Full-time Clinic Nurse (LPN or RN)

Lexington Regional Health Center         

Title: Clinic Nurse         

Effective: October 24, 2021

Department: Family Medicine Specialists

Supervisor: FMS Director of Nursing 

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Principle duties and responsibilities

1. Under direction of licensed Provider, works collaboratively with other departments, medical professionals, and organizations to coordinate care for patients.
2. Triages and treats patients using sound clinical judgment in patient care and asks for help if unsure of a procedure or action needed.
3. Checks patients into exam rooms.
4. Obtains/updates clinical assessment and medication list.
5. Assists provider with minor surgical procedures and exams.
6. Efficiently and safely administers medications via but not limited to IM, SQ, Rectal, Transdermal, and PO.
7. Consistently assures accurate, complete, legible and timely transaction of physician orders/entry, including communicating with other departments and or facilities.
8. Demonstrates ability to prioritize individual position requirements and provider’s workload and keep up with patient flow. Effectively uses work time. 
9. Provides courteous efficient exchange of information over the telephone that meets the needs of the caller and creates caller satisfaction.
10. Obtains appropriate authorization and consents for treatment.
11. Performs cleaning of exam rooms and equipment. Keeps nurses station clean, organized and free from outdated medicine or supplies.
12. Assists with organization of patient records, including copying records needed for visiting specialists.
13. Participates in all mandatory safety, competency, and informational programs.
14. Willing to be flexible in scheduling and role expectations to best meet patient needs.
15. Participates in problem solving and attaining goals of performance improvement projects and patient satisfaction.
16. Attends meetings, educational programs, in services staff meetings as appropriate in department.
17. Participates in patient care activities that could include blood exposure and risk to bloodborne pathogens (eg: lacerations, handling of blood-contaminated specimens, etc.)  
18. Responsible for safe bagging and disposal of biohazardous waste. 
19. Responsible for following safe-injection practices.  
20. Responsible for proper collection, storage and labeling of biological specimens.
21. Responsible for ensuring the environment meets appropriate governing body standards. 
22. Ensure patients and visitors follow current infection control guidelines.
23. Maintains patient and staff safety through the use of patient safety tools (Teamstepps, Just Culture, etc.).
24. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities

1. Possesses cognitive knowledge and understanding of nursing theory and practice, including pharmacological agents and the ability to administer all medications – oral, subcutaneous and intramuscular. Knowledge of the growth and development of a variety of patients in order to meet the health care needs of the neonate, pediatric, adult and geriatric patient. Knowledge of reading, spelling, grammar, writing, math and computer operation as is typically acquired through the completion of a Licensed Practical Nursing Degree from an accredited school.
2. Must hold a current active Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse license from the State of Nebraska or approved compact state of residence as defined by the Nebraska Nurse Practice Act.
3. Current Basic Life Support certification via American Heart Association required.
4. Organizational and emotional ability and maturity to deal effectively with multiple stressors, deadlines, difficult situations and /or customers.
5. Possesses interpersonal communication skills necessary for effective, non judgmental, and empathetic patient care and customer relations.
6. Ability to recognize needs of other staff and help out when available; ability to be flexible in job assignment.
7. Uses population specific knowledge to appropriately modify approach to meeting needs of age groups served.
8. Demonstrates knowledge of computer systems as they relate to specific department/position requirements.
9. Demonstrates knowledge of appropriate use of patient and employee records (handling medical records, obtaining release of information consents to FAX records, etc).
10. Demonstrates knowledge of quality improvement goals, objectives and activities.
11. Ability to communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
12. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with regard to protected and sensitive information.
13. Ability to complete reports and correspondences at a professional level.
14. Ability to immediately respond to common inquiries and complaints from patients, employees and regulatory agencies.
15. Successful completion of required knowledge and training of standard precaution and transmission protocols and when to apply during principle duties and responsibilities. 

Working conditions

1. Works in a normal office work environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature, etc.
   
2. Spends up to 60% of day completing desk work in the office and the other 40% spent completing patient care related work. Required to assist with patient transfers, lifting up to 35 pounds for a stand pivot transfer 1-2 times per week. Helps transport patients via wheelchair to radiology or lab within the hospital; wheelchair requires up to 21 pounds of horizontal force up incline outside for a distance of 25 feet and 13 pounds of horizontal force on flat surfaces within hospital and FMS up to 200 feet in distance 3-4 times per day. Required to assist with patient care to take vitals and help handle babies of various weights, amongst various other upper extremity gross motor functions related to patient care, spending up to 5 minutes completing tasks per patient, with up to 20 patients a day. Required to help assist in the event of emergency situations, including performing CPR, which may require getting onto floor to assist.
3. Helps transport patients via wheelchair to within the hospital, from Family Medicine Specialists to Laboratory, Radiology, or onto the inpatient floor with room 28 the furthest room to push. Worker will transport a patient via wheelchair up to 820 total feet through the mound, requiring 40 horizontal force pounds to push. There is an incline from the mound to the hospital to be aware of when pushing the wheelchair.
4. Exposure to chemicals and other hazards related to patient care. Appropriate safety precautions, such as safety glasses, gloves, etc. must be used to minimize risk of injury.
5. Direct exposure to body substances during patient care activities and on contaminated surfaces such as patient equipment.

Management responsibilities

1. None

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.