Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

JOB SUMMARY :

Under the supervision of the Unit Manager, and the Director of Nursing, the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) assumes responsibility and accountability for a group of residents / patients for a shift of duty. Nursing care is provided through assessment, implementations, and evaluation of the plan of care. The LPN adheres to the standards of care for the area, manages the environment to maintain resident / patients’ safety, and supervises the resident / patient care activity performance by nursing assistants and helpers.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Provides routine care for patients during respective shift.
• Provides required patient assessments / observations and interventions.
• Plans and manages patient care according to each patient’s needs.
• Interviews patients and records their medical history and physician conditions.
• Obtains patient vital signs, including pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and respiration.
• Provides licensed care to assigned residents as ordered by physician and in accordance with facility, federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations
• Gives / receives the nursing report upon reporting in and ending shift duty hours.
• Ensures assigned work area (i.e. nurse station, med. Cart, medication room, etc.), resident / patient care rooms and treatment areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Monitors supplies and orders as needed.
• Attends regularly conducted staff meetings as scheduled by the Director of Nursing / Unit Manager.
• Participates regularly in continuing education in-service programs.
• Reviews care plans, at least daily, to ensure appropriate care.
• Appraises the DON / Unit Manager of resident / patient status changes in condition.
• Administers catheter care as required (may include catheter insertion).
• Administers IV therapy as ordered as license allows.
• Provides respiratory care, e.g. oxygen, nebulizer treatments.
• Assists the physician in therapeutic measures, as needed.
• Participates in care plan development and attends resident / patient care conferences.
• Receives and transcribes physician’s orders to resident’s / patient’s charts, Kardex / Care Medication Administration Record (“MAR”), treatment / care plans, as required.
• Prepares and administers medications and performs treatments as ordered by the Physician.
• Charts nurses notes in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided as well as the resident’s / patient’s response to the care.
• Documents all pertinent data as required by Medicare, Medicaid, and facility standards and policies.
• Completes the required forms upon admission, transfer, and / or discharge.
• Informs physician of resident / patient change of condition.
• Counts all controlled drugs with other nurse at shift change and notifies the DON / Unit Manager of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift.
• Keeps medication room and medication cart clean and orderly and locked according to regulations. Responsible for security of keys.
• Ensures that crash cart is appropriately stocked and in good repair.
• Ensures the resident environment is as free from accidents and hazards as is possible. Immediately correct / address potential safety risks as prudent and warranted.
• Directs day-to-day functions of the certified nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations and guidelines that govern long-term care facilities.
• Closely monitors and supervises all facility residents per facility policies and as warranted by good nursing judgment.
• Coordinates overall resident care issues per nursing license, facility policy and as warranted to meet resident needs.
• Makes written and oral reports / recommendations concerning the activities of shift as required.
• Monitors and directs non-licensed ancillary services as deemed necessary to meet professional standards and maintain the highest practicable level of resident care.
• Communicate and reports information to residents, resident families, physicians, guardians, governmental agencies, and facility personnel as required by facility policy and State / Federal guidelines.
• Ensures that all aspects of resident care plans are implemented and maintained. Makes recommendations for care plan changes to the IDT per professional standards.
• Ensures that all personnel providing care to residents are providing such care in accordance with the resident’s care plan and wishes.
• Admits, transfers and discharges residents as necessary to meet the resident’s individual needs and maintain the overall safety of other residents, staff and visitors.
• Ensures compliance with infection control standards. Immediately correct / address identified instances of non-compliance.
• Participates in the Interdisciplinary Plan of Care (“IPOC”) process as assigned.
• Attends and participates in in-service classes, performance improvement (“PI”) committees, and other meetings as assigned.

REQUIRED SKILLS / ABILITIES

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE :

ENVIRONMENTAL AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :

Pinnacle Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any protected right such as race, color, nationality, gender age, disability or any protected applicable right under the National Labor Relations Act.