PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB POSITION

The primary purpose of your job position is to provide direct nursing care to the residents, and to supervise the day-to-day nursing activities performed by nursing assistants. Such supervision must be in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations that govern our facility, and as may be required by the Director of Nursing Services or Nurse Supervisor to ensure that the highest degree of quality care is maintained at all times.

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY:

As Licensed Practical Nurse you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties, in accordance with state requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS STATEMENT:

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

Nursing Care Functions

• Inform nursing personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.
• Ensure that rooms are ready for new admissions.
• Participate in the orientation of new residents/family members to the facility.
• Make rounds with physicians as necessary.
• Requisition and arrange for diagnostic and therapeutic services, as ordered by the physician, and in accordance with our established procedures.
• Consult with the resident’s physician in providing the resident’s care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., as necessary.
• Review the resident’s chart for specific treatments, medication orders, diets, etc., as necessary.
• Implement and maintain established nursing objectives and standards in accordance with the plan of care.
• Make periodic checks to ensure that certified nursing assistants are properly administering prescribed treatments and to evaluate the resident’s physical and emotional status.
• Cooperate with the coordinate social and activity programs with nursing service schedules.
• Notify the resident’s attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident’s condition.
• Carry out restorative and rehabilitative programs, to include self-help and care.
• Inspect the nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner.
• Administer professional services such as; catheterization, tube feedings, suction, applying and changing dressings/bandages, packs, colostomy, and drainage bags, taking blood, giving massages and range of motion exercises, care for the dead/dying, etc., as required and authorized within the scope of practice for LPNs as defined by the Ohio Nurse Practice Act .
• Use restraints when necessary and in accordance with established policies and procedures in accordance with the plan of care.
• Obtain sputum, urine and other specimens for lab tests as ordered.
• Take and record TPRs, blood pressures, etc., as necessary.
• Monitor seriously ill residents as necessary.
• Check foods brought into the facility by the resident’s family/visitors to ensure that it is within the resident’s dietary allowances. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor and Dietary Supervisor.
• Ensure that personnel providing direct care to residents are providing such care in accordance with the resident’s care plan and wishes.
• Ensure that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently.
• Meet with residents, and/or family members, as necessary. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Admit, transfer and discharge residents as necessary.
• Assist in arranging transportation for discharged residents as necessary.
• Ensure that discharged residents are escorted to the pick-up area.
• Inform family members of the death of the resident.
• Call funeral homes when requested by the family. Ensure that established post-mortem procedures are followed.

Care Plan Functions

• Review care plans to ensure that care in accordance with the plan of care. Inform the RN Nurse Supervisor of any observations, health information or data that may indicate that changes need to be made on the care plan.
• Ensure that your nurses’ notes reflect that the care plan is being followed when administering nursing care or treatment.
• Ensure that your assigned certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are aware of the resident care plans.
• Assist the Resident Assessment/Care Plan Coordinator in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and
• Triggers by providing health information from data collection and observations.

Resident Rights

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident care information.
• Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect.
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock before entering the resident’s room.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents’ responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Nurse Supervisor indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow the facility’s established procedures.
• Maintain a written record of the resident’s complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint.
• Report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property.
• Ensure that nursing staff personnel honor the resident’s refusal of treatment request. Ensure that such requests are in accordance with the facility’s policies governing advance directives.

Working Conditions

• Works in office area(s) as well as throughout the nursing service area (i.e., drug rooms, nurses’ stations, resident rooms, etc.).
• Moves intermittently during working hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to callback during emergency conditions (e.g., severe weather, evacuation, post disaster, etc.).
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents’ needs.

Education

• Must possess, as a minimum, be a graduate of an approved LPN/LVN program.
• Participation in continuing education classes, workshops and seminars affiliated with outside nursing organizations desirable.

Experience

• On-the-job training provided.