Shift LPN (Burnsville, MN)

Shift (hourly) Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and RNs Description & Requirements

JOB TITLE: SHIFT (HOURLY) LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES (LPNS) AND RNs

REPORTS TO: Director of Nursing, RN, or Residential Supervisor and Shift Supervisors and/or RSAs where applicable.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: provide for the health, safety and well-being of individuals with disabilities, and to support their interests and choices so that they may lead fulfilling lives.

1. INTERACT WITH RESIDENTS

A. Talk to and interact with residents respectfully; be knowledgeable of and sensitive to resident verbal and non-verbal communication.

B. Provide guidance, counseling and assistance in order to engage residents in the home and community in ways that are relevant, purposeful and in tune with resident choices, interests, and concerns. Activities may include shopping, business errands, going on dates, swimming, participating in exercise groups, participating in church groups and other social activities as determined by resident choices. Choices must meet approval of supervisor.

C. Respect the house, furnishings and clothes as residents' property and make house TV, radio, and movie choices according to resident interests.

D. Guide and assist residents in the acquisition of daily living skills both in the home and in the community.

E. Support and facilitate resident relationships with family members, friends, guardians and other advocates. This support may include but is not limited to facilitating phone calls, correspondence and visits with family and friends, and facilitating attendance at special events such as vacations, funerals, weddings and other celebrations.

F. Support each resident's personal and family religious belief system in the home and facilitate residents' attendance at religious services according to residents' choice.

G. Be attentive to and respect residents' desires and cues for personal space and privacy.

H. Interact appropriately and professionally with residents with regard to attitude, self-control, self-discipline, cooperation, tone of voice, language and usage, and in other areas as needed.

I. Work with residents to discover and pursue personal goals in keeping with their Coordinated Support Service Plan Addenda (CSSPAs).

2. SUPPORT RESIDENT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

A. Read and follow each resident's CSSPA, protocols and plans.

B. At the beginning of each shift read and initial resident Health Progress Notes, Med Sheets and the Communication Log going back to your previous shift in order to be aware of residents' current status and activities.

C. Administer injections, blood glucose tests, oxygen, catheters, wound care and other treatments that must be done by a nurse. Assist other RNs within the company in administering such treatments as requested by the Director of Nursing.

D. Make entries in Health Progress Notes, Med Sheets and the Communication Log as appropriate. Be thorough, complete, professional and legible in your documentation.

E. As a mandated reporter, inform appropriate professionals of Vulnerable Adult issues.

F. Provide guidance and assistance to residents in their personal hygiene and appearance in the areas of tooth brushing, bathing, toileting, perineal care, menstrual care, nail care, hair care including seeking/following guardian permission/direction with regarding to hair cuts and hair coloring, care and selection of clothing and dressing appropriately for weather conditions.

G. Oversee resident medical issues and alert supervisors and/or house nurse to medical issues and/or changes in resident health and/or problems relating to medication or medical equipment. Also, alert day program staff and guardian as requested.

H. Follow medical orders and directions from medical staff and supervisors concerning resident health issues, treatments and therapies and be attentive to details in those orders and directions.

I. Talk to medical personnel by phone regarding resident health issues.

J. Accompany residents to medical appointments and to Urgent Care and the Emergency Room as needed. Facilitate communication of information between resident and medical staff. Assist resident participation in medical exams.

K. When residents are hospitalized, advocate for them by informing hospital staff of resident medical history, preferences, fears and communication style; model respect for the resident and appropriate interaction style. Communicate guardian/conservator's written directions and preferences to hospital staff. Be flexible to accommodate the additional scheduling needs while the resident is hospitalized.

L. Administer topical, oral (by mouth or through feeding tube), ear, nasal, rectal and vaginal medication and any other treatment prescribed by medical personnel or required by supervisors and/or the house nurse, and train staff in proper administration.

M. Check the vital signs of each resident including blood pressure, temperature, pulse and respiration; the frequency of these checks will be determined by the needs of each resident as assessed by the resident's team and the Director of Nursing. During this assessment you should review Health Progress Notes and follow up on any issues discussed therein.

N. Provide staff training in procedures such as replacing G-tubes, administering nebulizer treatments, and other medical procedures as needed. (RNs only)

O. Assist as needed or requested with the initial and ongoing training of staff in medication administration and other pertinent medical issues.

P. When a new medication is ordered, verify the correct dosage, assign times it is to be given, and call in the new order to a pharmacy if requested to do so. When such a new medication order is received by telephone, send Telephone Order Forms to the attending physician for signature and ensure that they are returned and filed in a timely manner. Also, order medication refills as needed or requested and pick them up from the pharmacy when necessary.

Q. Assist residents in and out of the bath tub, the van, furniture and in other situations as needed. This may involve awkward, heavy lifting. Use a mechanical lift or other lifting mechanisms for moving residents who require them.

R. For those residents who require it, reposition them often, ideally every 45 minutes and at a minimum every 2 hours; this may involve lifting a resident and/or using a Hoyer Lift or other lifting mechanism.

S. Keep thorough and legible professional documentation of medical issues.

T. Maintain records and documentation relating to resident finances and seek out receipts for all purchases and deposits made on behalf of residents.

3. CARRY OUT HOME SAFETY, MEAL PREPARATION AND CLEANING PROCEDURES

A. Safety and Emergency Response

1. Assist residents in evacuation drills and emergency situations in the home and in the community; this may include lifting and/or carrying residents who are non-ambulatory, non-compliant or for other reasons unable to move to safety.

2. Clear walkways, fire exits and driveways of snow and ice during snowfalls and as needed.

3. Know how to use fire related equipment such as extinguishers and alarms as trained.

4. Secure wheelchair straps for residents who need them whenever they are in a wheelchair.

5. Whenever a resident is on a changing table ensure that the safety net is secured using all available straps and that the resident is never unattended for any period of time while on the changing table.

6. Use side rails for residents who need them whenever they are in bed as directed in their CSSPA.

7. Be familiar with proper use of Hoyer Lift and other lifting mechanisms and techniques; know safe lifting procedures for each resident in your home.

8. Know procedures for calling an ambulance and using a hospital Emergency Room, and execute procedures when needed.

9. Provide crisis intervention and assistance when necessary.

10. Carry out CPR, First Aid, poison control, G-tube replacement and missing person responses as needed.

B. Meals, Food Handling and Preparation

1. Assist residents with grocery shopping, meal planning, preparation, and cleanup as needed.

2. Prepare meals following the regulatory standards, menu, and nutrition guidelines provided.

3. Share food and table conversation with residents in family style meals when possible.

4. Assist residents with eating as needed.

5. Clean up table, food prep area, and dishes per regulatory standards.

6. Label food for storage according to regulatory standards.

7. Clean the kitchen appliances according to cleaning checklists.

C. Maintain a safe, clean and orderly home and van by:

1. Putting things away after use.

2. Follow the cleaning checklist which may include tasks such as: taking out garbage and recycling; vacuuming and spot cleaning carpet; sweeping and mopping hard floors; cleaning bathrooms, disinfecting tubs after every use and disinfecting toilets as needed; organizing cupboards; dusting; cleaning walls