LPN IRA Health & Wellness Specialist

Location: Poughkeepsie, NY

Pay Rate: $29.50 per hour

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 8:00AM-4:00PM (40hrs.)

OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES :

This position will work in an Individualized Residential Alternative (IRA) setting where they will monitor health status, administer medications, and perform specialized medical treatments in a home-like setting.This position will work alongside direct support professionals where they will be part of the daily staff to individual staffing ratio sharing other daily residential duties.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS :

• Health Monitoring: Regularly check vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration) and observe for changes in condition, reporting findings to an RN or physician.

• Medication Administration: Administer daily oral medications, injections, g-tube/j-tube feedings (as assigned), and provide treatments as prescribed. Follow all AMAP procedures and guidelines including checking for expired medications and items are stored correctly

• Medical appointments: coordinate and attend medical appointments to ensure the highest quality of care for individuals. Complete all follow up to any appointments the LPN in ration attends.

• Documentation: Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation in eVero and QuickMar including DA logs, medication administration records (MAR), nurse’s notes, encounters, and medical reports.

• Nutrition: Assist with creating menus, cooking healthy meals and portion control.

• Wound Care: Complete wound care as needed, turning and positioning, and check adaptive equipment.

• Direct care/ADLS : Assist individuals with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as personal hygiene, bathing, dressing, feeding and nail care. (Core Competency 4,5)

• Person Centered Planning: Attend Life Plan and clinical meetings.

• Training: Train Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in health-related tasks, medication administration, and safety protocols.

• Safe Environment : Maintain a safe, clean environment by following universal precautions. Ensures the overall safety of individuals, colleagues and self (Core Competency 5).

• OPWDD certifications : Become certified and maintain all required ratio ready trainings.

• Advocacy – assists individuals with achieving desired personal outcomes. (Core Competency 1)

• Household Maintenance: ensures routine household maintenance gets completed as needed, which may include meal preparation, leaning, laundry, etc. (Core Competency 5, 6).

• Independent Living Skills Development – helps individuals develop skills needed to decrease support needed from others and increase independence (Core Competency 6).

• Mentor-serves as a role model, demonstrating appropriate social interactions and implementing approved crisis intervention techniques and strategies as needed (Core Competency 3).

• Transportation - provides transportation for to various sites in the community utilizing an agency vehicle (Core Competency 7).

• Maintains LPN licensure

• Performs other duties as needed or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES :

• Licensed Practical Nurse

• 2-5 years of previous nursing experience with IDD individuals with co-occurring behavioral health challenges or hospital nursing and/or nursing home experience.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Self - Starter

• Strong organizational skills

• Excellent problem solving and time management skills

• Assist in instructing staff in medical procedures and healthy lifestyle

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE :

• Licensed Practical Nurse

• 2-5 years of previous nursing experience with IDD population or hospital nursing and/or nursing home experience.

• Experience as direct support professional preferred.
  
  

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS :

• Must be capable to sit or stand in front of a computer for long-periods of time

• Able to work in open space floor plan

• Must be capable to move throughout work day and follow people served throughout community

• Work alongside co-workers within 3 feet

• Must be able to move in tight spaces

• Occasional lifting of 25 pounds or more