Staff Nurse

Staff Nurse (LPN)The Staff Nurse (LPN) is responsible for operating within scope of practice to coordinate care delivery interventions for approximately 25 residents in assigned area in accordance with current professional practice standards, physician's orders, community policies and procedures, and local, state and federal regulations.Essential Functions Statement(s)Manages resident treatmentsDistributes and administers prescribed medications and treatments, when required, according to approved nursing protocols, including IVs if certifiedAssesses residents, under RNParticipates in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating resident care delivery with actual outcome, also assesses, plans, implements and evaluates services and education to be delivered to the family or significant other in coping with and participating in the management of the resident's careAssists in completing the initial and ongoing nursing assessments needed to plan care and interventionsMakes resident rounds to ensure care delivery meets quality standards and restorative protocolsUtilizes appropriate infection control techniques to prevent spread of infectionObserves vital signs and hydration status to detect deviations from normal limits, utilizing resident care equipment and ancillary suppliesAssists in receiving, transcribing and implementing physician's ordersRequests and arranges for diagnostic and therapeutic services as ordered by resident's physician, from departments within the institution or from outside the facilityOrders prescribed medications, requisitions supplies, equipment from appropriate resources, when requestedRecords resident's responses to treatments/medications, response or lack of progress toward care plan or restorative goalAssists in documenting and observing changes in condition and unusual incidents and reports findings to supervisor, physician and responsible party, as requiredOversees the proper execution of the following: NG/tube insertion, placement and irrigation; Colostomy care (including irrigation); Foley catheter care (including insertion and irrigation); Texas catheter application; Straight catheterization; Tube feeding, including hanging and labeling; operating the pump; calculating intake and outputEnsures dietary recommended feeding allowances are maintained and monitors the weights of residents, assessing for abdominal distention and residual tube placementAdministers proper assessment skills and techniques as appropriate, including the following: Gastrointestinal, genitourinary, pulmonary, cardiac, circulatory, neurological, musculoskeletal and integumentary assessmentsAdministers proper positioning techniques including transfer techniques and ROM exercisesAdministers emergency procedures as necessary, including properly administers oxygen, suctions, performs CPR and uses the ambu bagPerforms suctioning, as necessary including tracheotomy, nasotracheal and Tracheotomy careApplies proper sterile and isolation techniques as necessaryCollects lab specimens as requiredPerforms glucometer checksFlushes, infusion, monitoring, piggybacking of lipids, site care, obtaining orders, checking contents of bag and label compared to orderConsults with dining services regarding resident's special dietary needs and follows through on recommendationsMonitors residents with significant weight loss/gain and identifies residents at risk for nutritional problems and implements preventative measures, reporting to the physician and dietaryChecks food brought by family members, ensuring it complies with residents' orders, dietary needs, and safetyCompletes medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessaryDocuments the following according to policies and procedures: medications, treatments, prn's; daily 24-hour report; residents' intake and output; monthly medication renewal process; any exceptions to residents' condition; daily charting on ill residents; 24-, 48-, or 72-hour follow-up charting on residents with infections; incidents or new admits; new/changed diet ordersReports any discrepancies noted concerning physician's orders, diet changes, charting errors, etc., to supervisor and/or the Dining Services departmentIs familiar with and accurately completes forms used throughout the residents chartInterprets policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies as requiredAssists in completion of the care plans (acute and long term)Participates in care conferences as deemed necessaryEvaluates effectiveness of care interventions, identifies problems/trends and develops alternative interventionsUnderstands resident's rights and conducts (as appropriate) investigations related to any alleged abuseEnsures progress notes are reflective of care plan and ensures they are properly followedEnsures assigned nursing assistants are aware of the resident care plans, and ensures nursing assistant refers to the care plan prior to administering careOversees the admission process through the following: Orients patient to room, facility, policies; Obtains necessary physician orders; Completes nursing admission assessments; Orders necessary medication, supplies and diagnostic testOversees the discharge process through the following: Completes post discharge plan; Educates resident on post discharge needs; Completes discharge paperwork; Informs nursing personnel of planned discharges for their shift; Arrange for discharge transportationOversees the successful transfer of a patientEnsures all documentation is accurately completed for any admission, discharge and transferCoordinates and evaluates the supportive interventions provided by nursing to other departments or services to achieve a holistic approach to resident careCoordinates and evaluates the efforts of other departments/services in providing education and support to family members in coping with and participating in the management of the residents' care needsAssists physicians, when necessary, during rounds and examinationsParticipates in the assessment, planning and implementation of nursing staff in providing resident careParticipates in planning and implementing the coordination and involvement of nursing staff with other departments/services to teach family the management of the resident's careMonitors performance of nursing personnel to establish a high standard of care delivery and accurate documentation which reflects resident needs, progress, and conditionAssists with sending requisitions to initiate physician ordersAssists in planning, developing, directing, and teaching programs of in-service and continuing education for all nursing service and other personnel and directs other departments in the same, as necessaryTakes positive action to ensure equal opportunity in the conduct of all business activities without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, marital status, national origin, disability, or veteran statusMaintains confidentiality of necessary information; Handles unusual occurrences calmly and logically to maintain continuity of business and dutiesFollows all appropriate safety and security guidelines, procedures and protocol for residents in the Special Care UnitMaintains appropriate, effective communication with residents, and with residents' family or other significant relationshipsProvides all care, treatment and services with appropriate special care protocolsParticipates in relevant educational and training activities as appropriatePerforms all other duties as assigned or directedCompetency Statement(s)Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.Accuracy - Ability to perform work accurately and thoroughly.Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word.Communication, Written - Ability to communicate in writing clearly and concisely.Customer Oriented - Ability to take care of the customers' needs while following company procedures.Honesty / Integrity - Ability to be truthful and be seen as credible in the workplace.Interpersonal - Ability to get along well with a variety of personalities and individuals.Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.Patience - Ability to act calmly under stress and strain, and of not being hasty or impetuous.Skills & AbilitiesEducation: Successful completion of a state-approved pre-licensure nursing education program: RequiredExperience: One (1) year of experience in nursing and/or long-term care, preferred