Licensed Vocational Nurse

Licensed Vocational Nurse
Houston, TX 77054

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Reporting to the Nurse Manager of Medical Apheresis, this role is responsible for performance of apheresis procedures on donors, patients, and biotherapy research participants, while following specific protocols. Applies nursing care with patient and donors to maintain safety and comfort. Responsible for appropriate maintenance of apheresis associated equipment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following; other duties may be assigned. Management retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Maintains acceptable level of proficiency in required donor and patient phlebotomy and apheresis procedures.
• Oversees, evaluates, performs and documents leukapheresis procedures according to policy/procedure.
• Assists in the development and review of new procedures and policies pertaining to the Medical Apheresis program and clinical trials.
• Performs general nursing duties, phlebotomy, peripheral IV and, administration of medication, performance and monitoring of injections of mobilizing agent injections for PBSC donors, as necessary.
• Evaluates and maintains technical procedures and policies as appropriate to the Medical Apheresis program.
• Ensure products are processed and labeled in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Communicates with physicians regarding donor/patient status.
• Responsible for remaining current on national standards and trends in apheresis and making departmental process change suggestions.
• Assists in orienting and training other staff members.
• Maintains adequate knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes, pharmaceuticals, and essential laboratory tests.
• Adheres to policies, procedures and standards within regulatory compliance, budgetary specifications, including time management, productivity, and accuracy of practice; ensures an adequate supply inventory.
• Maintains all records required by AABB, FDA, FACT and other accrediting agency or vendor standards, including procedure/patient care data forms.
• Performs quality control, validations, scheduling preventative maintenance and daily quality checks of all equipment in the Medical Apheresis area.
• Responsible for obtaining donor-informed consent.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Safety
Must not pose a direct threat or significant risk of substantial harm to the safety or health of himself/herself or others. Must comply with all applicable safety rules and policies and be willing to report actual and potential safety violations to the appropriate supervisor or manager.

Attendance
Must maintain regular and acceptable attendance at such level as is determined in the Client's sole discretion.
Regular Hours
Full time: Must be regularly available to work at least 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, or such other days or hours per week as the Client determines are necessary to meet business needs.
On Call
Must be available to be "on call" as required.
Overtime (applicable only to non-exempt positions)
Must be available and willing to work such overtime per day or per week as the Client determines is necessary or desirable to meet business needs.
Weekend and Holidays
Must be available and willing to work such weekends and holidays as the Client determines are necessary or desirable to meet its business needs.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
Graduate of accredited Vocational or Nursing School with current Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) license in good standing.
Minimum of 4 years of recent direct patient care nursing experience, preferably in an acute-care setting.
LVN License
Proficiency in peripheral intravenous access is required. Prior LVN experience in apheresis and/or acute/chronic dialysis is strongly preferred.
Must have reliable vehicle to transport self to various donor and group sites (mileage reimbursed).

TRANSCRIPT/DIPLOMA LANGUAGE

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:
Current LVN
Certified in Basic Life Support or ACLS(Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support)

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence, independently. Ability to communicate effectively with patients, patients' families, physicians, and other caregivers. Able to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to react appropriately to a critical situation. Strong problem-solving skills. Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Computer literate: Microsoft Office
Good interpersonal communication skills
Good attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize own work
Ability to work with others in a team to ensure quality donor/patient care

POSITION DRIVING STATUS:
Non-Driver (formerly Select Consultant)


PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


While performing this job, employees must be able to perform work that requires frequent standing, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, moving, lifting of patients and/or equipment up to 50 pounds. Employees are required to be familiar with and abide by the team lift requirements as specified in the Safety Program. Specific vision abilities required by this job include color vision, close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts, and blood and/or blood components, as well as other bio-hazardous material. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Job duties involve an inherent potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood with a risk of exposure to Hepatitis and HIV.