LPN - Prn

JOB SUMMARY:

The Medical/Surgical LPN provides direct and indirect patient care to all age groups. The LPN implements and evaluates the patient care given. They will work with assigned nursing personnel, collaborate with other health care professionals, and coordinate ancillary staff. 

Administers nursing care to designated patients under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse. Performs a variety of direct and indirect patient care duties. Provides direct or indirect patient care to all developmental ages of patients.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Performs all job responsibilities in alignment with the mission and vision of the organization.
• Performs other duties as required and completes all job functions as per departmental policies and procedures.
• Maintains current knowledge in present areas of responsibility (i.e., self-education, attends ongoing educational programs).
• Attends staff meetings and completes mandatory in-services and requirements and competency evaluations on time.
• Wears protective clothing and equipment as appropriate.

GENERAL SKILLS:

• Ability to communicate in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.
• Strong written and verbal skills.
• Basic Computer Skills

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• General environment: Works in a well-lighted, air-conditioned area, with moderate noise levels.
• May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights.
• May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids, or infectious organisms.
• May be required to change from one task to another or different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.
• May be scheduled as needed including overtime.

PHYSICAL REQUIRMENTS & DEMANDS:

• Have near normal hearing: Hear alarms/telephone/normal speaking voice.
• Have near normal vision: Clarity of vision (both near and far), ability to distinguish colors.
• Have good manual dexterity.
• Have good eye-hand foot coordination.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks/motion.
• Continuously within shift (67-100%): Standing, Walking.
• Frequently within shift (34-66%): Bending/Stooping, Pushing/Pulling, Lift/carry up to 20lbs, Lift/carry greater than 20 lbs. with assistance.
• Occasionally within shift (1-33%): Sitting, Climbing, Twist at waist, Lift/Carry greater than 50 lbs. with assistance, Reaching above shoulder.

MISSION STATEMENT:

QUALITY HEALTHCARE: 

• In our continuing effort to enhance the quality of life for the communities we serve, the Hospital Authority of Miller County is committed to the delivery of superior, safe, cost-effective healthcare through the provisions of education prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES:

