Licensed Vocational Nurse I

Vocational Nurse

Under immediate supervision, performs a variety of technical nursing duties in support of client physical health, medication administration, and professional psychiatric and/or medical staff; distributes and administers medications in accordance with psychiatrist or physician orders and provides medication monitoring, support, and education to clients and staff; assists with the planning and conduct of clinics; charts, interprets, and executes oral and written orders received from professional medical staff; and performs related duties as assigned.

Receives immediate supervision from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

Examples Of Duties

The job functions listed below are not inclusive or exclusive and are intended only as illustrations or examples of the various types of work that may be performed in various divisions/departments. Types of work performed shall be within the scope and licensure (if required) for the classification. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law. Some duties may be performed in a learning capacity for entry-level (I Level) positions.

• Performs a wide variety of vocational nursing functions including hands-on care, testing, and treatment of patients; interviewing patients and assisting them in follow-up care; maintaining medical supplies and medications; assisting in emergency medical treatment; administering medications; and maintaining medical charts and patient records.
• Participates as a team member of a multidisciplinary treatment team by providing technical psychiatric nursing care, including but not limited to physical assessments, medication administration, and coordinating various services to support client wellness and recovery.
• Monitors and responds to calls to the behavioral health nursing line; responds to medication and nursing requests for information and answers staff and pharmacy inquires related to behavioral health clients as appropriate.
• Assists with the planning and conduct of clinics including set-up and loading of supplies, equipment, and facilities.
• Performs client intake duties; assesses and monitors condition of clients; obtains client histories and records and conveys information to clinical and other professional and para-professional staff.
• Collaborates and consults with psychiatrists, pharmacists, registered nurses, drug representatives, clinicians, and various other program staff and service providers regarding client care.
• Assists in the development and implementation of educational outreach programs and related materials; disseminates educational information to clients.
• Provides education, training, and information to clients in areas such as vaccinations and communicable diseases; administers oral medications and intramuscular and subcutaneous injections.
• Coordinates and assembles client records for review by clinic staff.
• Charts, interprets, and executes oral and written orders received from professional medical staff; maintains nursing notes of changes in orders and patient progress, condition, and response to medications.
• Assists medical staff in a variety of examination and treatment procedures as required.
• Coordinates referrals to outside agencies for follow-up treatments; evaluates necessary referrals.
• Discusses medication effects with patients; assesses response to medications, including adverse effects, efficacy, etc.; reports effects to professional medical staff for needed action.
• Performs administrative tasks, including preparing records and reports, entering computer data, copying, and filing documents, answering the telephone, and ordering, stocking, and maintaining an inventory of supplies and equipment; processes and completes required documentation for patient admissions, status changes and discharges.
• Operates and assists in testing and maintaining unit equipment; prepares equipment, instruments, and supplies for use in treatments, procedures, etc., as directed.
• Cleans and maintains patient, treatment, work, and storage areas.
• Attends and participates in meetings to discuss assignments, treatment plans, and clinic coordination; attends in-service and continuing education programs.
• Follows safety regulations and takes necessary steps to ensure client and staff safety.
• Provides client and family health/medical instruction as appropriate or directed; schedules appointments and follow-up visits as necessary; refers clients to, and contacts, community agencies to provide additional care as appropriate.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Employment Standards / Minimum Qualifications

Some knowledge and abilities may be performed by positions at the entry (I) level in a learning capacity.

Knowledge of:

• Nursing protocols and treatment used in the care of individuals who experience mental, emotional, and/or behavioral disorders.
• Principles and practices of licensed vocational nursing.
• Medical terminology and processes related to the work.
• Client physical assessment and reporting techniques.
• Psychotropic medications, side effects, and interactions.
• Methods, materials, tools, and equipment commonly used in a healthcare setting.
• Medical and psychiatric terminology.
• Methods of medical case recording and report preparation.
• Aseptic techniques and infection control in a healthcare setting.
• Community resources related to the client's service needs.
• Basic mathematics.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances relevant to the area(s) of responsibility.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to the work performed.

Ability to:

• Perform procedures and techniques in a clinic or home environment as permitted by vocational nursing certification.
• Provide specialized vocational nursing services related to the job assignment.
• Operate and maintain specialized nursing equipment.
• Conduct medical history data gathering.
• Provide community referrals to clients.
• Recognize critical and significant physical or behavioral changes in patients.
• Administer prescribed medications, injections, and vaccines.
• Learn to operate a wide variety of medical equipment safely and skillfully.
• Follow established policies, procedures, protocols, and standards, including safety regulations.
• Prepare and maintain a wide variety of accurate and detailed records and reports.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Maintain professional boundaries and adhere to all professional ethical standards including abuse reporting and maintenance of client confidentiality.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to the work performed.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to the work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Equivalent to a level of education and course of study, which would qualify as an accredited program for incumbents to obtain licensure as a Vocational Nurse or Psychiatric Technician in the State of California.
• No experience required.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of, or ability to obtain by the time of appointment, an appropriate California driver's license.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain by the time of appointment, a valid Vocational Nurse or Psychiatric Technician licensure issued by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, and maintain a valid CPR certificate.

Physical Demands Must possess mobility to work in a standard office and/or medical setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various County and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned