Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Rest Home

This is a Union position under the Gallatin Rest Home Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses Bargaining Unit. This position is located at the Gallatin Rest Home. Under general supervision of the Director of Nursing, this position performs a variety of paraprofessional nursing services for patients in a residential, clinical or institutional setting. This position reports to the Director of Nursing and provides shift supervision to the Certified Nurse Aides. The position provides supervision to the Certified Nurse Aides, including performing and conducting the performance appraisals; reports personnel problems and concerns to the appropriate personnel and provides guidance and training to employees with less experience and may coordinate special projects as requested. 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Performs a variety of para-professional nursing services toward meeting the daily and special needs of residents and in compliance with the nurse practices act.
• Responds to residents’ personal requests, satisfying authorized requests and reporting unusual or special requests to the appropriate personnel.
• Consults with and interprets policies for personnel, residents, relatives and others.
• Orders and administers medications as directed by the physician.
• Routinely observes and reports on the condition of residents.
• Provides residents with basic care and in helping maintain personal hygiene.
• Takes and records the resident’s body temperature, pulse and respiration rates, reporting unusual symptoms to the physician or supervising nurse.
• Administers enemas, irrigations, perineum care, lotion rubs, messages and first aid; changes dressings; lifts and ambulates residents and provides post mortem care.
• Assists in feeding the residents who cannot feed themselves, this may also include recording the food and fluid intake of the resident.
• Maintains a variety of medical charts and logs.
• Under direction of a registered nurse, administers injections.
• Sterilizes equipment and supplies.
• Assists the health team in the evaluation of the resident’s needs and implementation of treatment programs.   
• Observes and helps maintain the resident’s room and equipment to ensure proper functioning and safety. 
• Arranges and coordinates the services of other health care professionals.
• Attends and participates in daily report sessions and in-services training.
• May assist in the training of other para-professional nurses.
• Performs the work of subordinate personnel in emergency situations.

Other Duties as Assigned 

Perform a variety of other duties as assigned by supervisor. This includes coordinating special projects and events, system research and analysis, attending meetings and special events, and attending continuing education and training as required. If the County Commission proclaims a local emergency due to an actual or threatened disaster such as an earthquake, fire, riot, flood, etc., County employees may be required to provide services during the emergency and for a subsequent period of assessment and recovery.

This work requires the knowledge of practical nursing principles, practices, and methods; the physical and emotional needs of aged and handicapped individuals; knowledge of medical terminology and the effects of medication and treatment. This position must have the ability to react well in emergency situations; apply medical and nursing knowledge; communicate effectively both in writing and verbally; maintain accurate medical charts and records; provide practical nursing care to aged and handicapped individuals; the use of a variety of medical equipment and tools and establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted during the course of work.

The required knowledge, skills and abilities are typically acquired through completion of an approved course in practical nursing and licensure to practice practical nursing in the State of Montana. Previous work experience in a geriatric setting is preferred but not required.

Gallatin County is committed to providing a safe and productive workplace for its employees. In order to have a safe working environment that is drug and alcohol free, Gallatin County established Section 526 “Workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy”. Under this policy, certain positions are designated as “testable” positions. This position is safety sensitive in nature and is designated as a “testable position”. The position is subject to pre-employment testing, upon reasonable suspicion, on a random basis, return to duty and any follow-up testing under the policy.

Essential Physical Abilities

• The physical demands 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.
• The work requires excessive standing, walking, and other physical exertion, including but not limited to reaching, kneeling, bending, twisting, squatting, pushing, and pulling. Position must be able to safely and correctly use nursing facility devices such as gait belts and mechanical equipment for lifting, pulling and turning residents who may range in weight from less than 80 pounds to over 300 pounds. Position must also be able to lift 10 to 20 pounds frequently; 20 to 50 pounds occasionally and rarely lift 50 to 100 pounds.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a nursing facility, involving risk of infection or exposure to bodily fluids, which requires special safety precautions.