Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Summary

The Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse abide by the legal boundaries of nursing practice based on the knowledge and statues of the designated Nurse Practice Act within the state and perform only those acts, functions, or task that the nurse is licensed, qualified, trained, knowledgeable and/or skilled to perform. The employee follows and implements the rules and regulations set forth by the standards of practice. The nurse accepts responsibility for individual nursing actions and continued competence and will complete all competencies and proficiency training required by company policy.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Maintains appropriate clinical standards. Follows the policy and procedures as written in the Company Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Recognizes the patient’s individual rights and cultural diversity; aids the patients’ in their right to be informed and to participate in making decisions in all aspects of their medical care and treatment.
• Administers appropriate high quality, patient-focused health care.
• Patient care functions may include nursing assessment, CLIA waived point of care testing, medication administration, phlebotomy, intra venous therapy, wound care, splinting application and other treatments ordered by the provider. 
• Initiates a patient education plan according to the individualized needs of the patient as prescribed by physician, including patient and family instruction; ensures that all aspects of care have respect for personal values and beliefs and are focused on the individual needs of each patient.
• Delegates only non-complex tasks to unlicensed medical personnel. 
• Maintains all clinical documentation, including quality control and compliance logs required by company policy and applicable regulatory agencies. 
• Accurately, efficiently, and completely documents all clinical patient care data.
• Utilizes all equipment, supplies, facilities, and resources of the company in a prudent and efficient manner.  
• Assists provider and staff on duty at all times during a shift, including, but not limited to, the unpacking of supplies and maintaining the general aesthetics of the clinic. Cleans instruments and equipment per company guidelines, maintains stock in all exam rooms before, during, and after each shift. Assists in turning over exam rooms, procedure rooms and treatment rooms immediately after a patient is discharged from that room. Assists non-ambulatory patients to and from the building. 
• Participates in department quality improvement activities, staff educational programs, attends departmental meetings, and demonstrates and maintains clinical competency in the delivery of patient care services in accordance with company guidelines. Other duties as needed. 

Administration of IV Fluids and Medications

- The ability of an LVN to administer specific IV fluids or drugs, to prepare and/or administer IV “piggy-back” or IV “push” medications, or to monitor and titrate “IV drip” medications of any kind is up to facility policy. Currently, our policy maintains that LVNs are not to administer IV push medication in Premier Health Facilities, unless under the direct supervision of a physician.

• LVN who accepts an assignment to engage in any aspect of IV therapy is responsible for adhering to the NPA and Board rules, particularly 22 TAC §217.11, Standards of Nursing Practice, including excerpted standards listed above and any other standards or rules applicable to the individual LVN’s practice.

All nursing actions related to IV administration of medications, must be completed in accordance with the orders of the prescribing practitioner, as well as written policies, procedures and job descriptions approved by the health care employer.

• LVNs have a directed scope of practice that requires supervision by a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, physician, podiatrist, or dentist. [NPA Section 301.353 & Board Rule 217.11(2)] 

Supervisory Responsibilities Required to assist with the oversight of daily clinic operations.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Competencies  

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Technical Skills - Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others.
• Customer Service - Responds promptly to customer needs.
• Interpersonal Skills - Maintains confidentiality.
• Oral Communication - Responds well to questions; participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Presents numerical data effectively.
• Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; contributes to building a positive team spirit.
• Quality Management - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; displays orientation to profitability.
• Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; develops and implements cost saving measures; contributes to profits and revenue; conserves organizational resources.
• Diversity - Promotes a harassment-free environment.
• Ethics - Keeps commitments; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures.
• Judgment - Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.
• Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks.
• Professionalism - Reacts well under pressure; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.
• Quality - Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Adaptability - Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Dependability - Keeps commitments; commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals.

Education and/or Experience Applicable Nursing Degree.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Current State Nursing License and Basic Life Support Certification is required. 

Language Skills Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

Reasoning Ability to solve practical problems and support a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Computer Skills To perform this job successfully, the employee should have knowledge of EMR DocuTap, Excel Spreadsheet software, and MS Word Processing software.

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand or walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear; reach, stoop, bend, kneel, and/or crouch. The employee must frequently lift supplies and/or equipment and may be responsible for lifting, positioning, and/or transferring patients.  

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. The employee may be exposed to infectious or contagious diseases and a variety of electromechanical hazards. The employee may also handle emergency and/or crisis situations. 

The above job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in the described position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all position duties and skills required of the individual classified in this position.