assigned
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File complaints/grievances with the Administrator
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Perform On-Call duties as scheduled by the Nursing Supervisor (D.O.N) or Administrator
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Assist in determining departmental staffing requirements necessary to meet the department’s needs
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Assist in orientation and ongoing development of personnel
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Make daily rounds to assure that C.N.A’s are performing required duties and to assure that appropriate procedures are being followed to meet the needs of the facility
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Assist in standardizing the methods in which nursing task will be performed
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Maintain an excellent working relationship with other personnel and coordinate nursing services accordingly.
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Report nursing personnel concerns to Nursing Supervisor (D.O.N) or Administrator
Staff Development:
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Participate in the development, planning, conducting, and scheduling of in-service training classes
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Assist in the implementation of an effective orientation program of new personnel
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Assume the responsibility for maintaining professional competence through participation in programs of continuing education (i.e., seminars, training programs, etc.)
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Participate and assist in departmental studies and projects as assigned, or that may become necessary
Safety and Sanitation:
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Monitor nursing personnel to assure they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies
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Ensure that worked areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner
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Ensure that nursing personnel participate in all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills
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Report all incidents/accidents immediately
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Report all unsafe/hazardous conditions/equipment immediately
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Wear protective clothing and equipment when handling infectious waste and/or blood/body fluids
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Properly handle any exposure to blood/body fluids
Equipment and Supply Functions:
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Assure the equipment and supply needs of the department are maintained
Patients’ Rights:
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Maintain confidentiality of all residents information
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Knock before entering a Resident’s room
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Ensure that nursing personnel are knowledgeable of the patients’ rights and that nursing personnel treat all patients fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect
Miscellaneous:
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Assist in identifying Category I & II Universal Precautions
Physical Requirements:
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Be able to lift, carry, push and or pull up to 100 lbs. (with assistance if necessary to perform function safely)
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Must be able to stoop, kneel, or crouch daily
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Must be able to stand or walk more than 4 hours a day
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Must be able to reach, grasp, finger, or fell more than 4 hours a day frequently
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Must be able to very frequently use visual acuity in order to correctly distinguish skin tone variations, evidence of IV infiltration, infection; able to read telemetry, blood pressure gauges, etc.
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Must be able to very frequently use audio acuity in order to correctly distinguish various body sounds (i.e., respirations, heart tones, bowel sounds)
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Must be able to frequently used audio acuity to discern sounds made by various types of machinery or equipment that would indicate dangerous or improper operation
