Licensed Practical Nurse

LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse

Elizabethtown, or as we locals like to call it...Etown. Around here, the E stands for "E"verything is "E"asy. Restaurants, lodging and all of Kentucky's best-known attractions are close and convenient. From the birthplace of Lincoln to the birthplace of bourbon, from the world's largest cave system to world famous Fort Knox, you'll find a new surprise everywhere you look. The beautiful countryside and rich natural resources convinced many people throughout the years that Elizabethtown was the place to be to raise their families, earn their livings, and love as their home. Today, the reasons for finding a home in Elizabethtown are much the same.

Requirements (duties include but are not limited to):

• Assume a full range of practical nurse duties and record such care in patient charts.
• Obtain patient history and pertinent family history to identify major complaints, symptoms, or reason for seeking healthcare. Triages and screen walk-in patients to assess the severity of the patient's condition and the need for provider intervention. Perform appropriate complete physical assessment of patient to include vital signs. Document patient's complaints, plan of care, and care given in the patient's medical records. Prepare patients for tests, examinations and treatment, including formal or informal teaching to patients according to demonstrated need and unit protocols. Prepare equipment and supplies and assist in procedures.
• Executes and ensures the completion of orders from the health care providers to include individualized nursing care to patients and document in patient's medical record, hard copy or CHCS/AHLTA. Transcribe or verify transcription of physician orders. Assist healthcare provider with various examinations and diagnostic procedures.
• Communicate pertinent patient data to RN and/or physician as appropriate. Assist in reassessing patient's condition and revising plan of care based on identified practical nursing problems and in accordance with appropriate practical nursing care and prescribed medical treatment. Performs patient education for any type of special homecare needs.
• Perform patient teaching related to medication. Prepare and administer medications (excluding administering IV push medication or start blood product transfusion) oral, subcutaneous, intra-muscular, observe and document patient response to medications administered; demonstrate knowledge in therapeutic effects, compatibility, contraindications and adverse reactions. Educate patients and family members on childcare and school requirements for children on medications. Reviews expiration dates for medications.
• May perform independent, comprehensive telephone and clinical triaging, and facilitates care coordination through a multidisciplinary approach. Establishes priorities for patient care and evaluates patients' progress toward high-level wellness by providing patient education as an integral part of the services offered.
• Screens and reviews immunization records IAW AR 40-562 and unit SOPs to select required immunizations, correct dosages, and routes of administration. Review requires transcription of information to medical records and official school forms.
• Administers oral, inter-dermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular immunizations to all age groups IAW established protocols. Maintains accountability for actions and control of vaccines. Reviews expiration dates for vaccines and supplies. Coordinates with clinic POC for maintenance of adequate vaccines and supply levels. Documents interventions and patient's response to care and communicates relevant information to healthcare team. Recognizes signs and symptoms of untoward effects of immunization and/or allergen extracts. Documents any adverse medication reactions in the correct computer system.
• Performs teaching to patients and/or family regarding self-care procedures and documents teaching. Instructs parents/guardians regarding normal verses adverse reactions to immunizations and treatment for normal reactions of discomfort.
• Performs inhalation treatments, finger stick glucose, urine dipsticks, visual acuity, phlebotomy, dressing changes and surgical instrument cleaning and packaging after use. Assures accurate care and handling of specimens. Performs routine procedures such as EKGs, eye, throat, nasal, and/or wound cultures, dressing changes, ear irrigation, and application of bandages. Recognizes and reports abnormal test results, changes in symptoms and the need for follow-up. Records data on patient charts and ensures complete, thorough documentation for all procedures.
• Recognizes adverse signs and symptoms immediately and call for assistance if the situation warrants it, perform CPR immediately. Sets up, operates, and monitors specialized equipment, such as a cardiac monitor, defibrillator, etc.
• Clean wounds aseptically, apply bandages and remove sutures and bandages. Administer prescribed dosages of vaccines and toxins in immunization program and administer oral and parenteral medications to patients within the limitations of hospital/unit protocols.
• Recognize the need for and initiate appropriate measures in emergency situations such anaphylactic shock and cardiopulmonary arrests. Apply Basic Life Support (BLS) techniques as required.
• Develops appropriate nursing plans.
• In the absence of a medical receptionist, assists with checking patients into the system, completion of records and other clerical duties as assigned.
• Reviews chart for coding compliance and ensure all procedures are documented to obtain accurate capture of workload.

Qualifications

• Must possess a valid, current, unrestricted license (with no limitations, stipulations, or pending adverse actions) to practice nursing as a LPN in at least one state or territory in the United States or Puerto Rico.
• Must have a minimum of one year of ambulatory care nursing experience as an LPN within the last two years. LPNs assigned to the Pediatric and/or Family Care Clinic shall have no less than one year prior experience working in the outpatient clinic setting and be familiar with the coordination of the patient care team.
• Must have certification in blood drawing, starting IV's, and administering immunizations.
• Must have a current Basic Life Support (BLS) as approved by the American Heart Association (AHA).

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