Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
SUMMARY OF POSITION: The Licensed Practical Nurse is responsible for delivering care to residents/patients utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation, and evaluation; and effectively interacts with residents/patients, family members, and other health team members while maintaining standards of professional nursing.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (To be completed without harming or injuring the resident/patient, co-worker, self, or others):
Direct Care/ Patient Responsibilities
- Supervises C.N.A staff as required.
- Visits residents/ patients to ensure proper nursing care is provided.
- Assesses, plans, directs and evaluates total nursing care as determined by the resident’s/patient’s age related physical, psychosocial, and cultural needs in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures and residents/patients care plan.
- Handles emergency situations in a prompt, precise, and professional manner.
- Performs CPR as required.
- Demonstrates an ability to remain calm, perform effectively and professionally during peak periods of activity and emergency situations.
- Consults and coordinates with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate resident’s/patient’s care plans.
- Maintains accurate, detailed reports and records.
- Modifies resident’s/patient’s treatment plans, according to physician orders, indicated by residents'/patients’ responses and conditions.
- Monitors all aspects of residents/patients care, including diet and physical activity.
- Monitors, records and reports symptoms and changes in resident’s/patient’s conditions.
- Establishes a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to residents/patients, friends, and families.
- Promotes resident’s/patient's independence by establishing resient’s/patient’s care goals; teaching residents/patients, friends, and family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills; answering questions.
- Performs physical examinations to determine the residents/patients status and develop a potential treatment plan.
- Prepares residents/patients for, and assist with, examinations and treatments.
- Recommends forms of treatment, such as physical therapy, inhalation therapy, or related therapeutic procedures.
- Records resident’s/patient’s medical information and vital signs.
- Provides care for residents/patients according to division/unit specific competencies, policy and procedures.
- Reports all changes in resident’s/patient’s condition to supervisor timely.
- Ensures that residents/patients are handled properly, specifically lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting residents/patients into and out of beds, chairs, bathtubs, wheelchairs, lifts, etc, as needed.
- Assists as needed in the transferring of residents/ patients safely.
- Uses facility lifting devices per manufacture’s guidelines.
- Adheres to the facility bowel and bladder program for residents/patients.
- Monitors supplies and inventory levels daily.
- Utilizes supplies and equipment properly without waste.
- Ensures chord placements are in a safe area free from potential accidents or injuries to self, co-workers, residents/patients or family members.
- Answers call bell lights promptly and resolves residents/patients requests or needs.
- Keeps call bell signals within the resident’s/patient's reach but not in a hazardous position that could result in injury to the resident/patient, you, co-workers or others.
- Ensures that all residents/patients who are unable to use a call bell signal are checked frequently or as required by the care plan.
- Protects the resident’s/patient’s personal possessions.
- Consults and coordinates with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate resident/patient care plans.
- Makes daily rounds on unit to ensure residents/patients care needs and environmental standards are met, including monitoring of dining room during meal times.
- Administers medications according to policy/procedure and care plan.
- Completes and/or reviews Admission Data Record as defined by policy
- Assesses the needs of residents/patients to identify potential health or safety problems.
- Participates in meetings, conferences, and demonstrates genuine desire to develop strategies for improved facility operations and high level of resident/patient care.
- Evaluates the performance of team members as requested for performance appraisals.
- Oversees the assessments of the residents/patients admission and discharge process.
- Participates in resolving resident grievances.
Assist patients in meeting nutrition
- Ensures residents/patients are properly prepared for meals according to the care plan or the needs of each individual resident/patient (positioned appropriately and ensuring utensils are within reach of the resident/patient).
- Honors the residents/patients preferences and adheres to food allergies.
- Ensures food trays are passed using safe and sanitary measure (following infection control guidelines).
- Observes food trays and accurately document the percent of intake as required.
- Recognizes, interprets and reports changes in resident’s/patient’s condition to DON.
- Participates in all-hands dining, when required.
Assist with residents/patients overall care and safety
- Protects residents/ patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
- Knows and follows proper protocol with infectious control management; avoiding the spread of germs which may transport disease.
- Observes and removes any potential hazards which could cause accidents.
- Records all entries on flow sheets, notes, charts, etc., in an informative and descriptive manner.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of the care given by interdisciplinary care team and identifies problems and guides team members to solution.
- Reports all observed or reported incidents of potential abuse, neglect or accidents immediately to the direct supervisor.
- Reports occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals to supervisors.
- Assists residents/patients in preparing for medical tests (i.e., lab work, x-ray, therapy, dental, etc.).
- Demonstrates job-specific knowledge of fire and disaster preparedness during drills or actual situations.
- Observes and reports the presence of pressure areas and skin breakdowns to prevent ulcers (bedsores).
- Reports injuries of an unknown source, including skin tears.
- Manages combative residents/patients while maintaining his/her self-esteem and avoiding injury to self and residents/patients.
Personal and professional conduct
- Protects residents/patients privacy and maintains confidentiality.
- Respects the rights of each resident/patient according to the Resident Bill of Rights; including protecting the resident’s/patient’s personal belongings.
- Respects cultural and religious practices of residents/patients, coworkers, and others.
- Fosters and supports a culture of compliance.
- Maintains a dependable attendance record and clocks in and out daily without error
- Adheres to standards of cleanliness, grooming, hygiene and dress code.
- Works flexible hours including overtime, holiday and weekends as scheduled or as needed to fill schedule openings.
- Follows facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures at all times.
- Wears proper non-slip shoes to prevent injury or falls.
- Wears and/or uses safety equipment and supplies when indicated and properly trained to use.
- Upholds HIPAA regulations.
- Attends and participates in in-service training, performance improvement (PI) committees and other meetings as scheduled and directed.
- Reports resident/patient abuse or neglect immediately, and does not engage in abuse or neglect.
- Assists in orientation and training of employees as assigned.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- The LPN supervises the CNAs
- Enforces facility policies with authority to issue Disciplinary Action Reports as needed.
- Responsible for approving and releasing CNAs upon their request to take lunch and request for early departure.
- Approve timecards for CNAs who failed to clock in using the automatic timecard system.
- Assist with investigations into employee and resident concerns regarding CNAs; with documentation of investigation and resolution on the facility Concern Resolution Forms.
- Authority to suspend individuals from work for rule violations.
Interviews applicants that will be assigned to his/her area of responsibility, as requested.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Ability to meet all health, compliance, and competency requirements
- Ability to read, write, and speak English; and communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
- Ability to complete required orientation as directed by the facility.
- Has successfully completed state required background check and is eligible to work in the facility.
- High School Diploma, minimum
- Computer literacy skills (Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Office, Internet)
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- Current, unencumbered State LPN license
- CPR certification
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and smell. All employees of nursing homes may be required to provide lifting and transfer assistance to patients/residents safely without harming or injuring the resident/patient, yourself, co-workers or others. This job requires significant physical activities including standing, lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling and twisting. Employees of nursing homes may be required to provide lifting and transfer assistance to residents safely without harming or injuring the resident/patient, yourself, co-workers or others. Lifting and/or transferring some residents will require use of a lifting device and /or assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Note: Nothing in this job specification restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Designation of essential and marginal functions is for the purpose of compliance with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). All employees are required to perform all job duties, consistent with the ADA. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.