Licensed Practical Nurse

Purpose:
Act as a member of the health-care team by exercising sound nursing judgment based on preparation, knowledge, experience in nursing, and competency, and able to provide care following UPMC LPN Practice Guidelines and policies, and the State Board Regulations. The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) participates in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care using focused assessment in settings where nursing takes place under the direction of a Registered Nurse or other licensed UPMC provider.


Responsibilities:

• The LPN is prepared to function as a member of the health-care team by exercising sound nursing judgment based on preparation, knowledge, experience in nursing, and competency. The LPN participates in the planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care using focused assessment in settings where nursing takes place.
• An LPN shall communicate with a licensed professional nurse and the patient's health care team members to seek guidance when the patient's care needs exceed the licensed practical nursing scope of practice. The patient's care needs surpass the LPN's knowledge, skill or ability. The patient's condition deteriorates, or there is a significant change in condition, the patient is not responding to therapy, the patient becomes unstable, or the patient needs immediate assistance.
• An LPN shall obtain instruction and supervision if implementing new or unfamiliar nursing practices or procedures. An LPN shall follow the written, established policies and procedures of UPMC, UPMC LPN Practice Guidelines, and the State Practice Act. Acts within the LPN Practice guidelines (except IVs) and within the framework of Relationship Based Care to create a healing environment. Formulates daily goals and a plan of care for patients that involves the patient as a partner and considers the individual needs of the patient in a holistic manner. Communicates the patient's condition to other care providers.
• Patient documentation is comprehensive and promotes communication between caregivers. Incorporates national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve patient safety, quality, and satisfaction of the patient experience in daily work. Creates a caring and compassionate patient-focused experience by building healing relationships with patients, families, and colleagues. Actively participates in unit activities and is willing to provide assistance to care team members.
• Provides detailed and appropriate teaching to patients and families to effectively guide them through the episode of care as well as transition to another level of care and/or home. Regularly seeks feedback on performance and applies continuous professional improvement. Supports continuous learning in the clinical areas by participating in organizational and system programs. Identifies opportunities for clinical quality as well as workplace improvement.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships internally and externally by demonstrating accountability for actions, enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment to patients and colleagues. Demonstrates an understanding of cultural differences and holds peers accountable for healthy relationships. Maintains a conscious balance between work and personal life. Models safe work hours, time management, and a healthy lifestyle. Communicates with peers and management any safety hazards identified in the workplace.

Qualifications:

• Successful graduation from a Licensed Practical Nursing Program approved by the State Board of Nursing.
• The individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and/or interact appropriately with the ages of the patients served by his/her assigned unit as specified below.
• They must also demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the department policy and procedures.
• Experience in health care preferred, no LPN experience required.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families.
• Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities, and use specialized equipment. Mobility and visual manual dexterity. Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting, and positioning of patients. Computer skills required to utilize the electronic health record.
• UPMC offers a variety of flexible options in addition to traditional rotating/flexible shifts; special programs are available to work night or weekend shifts primarily with a premium pay differential. Employees hired as or who choose to transition into one of these programs at a later time must have at least 6 months of nursing experience to qualify and may be required to complete any necessary orientation during regular business hours. If you are interested in these programs, please alert your recruiter when you are contacted for an interview.
  Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
  LPN must maintain state licensure where they are practicing or in a state covered by a licensure compact agreement with the state where the facility is located.
• A licensed practical nurse whose license has lapsed for 5 years or longer or has been placed on inactive status for 5 years or longer, as permitted in section 13.1(b) of the act (63 P.S. 663.1(b)), may reactivate the license by following the state guidelines and would not be eligible to hire into an LPN role until that time.
• Basic Life Support OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
• Must complete licensure examination within FOUR MONTHS of hire or within one year of graduation, whichever comes first.
• Though temporary permits are valid for one year from the date of graduation, not one year from issue of permit (or until the results of the examination are known at which time it becomes null and void), UPMC requires that GPNs take the licensure examination within 4 months of their start date or they will be terminated or demoted from the GPN position, at the discretion of the BU.
• Automotive Insurance
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Driver's License
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Act 33
• Act 34
• OAPSA

*Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state.


UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran