Nurse LPN

Embassy Healthcare

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE:  Licensed Practical Nurse EFFECTIVE DATE: 

DEPARTMENT:  Nursing

REPORTS TO:  Director of Nursing STATUS:  Hourly

DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL: ______________ DATE: _________________

HUMAN RESOURCE APPROVAL:  _______________ DATE: ________________

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to provide direct nursing care to the residents, and to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities performed by nursing assistants.  Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services or Nurse Supervisor to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY:

As Licensed Practical Nurse you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties, in accordance with the LPN scope of practice defined by the Pennsylvania  Nurse Practice Act.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS STATEMENT:

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position.  However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the 

position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position. 

SAFETY FACTORS:

Risk Potential to Blood/Body Fluids:

* Category I:  Tasks in this category involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues, and require the use of personal protective equipment.

Category II: Tasks in this category involve no exposure to blood, body fluids, and/or tissues, but employment may require performing unplanned category I task.

Category III:  These task require no exposure to blood, body fluids, and /or tissues, and category I tasks are not a condition of employment.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Functions

• Direct the day-to-day functions of the nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.

• Ensure that all nursing personnel assigned to you comply with the written policies and procedures established by this facility.

• Periodically review the department’s policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc.  Make recommendations for revisions.

• Meet with your assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts’ services, programs, and activities.

• Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects the day-to-day nursing procedures performed in this facility.

• Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.

• Make written and oral reports/recommendations concerning the activities of your shift as required.

• Cooperate with other resident services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that the resident’s total regimen of care is maintained.

• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions.

• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility’s quality assurance program for the nursing service department.

• Participate in facility surveys (inspections_ made by authorized government agencies as may be requested.

• Periodically review the resident’s written discharge plan.  Participate in the updating of the resident’s written discharge plan as required.

• Assist in planning the nursing services portion of the resident’s discharge plan as necessary.

• Interpret the department’s policies and procedures to personnel, resident’s visitors and government agencies as required.

• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.

• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.

• Write resident charge slips and forward to the Business Office.

• Maintain the Daily Census Report and submit to the Business Office as required.

• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.

Charting and Documentation

• Complete and file required recordkeeping forms/charts upon the resident’s admission, transfer, and/or discharge; maintaining compliance with the center’s Medical records system- Electronic or traditional paper medical record

• Encourage attending physicians to review treatment plans, record and sign their orders, progress notes, etc., in accordance with established policies.

• Receive telephone orders from physicians and record on the Physicians’ Order Form.

• Transcribe physician’s orders to resident charts, cardex, and medication cards, treatment/care plans, as required.

• Chart nurses’ notes in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided to the resident, as well as the resident’s response to the care.

• Fill out and complete accident/incident reports. Submit to Director as required.

• Chart all reports of accidents/incidents involving residents.  Follow established procedures.

• Record new/changed diet orders.  Forward information to the Dietary Department.

• Report all discrepancies noted concerning physician’s orders, diet change, charting error, etc., to the Nurse Supervisor.

• Fill out and complete transfer forms in accordance with established procedures.

• Ensure that appropriate documentation concerning unauthorized discharges is entered in the resident’s medical record in accordance with established procedures.

• Perform routine charting duties as required and in accordance with established charting and documentation policies and procedures.

• Sign and date all entries made in the resident’s medical record.

Drug Administration Functions

• Prepare and administer medications as ordered by the physician.

• Verify the identity of the resident before administering the medication/treatment.

• Ensure that prescribed medication for one resident is not administered to another.

• Ensure that an adequate supply of floor stock medications, supplies, and equipment is on hand to meet the nursing needs of the residents.  Report needs to the Nurse Supervisor.

• Order prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary, and in accordance with established policies.

• Ensure that narcotic records are accurate for your shift.

• Notify the Nurse Supervisor of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift.

• Review medication cards for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of the physician’s order, and adherence to stop order policies.

