Overview
The LPN is responsible for providing patient care utilizing the nursing process. The nurse collaborates with members of the interdisciplinary team and ancillary staff to provide effective, safe quality care. The LPN is a key member of a team, which promotes patients’ recovery and functional improvement.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrates knowledge of nursing theory and practice within the scope of practice defined for LPNs by the Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Completes a comprehensive daily assessment on assigned patients as evidenced by daily shift report and documentation in the patient’s record
- Prioritizes care based on nursing assessment of patient needs as evidenced by patient’s progress toward achievement of established goals
- Reviews and revises patient care plans according to established policy and procedure
- Delivers direct patient care based on physicians’ orders and nursing interventions established on patient care plan as evidenced by documentation in the patient’s record
- Documents interventions and progress towards patient goals
- Demonstrates knowledge of basic laboratory values by notifying nursing manager and/or physician of any abnormalities within shift of lab data; ensures critical lab results reported within 30 minutes
- Administers and documents prescribed medications (scheduled/PRN) according to schedule and procedure
- Demonstrates initiative in performance of nursing care by securing and implementing physicians’ orders and nursing orders without direct instructions of supervisor
- Reviews and ensures implementation of all MD orders each shift
- Assists in implementation of appropriate teaching program for individual patients
- Assists in development, delivery and documentation of education to meet patient and/or family educational goals
- Patient/PCG instructed on self-care, home medications and follow up care/appointments prior to discharge and appropriate documentation completed
- Communicates effectively with other members of the interdisciplinary team
- Reports patient information/status according to guidelines established in policy and procedure to nurse in charge of shift report as indicated by no more than two (2) reported incidents of failure to follow shift guidelines
- Reports patient information/status to immediate supervisor as patient condition changes as indicated by no reported incidents of supervisors not being aware of changes in patient medical status
- Communicates directly with physicians and other interdisciplinary team members regarding changes in patient’s condition, inappropriate patient response to nursing interventions, progress toward achievement of short-and long-term goals, and cancellation of therapy, and other data as indicated by action taken to meet changing patient needs and lack of team members’ complaints
- Communicates patient information/status for inter-disciplinary chart rounds according to established policy and procedure with no more than two (2) omissions of completing chart round documentation
- Provides positive, supportive communication to patient family and hospital personnel as demonstrated by supervisor’s observations and no documented complaints
- Identifies and escalates issues to appropriate person if issue not addressed/addressed in a timely manner
- Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served, including the knowledge and skill required to evaluate the appropriateness of medication therapy in geriatric, adolescents, adults, documented by participation in continuing education programs; LPNs assigned to the pediatric unit will demonstrate skills in caring for pediatric patients of all ages
- Demonstrates knowledge related to the age appropriate medication doses for adolescents, adults and geriatrics; LPNs assigned to the pediatric unit will demonstrate knowledge of medication doses for pediatric patients of all ages and will demonstrate knowledge of how to calculate dose and appropriate dosage forms available to treat pediatric patients
- Identifies drugs requiring dosage adjustments in geriatric patients; Calculates dosage reductions based on kidney function (CrCl) when appropriate
- Completes special projects as assigned according to established time frames
- Maintains patient care areas in a neat and clean manner according to shift assignment and established policy and procedure
- Labels patient supplies according to policy and procedure as evidenced by no omissions of supplies being dated and labeled with patient name and room number
- Ensures that equipment is properly functioning prior to and during patient use as demonstrated by no use of malfunctioning equipment with patient and no omission of completing maintenance requests
- Follows universal precautions for all patients as evidenced by compliance at all times to facility infection control policies
- Plans for patient safety, utilizing safety standards as evidenced at all time with safety procedures in the safety manual
- Contributes to performance improvement activities as requested to improve patient outcomes and achieve performance metrics
- Wears name tag and locator badge at all times
- Attends and participates in scheduled shift meetings 80% of the time when on duty and reads and initials all meeting minutes
- Contributes knowledge of current nursing literature and practice by in clinical situations
- Establishes and meets annual individual goals which are developed to achieve individual professional growth
- Demonstrates a commitment to quality in evidenced by successfully completing annual competencies within defined timelines
- Maintains compliance with employee health requirements
- Successfully completes all mandatory modules/in-services annually
- Provides evidence of completion of educational programs to the Education Department
- Maintains compliance with all company policies, procedures and standards of conduct
- Complies with HIPAA privacy and security requirements to maintain confidentiality at all times
- Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Education:
- Completion of an LPN program at an accredited school of nursing (required)
Experience:
- Prior acute care or rehab experience (preferred)
Licensure:
- Current license to practice as an LPN in the Commonwealth of Kentucky (required)
Certification:
- CPR/BLS required upon Hire (American Heart Association) (required)
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities critical to this role:
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities including symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures
- Demonstrates active listening skills- gives full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
- Ability to select and implement training and instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things
- Ability to collaborate with other nurses in implementing nursing interventions to provide continuity of care as evidenced by documentation of achievement of patient goals in the record each shift
- Ability to appropriately delegate tasks to ancillary personnel assigned to unit according to their respective job descriptions
- Demonstrates effective time management skills as demonstrated by completion of routine patient care assignment within shift to include patient treatments, teaching, documentation
Language Ability:
- Communicating effectively verbally and in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience to convey information effectively
- Ability to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents
Reasoning Ability:
- Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
- Able to critically think through complex patient situations, process improvements, evidence-based practice
- Able to assist others in developing clinical reasoning skills
Computer Skills:
- Ability to utilize computer-based documentation system for clinical documentation
- Ability to utilize computer-based communication technology for organization communication and education requirements
Additional Responsibilities:
- Demonstrates a commitment to service, organization values and professionalism through appropriate conduct and demeanor at all times
- Maintains confidentiality and protects sensitive data at all times
- Adheres to organizational and department specific safety standards and guidelines
- Works collaboratively and supports efforts of team members
- Demonstrates exceptional customer service and interacts effectively with physicians, patients, residents, visitors, staff and the broader health care community
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