• Applies To All Age Groups
• Greets and orients patient to room.
• Completes admission database within 12 hours and documents in appropriate areas of the record.
• Completes the initial visual head-to-toe assessment noting patient’s condition/response within the first hour of shift. Reviews and updates assessments as needed.
• Provides individualized instructions to patient and/or significant others regarding the plan of care on an ongoing basis with written documentation of patient’s and/or significant other’s ability to verbalize understanding of information taught.
• Communicates patient care needs to caregivers throughout the shift and as necessary. Solicits feedback from caregivers as to the patient’s response to nursing intervention.
• Reviews new medical orders promptly, implements STAT orders within 15 minutes and routine orders within 2 hours. Checks all charts for orders before going home.
• Reports pertinent changes in patient’s status to Charge Nurse and/or physician promptly.
• Responds to Code 13 immediately and initiates CPR using BCLS protocol.
• Provides individualized patient education for patient/family.
• Responsible for following privacy concepts and other policies as stated in the HIPAA policy and procedures.
• Asses and reassess pain within 30 minutes of administration of medication and documents appropriately.
• Ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques.
• Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Patient Documentation
• Knows patient rights and responsibilities / information management. Knows policy for release of medical records.
• Knows security measures (password, Auto and Manual suspension of screens).
• Able to access EMR and knows appropriate and inappropriate utilization of information.
• Able to use work list properly (add and delete interventions, change frequencies, edit text, doc edit).
• Documents nurse’s notes and patient team conference notes.
• Completes shift portion of 12-hour assessments generated by the plan of care.
• Documents pertinent patient observations and interventions at time of occurrence.
• Report’s findings to initiate further actions, i.e. critical lab values.
• Reports completely, briefly, and accurately re: patient status when transferring responsibility of care to another person/shift, i.e. hand-off communication.
• Completes documentation on admission, transfer, and discharge assessments when event occurs.
• Enters signature and credentials legibly on all charting. Uses only approved abbreviations.
• Clarifies physician’s orders in absence of adequate, explicit prescribed physician orders.
• Utilization Management Program
• Adheres to policy for accurate and timely completion of all consents within shift.
• Avoids excessive unscheduled absence.
• Participates in the hospital’s risk management program by reporting all untoward events or abnormal findings to the Charge Nurse at time of occurrence.
• Assesses individual patient rooms and unit environment for safe/sanitary conditions.
• Corrects or reports hazardous or unsafe conditions.
• Identifies, sequesters, and reports malfunctioning equipment to the appropriate person immediately.
• Utilizes supplies and equipment with efficiency and charges appropriately. Reports needed supplies to appropriate person.
• Utilizes restraints per physician order with appropriate documentation and monitors every 30 minutes.
• Records interventions and response along with assessments on all patients in restraints every 2 hours.
• Recognizes signs and symptoms of possible child/adult/elderly abuse and immediately notifies Charge
• Nurse to alert appropriate agency.
• Patient Care Responsibilities
• Ensures each patient’s general hygiene needs are met daily.
• Performs handwashing before and after contact with each patient.
• Immediately disposes of biomedical and hazardous waste in labeled biomedical/ biohazardous waste container.
• Documents specific patient valuables on designated form when received and immediately contacts
• Charge Nurse.
• Assesses patient’s vital signs and ensures notification of the Charge Nurse of any significant changes.
• Performs dressing changes using aseptic technique per physician orders.
• Provides post-mortem care.
• Performs bedside blood glucose monitoring per physician. Uses Comment Codes as appropriate.
• Explains all procedures and treatments to patients and/or significant other at each occurrence. Verifies with 2 patient identifiers.
• Administers prescribed medications within 30 minutes of scheduled time. Reassesses as appropriate.
• Administers medication safely and accurately utilizing the Five Patient Rights and in accordance with MD’s order.
• Observes for/recognizes untoward reactions to prescribed therapies/diagnostic procedure.
• Administers, observes, and documents intravenous therapy continuously.
• Adheres to hospital policy and procedure regarding site care, tubing changes, and all central access lines/devices care and documents on appropriate form.
• Administers enteral feedings via NG tube, G-tube. Documents patient’s response and amount, color, and characteristics of gastric output as appropriate.
• Performs ostomy care to include irrigation, appliance usage, and reinforcement of teaching.
• Inserts intermittent or indwelling urinary catheter using aseptic technique. Documents patient’s response, color, odor, and amount of urine.
• Monitors urine output as ordered and records on appropriate form. Notifies Charge Nurse of inadequate urine output.
• Monitors oxygen saturation as per physician orders.
• Observes and documents chest tube drainage; observes for air leak and subcutaneous emphysema.
• Initiates skin and wound protocol when identified.
• Communicates with the family members about the status of the patient.
• Patient Safety
• Thoroughly understands policies and procedures regarding the National Patient Safety Goals.
• Improves the accuracy of patient identification by using at least two patient identifiers (neither to be the patient’s room number) whenever taking blood samples, administering medication or blood products, or providing treatment or procedures.
• Improves the effectiveness of communication among caregivers when taking verbal or telephone orders or critical test results that require verification “Verbal Order Read-back and Verified” – “VORV” of the complete order or test result “rb” for “read back” by the person receiving the order or test result.
• Follows hospital policy and procedure regarding list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols not to use.
• Demonstrates knowledge of high alert medications (concentrated electrolytes, potassium chloride, potassium phosphate, sodium chloride > 0.9, etc.).
• Ensures free-flow protection on all IV pumps prior to setting up on a patient.
• Ensures Fall Risk protocol is followed.
• Understand and follows PUPP and documents turns.
• Understands and practices current CDC hand hygiene guidelines to reduce the risk of health careacquired infections.
• Interpersonal Relations
• Fosters teamwork by offering assistance to others.
• Shows consideration in interaction with patient/family and other health team members by demonstrating therapeutic listening skills and cooperation. Acknowledges and responds tactfully to all requests.
• Varies work schedule or shift (working overtime, leaves early when requested, work shift other than regularly schedule as required) to meet department staffing needs.

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Follows Code of Conduct policy.
• Adheres to dress code; appearance is neat and clean.
• Completes annual educational requirements.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification when on duty; uses computerized time clock system correctly.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
• Attends annual review and/or skills fair and department in-services, as scheduled.
• Attempts to end conversations and other interactions in a positive manner; leaves others with a good impression of the Hospital Authority of Miller County and its employees.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission statement of the organization.

GUEST RELATIONS STANDARDS:

(All guest relation violations are subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination):

• Always treat others in a friendly, helpful manner.
• Refers co-workers to proper sources when unable to provide an answer.
• Interacts with others in a professional and friendly manner.
• Takes interest in others and always gives full cooperation to fellow workers.
• Always maintains an open line of communication with other departments.
• Thoroughly familiar with the hospital and the services it offers.

OTHER:

• Responsibility to Report: It is the responsibility of every employee of HAMC to comply with federal, state and local laws and regulations, as well as, HAMC Policies and Procedures. Every employee is help accountable to participate in, comply with and report concerns to his or her supervisor or the Compliance Officer if illegal or unethical behavior is suspected.
• As an employee of HAMC, you have been granted user access to applicable ePHI systems based on your position.
• This user or role-based access is intended to give you the minimum necessary access to perform your job function(s) only and should be used only as applicable.

OTHER DUITIES:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

 EDUCATION, CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate of a school of Practical Nursing, current Georgia license. Nursing skills as defined by the laws governing the practice of nursing in the State of Georgia.
• Current BLS certification
• ACLS & PALS certification preferred