Licensed Vocational Nurse

Job Summary:
Under direct supervision of an RN or provider performs routine patient care, excluding administration of IV medications and venipuncture, following established policies, procedures and standards; follows Quality of Service Standards; follows Universal Precautions.

Essential Responsibilities:

• May perform nursing care functions such as vital signs, removal and/or application of dressings for assessment by licensed provider.


• Cleaning or irrigating wound after providers assessment and instructions, shaving and skin preparation, ear washes, NG insertion & lavage, urinary catheter insertion & irrigation.


• Reinforce standardized self care procedures as directed by licensed provider.


• Recognizes and responds to acute emergency situation following established procedures.


• Orients patients to system policies and practices.


• Provides appropriate instruction sheets based upon provider direction.


• Reviews instruction sheet with patient.


• Administers medications, excluding IV medications, as ordered by provider.


• Observes and documents patients response to medications and therapy.


• May perform tuberculin, coccidioidin and histoplasmin skin tests, provides such tests are part of a tuberculosis control program.


• May perform immunizations provides they are based upon written protocols.


• Completes necessary arrangements or organizes treatment rooms prior to surgical and/or examination procedures by setting up or laying out instruments, drapes and sponges contained in sterile trays and assembling equipment items as required for particular procedures as directed.


• May assist licensed provider with patient examinations and treatments by positioning, restraining patients, and assisting as directed.


• Provides assistance in treatment rooms during minor surgical procedures and/or various diagnostic examinations by positioning and draping.


• May hold clamps or retractors, sponge vascular areas, and pass instruments as specifically directed by the physician.


• Assures safety of patient during procedures.


• May prepare and transport items such as medical equipment and laboratory specimens.


• May clean and disinfect instruments/equipment according to standardized procedures.


• Follows Universal Precautions. Reports incidents of failure to follow procedures to Department Administrator or designee.


• Maintains departmental files, performing duties such as pulling file and assembling forms prior to appointment, and filing returned diagnostic reports as directed.


• Initiates and/or completes diagnostic rest forms per provider order, telephones prescriptions to pharmacies, relays medical information from physician to patient, and relays information from patient to physician.


• Charts in patients medical record as indicated.


• May perform lab tests including urine dip-tests, acetone tests, hemoccult tests, tests to determine. PH, protein, PKU.


• May perform hearing and vision tests, glaucoma tests and visual acuities.


• Collects, by non-invasive and invasive techniques, and preserves specimens for testing, including urine, and sputum and stool.


• Participates in Department Quality Assurance activities.


• Performs other duties, as required, such as checking patients medical records for incomplete data and relaying message to staff personnel.


• Note: Specific duties may vary depending on assignment.


• Note: Bold print indicates the differences between an MAII & LVN.