Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN

Description

Healthcare Professional Placements (HP2) is seeking compassionate, dependable, and experienced Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to provide nursing services to children and adolescents receiving behavioral and mental health services .

The LPN will work as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team and provide direct nursing care, medication administration, health monitoring, documentation, and clinical support in a structured behavioral health environment.

This position is ideal for an LPN who has a genuine interest in working with youth and understands the importance of combining strong clinical skills with patience, consistency, empathy, professional boundaries, and trauma-informed care.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care to children and adolescents in accordance with established treatment plans, nursing standards, facility policies, and the LPN scope of practice.
• Administer prescribed medications accurately and safely and document medication administration in accordance with established procedures.
• Monitor youth for medication effectiveness, adverse reactions, behavioral changes, physical health concerns, and changes in mental or emotional status.
• Obtain and document vital signs, health histories, symptoms, medications, allergies, and other relevant clinical information.
• Assist with nursing assessments, admissions, discharges, transfers, and ongoing health monitoring within the LPN scope of practice.
• Communicate changes in a patient's physical, behavioral, emotional, or mental health condition promptly to the RN, provider, or appropriate clinical team member.
• Support individualized treatment and behavioral health plans established by the interdisciplinary care team.
• Provide age-appropriate health education to youth regarding medications, personal wellness, hygiene, nutrition, healthy behaviors, and other health-related topics.
• Maintain accurate, complete, timely, and confidential nursing documentation.
• Participate in shift reports and communicate relevant clinical information to incoming staff and other members of the treatment team.
• Collaborate with physicians, registered nurses, behavioral health professionals, therapists, counselors, case managers, direct-care staff, and other professionals involved in the youth's care.

Youth Behavioral Health Responsibilities

• Establish appropriate and therapeutic relationships with children and adolescents while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Utilize trauma-informed and patient-centered approaches when interacting with youth.
• Recognize signs of emotional distress, behavioral escalation, self-harm risk, medication reactions, or other clinical concerns and follow established escalation procedures.
• Assist with behavioral de-escalation and crisis intervention in accordance with organizational policies and training.
• Maintain awareness of each youth's treatment plan, identified risks, medical needs, and required precautions.
• Support a safe, structured, respectful, and therapeutic environment.
• Reinforce appropriate coping strategies, healthy behaviors, and treatment objectives established by the clinical team.
• Maintain heightened awareness of safety concerns common within youth behavioral health environments, including self-harm, elopement, aggression, medication safety, and other identified risks.
• Follow established protocols regarding suicide precautions, observation requirements, emergency response, infection prevention, and patient safety.
• Recognize and appropriately report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or other reportable concerns in accordance with applicable law, organizational policy, and mandatory reporting requirements.

Medication Management & Clinical Support

• Administer oral, injectable, topical, and other medications permitted within the LPN's scope of practice and organizational policies.
• Follow medication administration rights and established medication safety protocols.
• Maintain medication security and ensure access is restricted to authorized personnel.
• Monitor and document patient response to medications.
• Identify and report potential adverse reactions, medication errors, contraindications, or other medication-related concerns.
• Assist with medication inventory, documentation, storage, and accountability as assigned.
• Coordinate with the supervising RN and prescribing providers regarding medication-related concerns.

Documentation & Compliance

• Complete all nursing documentation accurately and within required timeframes.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and applicable privacy requirements.
• Document medication administration, clinical observations, interventions, patient responses, and relevant communications.
• Follow applicable nursing standards, organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and infection-control procedures.
• Participate in quality improvement and patient safety activities as required.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Current and unrestricted Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in the applicable state.
• Graduate of an accredited Practical Nursing program.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Strong medication administration and clinical documentation skills.
• Ability and willingness to work directly with children and adolescents receiving mental and behavioral health services .
• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and appropriately elevate clinical or behavioral concerns.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries while developing positive therapeutic relationships with youth.
• Successful completion of all HP2 and assignment-specific credentialing requirements, including applicable background checks, drug screening, license verification, health requirements, and other required clearances.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in pediatric, adolescent, psychiatric, mental health, or behavioral health nursing .
• Experience working with children or adolescents in residential, inpatient, outpatient, psychiatric, behavioral health, or community-based treatment settings.
• Experience administering medications to pediatric or adolescent populations.
• Experience supporting individuals with behavioral challenges, developmental needs, emotional disturbances, or mental health conditions.
• Training or certification in crisis prevention, behavioral intervention, trauma-informed care, or de-escalation techniques.
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary behavioral health treatment team.

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

Successful candidates should demonstrate:

• Compassion and patience when working with children and adolescents
• Strong clinical observation and nursing judgment
• Medication administration proficiency
• Behavioral health awareness
• Trauma-informed care practices
• Crisis recognition and de-escalation skills
• Strong documentation and attention to detail
• Professional communication
• Emotional maturity and composure
• Appropriate professional boundaries
• Reliability and accountability
• Cultural sensitivity
• Team-oriented approach to patient care
• Commitment to youth safety and well-being