The Licensed Practical Nurse provides direct and indirect care for an assigned group of patients under the supervision of the Registered Nurse in accordance with the LPN Practice Act. Follow the home care /hospice policies, procedures, protocols and professional standards of care.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending education workshops, review professional publications, establish personal networks, and participate in professional societies.
• Assure quality of care by adhering to therapeutic standards, measuring health outcomes against patient care goals and standards, making or recommending necessary adjustments, and following system/hospital and nursing division's philosophies and standards of care set by state board of nursing, state nurse practice act, and other governing agency regulations.
• Protect patients and employees by adhering to infection-control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations.
• Document patient care services by charting in patient and department records.
• Maintain continuity among nursing teams by documenting and communicating actions, irregularities, and continuing needs using Nurse Knowledge Exchange techniques.
• Maintain patient confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Identify patient care requirements by establishing personal rapport with potential and actual patients, and other persons in a position to understand care requirements.
• Establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional, psychological, and spiritual support to patients, friends, and families.
• Promote patient's independence by establishing patient care goals, teaching patient/family to understand condition, medications, and self-care skills, and answering questions.
• Maintain safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations; calling for assistance from health care support personnel.
• Resolve patient problems and needs by utilizing multidisciplinary team strategies.
• Maintain a cooperative relationship among health care teams by communicating information, responding to requests, building rapport, and participating in team continuous quality improvement and problem-solving methods.
• Contribute to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Ensure operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements by following manufacturer's instructions, troubleshooting malfunctions, calling for repairs, maintaining equipment inventories, and evaluating new equipment and techniques.
• Maintain nursing supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level, anticipating needed supplies, placing and expediting orders for supplies, verifying receipt of supplies, and using equipment and supplies as needed to accomplish job results.
• Cognitive ability to function and concentrate on the essential and specialty functions of the job at a high level.
• Achieves thoroughness and accuracy when accomplishing an essential or specialty function of the job.
• Ability to think and concentrate for an entire shift.

Specialty Job Functions

• Hospice LPN will maintain and demonstrate an understanding of the Hospice benefit and comply with regulatory conditions of participation.
• Hospice LPN will function as a support nurse and core member of the Interdisciplinary Group.
• Hospice LPN will assist with the development of the plan of care that addresses the physical, psychosocial, emotional, and spiritual needs of the terminally ill patient and their family.
• Hospice LPN will follow established guidelines for pain and symptom management to enhance quality of life.
• Hospice LPN will educate patients/families regarding the care needs at the end-of-life, including palliative care measures.
• Hospice LPN will under the direction of the RN, provide Continuous care services when appropriate.
• Home Care LPN will maintain and demonstrate an understanding of Home Care requirements including homebound status of the patient.
• Home Care LPN will report status of all patients to the primary RN Case Manager.
• Home Care LPN will utilize sound problem solving techniques when confronted with unusual and unexpected situations.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of Practical Nursing.

• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent thinking and decision-making ability, analytical problem solving skills, sound judgment, excellent oral and written communication skills, must be able to function in a team environment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.

Preferred Qualifications

• Home Care/Hospice experience preferred one (1) year experience.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current licensure to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the State of Pennsylvania required.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program required.
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance

• Valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License (if out of state hire current Department of Motor Vehicle record report required and obtain PA Current Driver License within 30 days of hire).

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, but may serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Regular, consistent, on-site and timely attendance.
• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between Excela Health locations.

LEAN

• Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one’s own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to Excela’s missions, vision and values.

AAP/EEO

• Excela Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Excela Health to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Excela Health will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required

Skills

Required

Required