LPN - PHP/IOP

Licensed Practical Nurse

Schedule: Full time - 40 hours/week Monday - Friday Typical shift = 8am - 4:30pm The licensed practical nurse performs basic nursing activities in the care of patients so they may achieve or regain, and then maintain, the maximum possible physical, emotional and social function. Role functions are limited and governed by the Wisconsin Nurse Practice Act, the Wisconsin Administrative Code, Wisconsin Board of Nursing, Standards for Nursing Practice, and the corresponding policies and procedures of Rogers Memorial Hospital.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Implement patient care in an assigned patient load.

• Observe, document, and monitor each patient's psychiatric and physical changes and responses to treatment under the direction of the registered nurse (RN). This may include the following duties:
• Admission data collection;
• Discharge transcribing of information in preparation for discharge;
• Medication reconciliation on admission and discharge;
• Medication administration (See, 'E' below).
• Identify potential patient care problems, abrupt changes or impending instability in the patient's condition, and exercise appropriate intervention leadership to prevent adverse patient outcomes.
• Use appropriate de-escalation techniques: quiet room, locked seclusion, or restraints.
• Re-evaluate safety level.
• Identify alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
• Identify significant cardiac and/or respiratory symptoms requiring immediate medical intervention.
• Implement patient care based on established care plans, Hospital policies and procedures, and unit standards of care, incorporating the patient's age-specific and cultural needs as appropriate.
• Provide care in complex patient situations (as defined by the hospital) under the standards of the State that they provide care in; under the general supervision of the R.O, physician or other State approved medical professional. Duties to include:
• Participate in the patient nursing assessment process.
• Obtaining and processing physician orders
• Completing medication reconciliation orders and
• Creating treatment plan.
• Maintain integrity of tube feedings by preparing tube feeding dosages according to physician order.
• Administer bolus for tube feeding patients.

Demonstrate safe and correct medication administration by:

• Accuracy in medication administration: right patient, right medication, right dose, right time, and right route.
• Maintaining current knowledge of the medication's purpose and effects for each patient, as demonstrated by correct documentation of medication, as well as observations about responses to medication.
• Accurately transcribing and implementing physician medication orders, after RN approval of the order.
• Maintaining a continual awareness of monitoring the expected and unexpected medication efforts including adverse drug reactions, drug/drug or drug/food interactions, or other unexpected consequences of the medication.
• Regularly conducting and documenting patient education about medications and obtaining medication consent.
• Maintaining current knowledge about new pharmacologic products, including new medications or medications with new uses/therapeutic action.

• Know the various program schedules and assist patients in maintaining these schedules.
• Care for patients' hygienic and physical environment needs and for patients' personal belongings.
• Employ established systems to monitor the location of all patients in assigned areas.
• Accompany patients to meals, monitor their behavior, and record their food intake, as directed.

Act as an advocate for patients/residents.

• Explain patient's rights so that they can understand and obtain appropriate signatures.
• Provide the patient with information and obtain their signature on necessary consents.
• Use knowledge of patient rights to assist patients in resolution of complaints / grievances.
• Act as a patient advocate, use knowledge of patient rights and responsibilities, and protect patient's privacy and confidentiality.

Assist in the patient orientation process.

• Know and employ Hospital policies and procedures regarding unit safety, the necessity of gown/contraband search on admission, and carry out the process in a respectful manner.
• Remain sensitive to the individual patient/family stressors upon admission, while providing pertinent unit information.

Adhere to the nursing department and Hospital's Standards of Nursing Practice and Standards of Patient Care.

• Protect patients, visitors, and staff from environmental hazards by adhering to the safety and infection control standards.
• Participate in continuing education and inservice programs to increase clinical competence and to meet professional needs and goals.
• Report information obtained from continuing education programs to unit staff.
• Attend 100% of required inservices, as scheduled.

Participate in projects, tasks, and continuing education opportunities to improve professional skills and unit/department systems.

• Develop goals and objectives for professional growth and discuss ways to achieve them with the Clinical Services manager.
• Take the initiative to develop professional skills through continuing education.
• Discuss, on a regular basis, progress toward work improvement goals with the Clinical Services manager.
• Seek out projects and/or extra tasks to complete, based upon the needs of the unit or the immediate shift.

Promote department goals and the mission of the Hospital.

• Communicate goals to fellow staff members.
• Demonstrate measurable goal achievement.
• Maintain department policies and procedures.
• Include requirements and guidelines from external agencies (i.e., Joint Commission and Sate of Wisconsin).
• Maintain and/or communicate the function backlog to the appropriate party at a set timeframe.
• Educate new staff regarding regulations or requirements of those functions that relate to their areas or departments, as directed.
• Demonstrate acceptance and training of student interns in the department, as directed.

Demonstrate understanding of Joint Commission and other regulatory agency compliance regulations.

• Involve self in the learning and the application of standards relevant to the Nursing department.
• Participate in inservices/seminars and other meetings, to increase involvement and awareness of regulations.
• Involve self in the education of other disciplines regarding Nursing department regulations.

Participate in Hospital committees, performance improvement team meetings and team projects, as directed.

• Demonstrate punctuality and preparedness.
• Demonstrate effective communication and organizational skills, if applicable.
• Contribute in a positive, solution-focused manner.
• Education and involve self to the Hospital and Nursing department's performance improvement plans.

Conduct self in a professional manner.

• Demonstrate organizational skills that promote timely response to all inquiries and to task completion.
• Communicate with all individuals in a positive and professional manner.
• Attempt to resolve individual issues with peers in a positive, calm manner, with a focus on solution.
• Communicate concerns and provide solutions for same.
• Attend outside seminars to promote professional growth.
• Demonstrate a positive and professional attitude toward parties outside the Hospital (patient families, visitors, vendors, etc.).
• Comply with the Hospital's policies and procedures, including Human Resources, Infection Control and Employee Health policies and programs.
• Project a professional image by wearing appropriate, professional attire.

Education/Training Requirements:

• Licensed Practical Nurse licensed by Wisconsin State Board of Nursing or the State of the Rogers clinical facility. License must be in 'good standing' with the Wisconsin State Board of Nursing or the State they practice.
• American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification or American Red Cross Professional Rescue is required within thirty (30) days of date-of-hire. Annual re-certification is required.
• Formal training in management of the aggressive patient within sixty (60) days of date-of-hire. Annual re-certification is required.
• Previous psychiatric experience with children, adolescents and adults is preferred.