Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse

The primary purpose of the Licensed Practical Nurse position is to provide direct nursing care to residents as a member of an interdisciplinary team of care providers and to plan, supervise and evaluate the day-to-day nursing activities performed by nursing assistants.

Administrative Functions

Plan, assign, supervise and evaluate all responsibilities to be performed by members of the nursing staff under your supervision, so that care and services are provided on the basis of staff qualifications, resident acuity, required duties and physical layout of the facility.

Provide leadership, mentoring and guidance to associates for whom you are responsible.

As requested by the Director of Nursing or designee, assist in reviewing department policies, procedures and job descriptions and making recommendations for revisions.

Implement and monitor compliance with all established policies and procedures.

Meet regularly with your assigned nursing staff and support personnel to plan and communicate appropriate care-related services and activities for your residents, communicate residents' concerns and needs and discuss other vital information related to resident care and facility practices. Develop staff assignments as indicated.

Cooperate with other resident services to ensure that residents' individual care plans are being followed.

Participate in the facility's quality improvement to discuss resident, personnel and facility related business.

Meet with other nursing service and facility personnel on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and/or improve services.

Review complaints made by your assigned personnel and communicate such information to the Director of Nursing or designee, as appropriate.

Participate in facility surveys made by authorized regulatory agencies.

Participate in the admission, transfer and discharge of residents as required.

Nursing Care Functions

Implement and maintain established facility objectives, consistent with federal and state licensure regulations and nursing standards of practice.

Follow the facility's policies and procedures governing the provision of direct care to residents, including the administration of medications, treatments and other care in accordance with physicians' orders and the residents' care plans.

Perform continual observation and evaluation of each resident's physical, mental, cognitive and emotional status and Director of Nursing or designee, to the attending physician and to the resident's responsible party, according to facility policy and protocol.

Communicate timely with physicians and/or nurse practitioners related to resident care needs and concerns. Be responsible to properly implement and communicate to other caregivers all physician &/or nurse practitioner orders.

Respond immediately to resident events, accidents, incidents and/or allegations of resident abuse, neglect and/or misappropriation of property. Perform an assessment of the involved resident(s) and provide emergency intervention as required. Notify the Director of Nursing or designee, the Administrator (as appropriate), the resident's attending physician and the resident's responsible party when the resident is involved in an accident/incident. Initiate an immediate investigation of the accident/incident/unusual circumstance, when indicated, and in accordance with facility policy & procedures.

Attend in-service education programs in order to stay current in your profession and practice and meet facility educational requirements.

Conduct weekly skin checks and document/report findings to unit manager.

Documentation

Document all clinical information in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided to the resident as well as the resident's response to the care.

Comply with state, federal, facility and other regulatory guidelines in terms of the frequency and type of documentation required.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

Develop and/or revise the residents' care plans on admission and as otherwise indicated.

Collect and continually contribute resident assessment data to assist in determining resident problems, goals and interventions, based on each resident's individual needs.

Human Resource Functions

Recommend to the Nurse Educator the skill development and knowledge acquisition needs of your assigned staff. Participate in conducting in-service training classes that meet those needs, as requested.

Participate through serving as a "preceptor" in the orientation for new associates.

Assist in responding to staffing shortages by arranging for replacement staff or revising care assignments, as directed.

Participate in performance evaluations for your assigned staff through the provision of information to the Director of Nursing or designee.

Safety and Sanitation Functions

Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures.

Monitor your assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety and sanitation regulations, policies and procedures.

Assist the Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there are potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.

Ensure that all personnel participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing any tasks that involve exposure to blood/body fluids.

Ensure that your assigned work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

Resident Rights' Responsibilities

Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.

Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with dignity, kindness and respect.

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 and honor the residents' responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.

Review complaints and grievances made by the resident &/or family and make a written/oral report to the Director of Nursing or designee indicating what action(s) were taken to initially address the complaint or grievance

Report and begin the initial investigation of all allegations of resident abuse, neglect and/or misappropriation of resident property.

Working Conditions

Works throughout the nursing service area (drug rooms, nurses' station, resident rooms, etc.)as well as other areas of the facility.

Moves intermittently during work hours.

Is subject to frequent interruptions.

Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, under all conditions and circumstances.

Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel and visitors.

Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel and other department supervisors.

Works beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.

Is subject to callback during emergency conditions.

Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.

Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc. including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.

Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, plastics, synthetics, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other potential contaminants.

May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.

Maintains a liaison with the resident, their families, support departments, etc. to adequately plan for the residents' needs.

Job Requirements

Education: Must be a graduate from an accredited school for Licensed Practical Nurses with a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN.

Experience

Must have prior supervisory experience with supervising CNA's and other personnel.

Specific Requirements

Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN in this state.

Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.

Must display professionalism both in appearance and attitude.

Must possess the ability to solve problems and make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.

Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agency 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 the ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and to coach and supervise other personnel.

Must be able to plan, organize, develop, implement and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures that are necessary for providing quality care.

Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the