Licensed Practical Nurse

Position Overview

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) plays an integral role within the overall clinic. They serve as a point person for the psychiatry department and assist psychiatry clinicians with patient care. This is a part-time as assigned, non-exempt, hourly position (Thursdays and Fridays, 16 hours per week).

Key Responsibilities

Job duties include but are not limited to:

Patient Coordination

• Assists in teaching/educating patients and coordinating/providing patient care around medication management in an outpatient behavioral health clinic for patients with a wide range of behavioral health and substance use disorders.
• Acts as a liaison between psychiatric providers and patients and collaborates with other behavioral health care team members as necessary.
• Communicates effectively with patient/family, providers, psychotherapists, the interdependent team, and other disciplines regarding the plan of care.
• Ability to develop rapport with patients and patients’ families.
• Responds to emails/calls, and meets with/follows up with clients and/or clients’ families about medications, medication concerns, and/or side effects and other medication issues.
• Receive and return calls and messages left by clients and forward vital information to psychiatric providers.
• Accurately obtain and document vital signs (blood pressure, weight, height, BMI, and medical/physical status).
• Ability to accurately administer medications as ordered.
• Ability to monitor and record reported responses and/and or side-effects to medications and treatments.
• Educates and counsels patients regarding medications under the supervision and direction of the Registered Nurse or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse.
• Maintains confidentiality of patients and medical records.
• Use professional judgment to ascertain and apply appropriate intervention techniques with patients in crisis.
• Utilizes established departmental policies and procedures in making decisions; uses sound independent judgment in meeting responsibilities and performing duties within the scope of a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Leadership and Development

• Overt commitment to social justice.
• Dedication to trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practice.
• Participates in clinic and department meetings and/or committees.
• Assumes responsibility for professional development and ongoing education.
• Attends mandatory in-services and completes required web-based training.
• Assists in the orientation process of new personnel when necessary.
• Demonstrates respect and tolerance for all patients without regard to age, gender, race, national origin, disability status, religion and/or lifestyle choice (s).
• Actively participates in the development and achievement of department goals (safety, cost, quality, patient experience, employee engagement).
• Maintains knowledge of and complies with all relevant laws, regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, Board of Nursing requirements, patient safety requirements, infection control practices, and other established practice standards, policies, guidelines, and procedures.
• Actively participates in creating and implementing improvements at the point of care to achieve clinical quality, customer experience, nursing engagement, and efficiency and effectiveness outcomes.

Administrative

• Preparing and organizing new patient paperwork.
• Documents pertinent information, client interactions/communications accurately, timely, and legibly in the EHR system.
• Assists in completing prior authorizations for medication to insurance companies.

Staff Support

• Ability to work both independently and part of a team.
• Evaluates medication refill requests from client and/or pharmacies. Reviews each patient’s chart for recent psychiatry notes and medication records for accuracy/timeliness of requested medication.
• Administers screeners/questionnaires to clients as designated by psychiatric providers.
• Performs other responsibilities as needed/assigned.

Required:

• Licensed Practical Nurse, Certified Medical Assistant, or Certified Nursing Assistant from an accredited school
• High School Diploma or GED
• Current and Valid Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
• One year of psychiatric or outpatient Mental Health, Behavioral Health, or Addiction/substance abuse experience with adults and/or adolescents
• Clean criminal background as required by law

Physical/Mental Requirements

• Ability to walk/stand/sit for long periods
• Capability for occasional overhead and low reaching
• Visual and auditory acuity for timely response and patient care assessment activities
• Ability to frequently make judgements on/respond to problems
• Ability to occasionally make judgements on/respond to disasters/emergencies, actual events, or drills

Benefits

Full-time employees enjoy a variety of benefits including:

• Employer-sponsored Medical, Dental, & Life Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off
• No weekends or holidays.