PT Evening LPN

PROFFESSIONAL ATTITIUDE:

Must be understanding and responsive to residents and their demands and reactions. Must show positive feeling for residents, their families and visitors alike and must exercise patience and tact. The ability to use initiative, judgment and resourcefulness and to make sound decisions is required.

Essential Duties:

1. The LPN will have the charge nurse title and responsibility on the floor to which they are assigned in the Health Care Center.
2. If there is not a Registered Nurse on duty when the workload requires that an additional LPN be assigned to the Health Care Center, the CHARGE NURSE Title and responsibility will fall to the LPN on the first floor who has the longest tour of duty at the facility (unless determined otherwise by the Director of Nursing).  In this event, the senior LPN in charge will have the additional duty of assisting the RN supervisor and/or the DON by making rounds to see all Health Care Center residents and give the necessary assistance and support to the staff of each floor to assure the continuity of care for all patients and a smooth running operation of the entire Health Care Center.
3. The nurse in charge on each shift will accept and answer calls from the residents in the Village apartments, cottages, townhouses, and in the tower apartments.  The intercom or phone call should be answered promptly.  If a visit is warranted, the call should always be answered by at least two employees from the Health Care Center.  If the resident is ill, they should be brought to the Health Care Center, or referred to their physician, and the family notified.  In case of an emergency, the resident should be sent to the emergency room at the hospital of their choice, (refer to information sheet in their file).  The DON and the Administrator should be notified and an incident report completed, to be placed in the resident’s file.
4. Take report from off-going nurse and visit all patients with them.
5. Give medications and do treatments as assigned.
6. Place calls to physicians as necessary and receive and carry out all orders as prescribed by sending new orders on physician’s order sheet.
7. See that MAR sheets are correct and kept up to date.
8. See that all orders are correctly transcribed from the physician’s order sheet.
9. Correctly inform the on-coming shift of all new orders, all changes in orders and all discontinued orders. Give report to on-coming shift passing on all pertinent information to insure the continuity of care of each patient.
10. After patient care assignments have been completed, check the “extra work assignments” to assure the on-coming shift of a neat, clean work environment.
11. If necessary, revise the daily assignment sheets.
12. In the absence of the RN, supervise the housekeeping and laundry operations to assure the Health Care Center residents of a sanitary environment and an adequate linen supply.
13. See that patients are properly prepared for meals and encourage all who are able, to eat in the dining area.  See that “food intake records” are accurately kept and delivered to the Dietary office as directed.
14. Assign personnel to assist patients who are unable to feed themselves either permanently or temporarily.  Feed the patients as necessary.
15. Assist aides with taking ambulatory patients to the bathroom after meals.  Evaluate the necessity for and encourage bowel and bladder training programs for individual patients as needed.
16. Insure the safety of each patient by being sure that bed rails are up when patients are in bed.
17. Be sure that the prescribed safety devices are in place as required and that orders for restraints have been acquired.
18. Observe and encourage other employees to carry out general safety rules.
19. Make periodic rounds through out the shift, spending as much time as possible with each patient.
20. See that all call bells are answered promptly. Assure call bells are within residents reach.
21. Follow correct protocol for maintaining company and resident property.  Failure to follow correct protocol will result in employee being responsible for replacement of the item(s) in question
22. Complete nursing summaries as assigned (correct, accurate, up to date reports, using patient care plans.)
23. Record bowel movements, voiding, weights, TPRs, and B/P on the patient’s records.  Maintain intake and output of records.
24. Give supplemental feeding and force fluids on those patients requiring this (esp. diabetic patients’ H.S. feedings).
25. Write an accurate discharge summary on any patient being discharged.
26. Prepare transfer forms on each patient going to the hospital or to another facility.
27. In case of death of patient, obtain a signed permit for removal of the body.
    1. Obtain a signature of the mortician, or his designee, receiving the body.
    2. Complete a “Burial Transit permit” to accompany the body if burial is to be in another state.
    3. Notify the Administrator or Assistant Administrator in writing, or by phone or deaths. Also inform the Administrative office so that flowers maybe ordered for services.  Notify Social Services of deaths.
28. Accurately record the supply charges on each patient’s chart, or turn it in to the nursing office, (record charges for apartment resident treatment).
29. Have complete knowledge of the Fire Plan and Disaster Plan for the Village
30. and assume the charge nurse responsibilities during all practice drills, and/or    actual operation of the respective plans.
31. Check physician’s order on each patient regularly to insure that they have been printed correctly every 60 days as required, to verify that discontinued orders are not recopied, and to insure new on-going orders which were written during the previous 60 day period are included in the recap. Check code status.
32. Have working knowledge of faxing orders and information to the Pharmacy.  Order meds via Fax from Pharmacy.
33. Evaluate employee injuries and supervise completion of incident reports for every incident/injury and turn in proper paperwork in a timely manner.
34. Have working knowledge of laboratory procedures.  Will draw blood if has been trained, and will know procedure for filling out lab slips, and using computer to log in orders, and retrieve results.
35. Promote good and respectful nursing care.
36. Promote inter and intradepartmental relationships.
37. Be able to react in an emergency.
38. Participate in the staff development programs.
39. Assist with the orientation and training of new personnel.
40. Participate in in-service programs, workshops, and conferences.
41. Other duties as assigned.
42. Must have good attendance.
43. Must attend in-service trainings and continued education.
44. An LPN performing the role of “charge nurse” as assigned by their supervisor may requires the use of a cell phone to conduct essential job duties and in this case is not subject to the “no cell phone” policy.  Cell phone usage is to be confined to business calls during working hours and a company paid cell phone must be used so as not to incur extra expense for the company.

COMPENTENCIES:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Problem solving—the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Customer service—the individual manages difficult client/customer situations, responds promptly to customer needs, solicits customer feedback to improve service, responds to requests for service and assistance and meets commitments. Exhibit genuine interest in resident; patience and tact in dealing with residents, families, and visitors; initiative and judgment in recognizing symptoms indicative of residents need for emergency medical intervention; willingness to perform a variety of simple repetitive tasks
• Planning/organizing—the individual prioritizes and plans work activities and uses time efficiently.
• Quality control—the individual demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, monitors own work to ensure quality and applies feedback to improve performance.
• Quantity—meets productivity standards and completes work in a timely manner.
• Adaptability—the individual adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands and is able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Dependability—the individual is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance.
• Safety and security—the individual observes safety and security procedures and uses equipment and materials properly.

EDUCATION:

Must be certified by the State of Tennessee approved program or will complete certification program within four months of initial employment.  Graduate of an accredited school of practical nursing.  Must be currently licensed in Tennessee and must present license for verification at time of employment and every two years according to the license renewal schedule as determined by the Tennessee Board of Nursing.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. To be able to lift up to 75 lbs.
2. To be able to reach, bend, kneel and squat.
3. To be able to walk and stand on a repetitive and constant basis.
4. To be able to use step stools.
5. To be able to hear call system, pager signals, walkie-talkies and spoken English language.
6. To be able to wear protective gloves supplied by facility.
7. To be able to be in contact with domestic pets.