POSITION:               LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE (LPN)

REPORTS TO:         DIRECTOR OF NURSING

 SUPERVISED BY:  DIRECTOR OF NURSING AND

                                    APPROPRIATE SHIFT SUPERVISOR

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY:

The LPN will share in the responsibility as a member of the Resident Care Team.  Under the guidance of the RN, the LPN shall provide basic nursing care of residents whose conditions are of varying degrees of acuity. For the resident with uncomplicated needs, the LPN may function independently with minimum supervision.  In the more complex nursing situations, the LPN shall assist the RN.  The LPN may be assigned to all nursing services areas.

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 1.                  Completes delegated assignments.

 2.                  Provides individual resident care by performing activities related to total plan.

 3.                  Recognizes abnormal conditions and/or reactions and be responsible for an immediate and accurate report.

 4.                  Participates in in-service education programs for individual growth.

 5.                  Performs selective nursing procedures where professional evaluative judgment is not required.

 6.                  Provides for physical comfort and the safety of all residents assigned.

 7.                  Takes telephone and verbal orders from the physician in the absence of the RN.

 8.                  Administers, charts, orders and disposes of medications according to established policies and procedures.

 9.                  Other duties assigned

 TASKS:

 A.        General:

1.                  Discusses delegated assignment with Charge Nurse.

2.                  Discusses “Resident Care Plan” with the Charge Nurse regarding individual resident needs.

3.                  Gives or assists with partial or complete hygiene.

4.                  Understands and applies nursing measures for skin protection.

5.                  Understands and practices safety precautions.

6.                  Performs admission and discharge procedures.

7.                  Feeds residents.

8.                  Maintains accurate Intake and Output on designated residents.

9.                  Understands the principles concerning special diets.

10.              Understands and applies nursing measures in the care of the incontinent resident.

11.              Places the resident on the bedpan, commode, or assists the resident to the bathroom.

12.              Becomes proficient in the following procedures with attention to technique, observation, reporting, and recording:

·         Cleansing enema

·         Retention enema

·         Harris Flush

·         Insertion of flatus tube

·         Colonic irrigation

·         Colostomy care and irrigation

·         Cauterization

·         Foley care

·         Observation of resident receiving intravenous therapy

13.              Turns, moves, positions, and supports residents

14.              Understands and applies the principles of body mechanics and body alignment.

15.              Assists the resident in or out of bed, wheelchair, or stretcher.

16.              Makes beds:  occupied/unoccupied, with oxygen or orthopedic equipment.

17.              Observes characteristics, reports, and records vital signs:

·         Temperature:  oral, rectal, auxiliary

·         Apical or radial pulse

·         Respirations

·         Blood pressure

18.              Assists the physicians or professional nurse with physicals, rectal or pelvic examinations, and special treatments or tests.

19.              Collects urine, sputum, and stool specimens.

20.              Performs, records and reports sugar and acetone tests.

21.              Performs foley care.

22.              Obtains urine specimens from a resident with a foley.

23.              Performs the following irrigations:

·         Eye, ear, nose, throat

·         Indwelling catheter

·         Vaginal

·         Perineal

24.              Application heat and cold:

·         Packs and compresses

·         Ice bags

·         Soaks

·         Hot water bottles

·         Alcohol and tepid sponge bath

25.              Performs bladder, eye, ear and nose instillations.

26.              Applies and changes dressings, bandages and binders.

27.              Administers selected oral, rectal, hypodermic and intramuscular medications.

28.              Cares for a resident with a communicable disease.

29.              Practices proper Isolation Technique.

30.              Assists with tub bath, shower, and sitz bath.

31.              Answers resident calls.

32.              Observes, records and reports abnormalities of the urine, stool and emesis.

33.              Assists residents with nourishment needs.

34.              Answers telephone, takes and relays messages, and calls the proper associate to the phone.

35.              Completes resident acre checklists and charts on assigned residents.

36.              Assists with preparation of the expired resident (Post-mortem care).

37.       Maintains a clean, neat and orderly medication cart.

38.       Maintains accurate admission and discharge reports.

39.       Keeps current the Resident Condition Report.

 B.        Evaluates nursing care:

1.         Identifies areas where self-improvement can be made.

2.       Observes the resident’s response to the plan of care.

3.         Seeks improvement of nursing care plan through discussion with co-workers.

4.         Adjusts the nursing care plan in light of new developments or new information.

5.      Evaluates the performance of the workers under his/her direction.

6.         Identifies the learning needs of the workers and refers this to the Director of Nursing.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY STANDARDS:
 
1.                  Functions as a Charge Nurse in charge of a nursing unit as assigned and assigns duties to aides and orderlies.
 
2.                  Contributes to the implementation of the philosophy and purpose of nursing.
 
3.                  Issues warning notices to employees under supervision without prior approval for employee violations of nursing home personnel policies or other improper conduct.
 
4.                  May suspend an employee and recommends termination for serious infractions.
 
5.                  Supervises the performance of aides and orderlies and responds to their complaints or suggestions as indicated.
 
6.                  Authorizes employees to leave work early.
 
7.                  Moves employees from unit to unit as needed.
 
8.                  Evaluates employee’s physical and mental capacity to perform their job each day and takes appropriate action when an employee is not able to properly perform.
 
9.                  Assists in the identification and evaluation of problems and their solutions.
 
10.              Promotes and insures conformity with departmental policies and procedures.
 
11.              Participates in the hiring and firing process.
 
12.              Assists in carrying out other related duties as designated by the Director of Nursing.
 
 
MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

·         Must be graduate of an accredited school of practical nursing

·         Licensure:                          Licensed in the State of as an LPN

·         Must have physical stamina and emotional maturity.

·         Must be dependable and must be prompt.

·         Must be alert and must be courteous.

·         Must be able to accept constructive criticism in a mature fashion.

·         Seeks further educational experiences.

·         Neat appearance, exhibited by proper uniform, including nursing cap and name pin, must be maintained.

·         Nails must be short and clean.  Polish may be worn if kept neatly.

·         Hair must be arranged neatly.

·         Since work requires close contact with others, we encourage the use of deodorant and discourage the use of heavy colognes which may be offensive to others.

·         Pins or other costume jewelry are not to be worn.

·         Cosmetics should be used attractively.

·         Skin test and/or chest x-ray and physical examination required.

·         Must be able to move and lift residents.

·         Must have adequate hearing and vision.

·         Must be neat and clean in appearance.

Freedom from illegal use of drugs, and freedom from use and effects of the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

Persons who have been found guilty by a court of law of abusing, neglecting or mistreating individuals in a health care related setting are ineligible for employment in this position.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE POSITION:

·         Considerable walking and standing.

·         Lifting and moving of patients.

·         Emergency situations arise which require immediate and effective response on the part of the nurse.

·         Judgment to refer situations beyond his/her ability or functions to the proper person.

·         Emergency situations may require service to go beyond the eight-hour tour of duty.

·         May be assigned to other than regular work area when needed.

ESSENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE POSITION:

·         Inside/Outside

·         Heat/Cold

·         Wet/Humidity

·         Noise/Vibrations

·         Fumes/Odors/Chemical Exposure

·         Other Hazards