• Notify the attending physician of automatic stop orders prior to the last dosage being administered.

• Dispose of drugs and narcotics as required, and in accordance with established procedures.

Personnel Functions

• Participate in employee performance evaluations, determining your shift’s staffing requirements, and making recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.

• Inform the Nurse Supervisor of staffing needs when assigned personnel fail to report to work.

• Report absentee call-ins to the Nurse Supervisor.

• Review and evaluate your department’s work force and make recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor.

• Develop work assignments and /or assist in completing and performing such assignments.

• Provide leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift.

• Make daily rounds of your unit/shift to ensure that nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards.  Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor.

• Ensure that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.

• Meet with your shift’s nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or to improve services.

• Ensure that department personnel, residents, and visitors follow the department’s established policies and procedures at all times.

• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other departments within the facility to ensure that nursing services and activities can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents.

• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm environment throughout the unit and shift.

• Review complaints and grievances made or filed by your assigned personnel. Make appropriate reports to the Nurse Supervisor as required or as may be necessary. Follow facility’s established procedures.

• Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, age sex, religion, handicap, or marital status.

• Receive/give the nursing report upon reporting in the ending shift duty hours.

• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.

• Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.

• Participate in the orientation of new residents/family members to the facility.

• Make rounds with physicians as necessary.

• Requisition and arrange for diagnostic and therapeutic services, as ordered by the physician, and in accordance with our established procedures.

• Consult with the resident’s physician in providing the resident’s care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., as necessary.

• Review the resident’s chart for specific treatments, medication orders, diets, etc., as necessary.

• Implement and maintain established nursing objectives and standards in accordance with the plan of care.

• Make periodic checks to ensure that certified nursing assistants are properly administering prescribed treatments and to evaluate the resident’s physical and emotional status.

• Cooperate with the coordinate social and activity programs with nursing service schedules.

• Notify the resident’s attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident’s condition.

• Carry out restorative and rehabilitative programs, to include self-help and care.

• Inspect the nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.

• Administer professional services such as; catheterization, tube feedings, suction, applying and changing dressings/bandages, packs, colostomy, and drainage bags, taking blood, giving massages and range of motion exercises, care for the dead/dying, etc., as required and authorized within the scope of practice for LPNs as defined by the Pennsylvania Nurse Practice Act .

• Use restraints when necessary and in accordance with established policies and procedures in accordance with the plan of care.

• Obtain sputum, urine and other specimens for lab tests as ordered.

• Take and record TPRs, blood pressures, etc., as necessary.

• Monitor seriously ill residents as necessary.

• Check foods brought into the facility by the resident’s family/visitors to ensure that it is within the resident’s dietary allowances.  Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor and Dietary Supervisor.

• Ensure that personnel providing direct care to residents are providing such care in accordance with the resident’s care plan and wishes.

• Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.

• Meet with residents, and/or family members, as necessary. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor.

• Admit, transfer and discharge residents as necessary.

• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents as necessary.

• Ensure that discharged residents are escorted to the pick-up area.

• Inform family members of the death of the resident.

• Call funeral homes when requested by the family.  Ensure that established post-mortem procedures are followed.

Staff Development

• Participate in developing, planning, conducting, and in-service training classes that provide instructions on “how to do the job,” and ensure a well-educated nursing service department.

• Implement and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to your shift, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.

• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.

• Assist in training department personnel in identifying tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.

• Attend and participate in outside training programs.

• Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard.

• Attend and participate in continuing education programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.

Safety and Sanitation

• Monitor your assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.

• Ensure that your assigned nursing personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including dress codes. 

• Assist the Director and/or Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded. 

• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.

• Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.

• Ensure that your assigned work areas (i.e., nurses’ stations, medicine preparation rooms, etc.) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.

• Ensure that your unit’s resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.

• Ensure that your assigned personnel follow established hand washing techniques in the administering of nursing care procedures.

• Ensure that your assigned personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.

  
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