The LPN is responsible for providing residents with the highest quality of direct care, under the supervision of the RN and in accordance with the WI BON standards, the Resident’s Bill of Rights and the facility Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program. The LPN participates in the development and modification of the resident Plan of Care, implementing interventions that are delegated, ordered or prescribed by the RN or physician. The LPN collects resident health data and compares to normal findings and the established current health status, reporting changes and/or responses to intervention in an ongoing manner to the RN. The LPN assigns and monitors nursing tasks or activities of unlicensed nursing staff through assessment of their knowledge, skill and capabilities, clarifying expectations, addressing behaviors or escalating. All nursing activities are performed to support residents in achieving and maintaining the highest practicable physical, mental and psychosocial well-being.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

Plans of care

• Conducts focused assessments if residents through collection and comparison of data sourced from resident, family interviews, observations and review of medical records.
• Uses data to participate in drafting of the integrated, resident Plan of Care
• Facilitates Plan of Care through completion of nursing responsibilities, clearly communicating resident needs to primary caregivers and reporting changes and responses to interventions to the RN.
• Maximizes quality of living through continual monitoring and reporting of resident care and correlated recommendations, ensuring all outcomes are thoroughly and accurately documented.

Ensuring Adequate and Proper Nursing Care

• Provides the highest quality care to all residents, without regard to race gender, sexual orientation, religion, age or differences in culture.
• Ensures integration and effectiveness of resident’s Plan of Care by implementing and assisting in evaluation of responses to nursing interventions while collaborating with the interdisciplinary care team.
• Provides information to residents regarding health promotion and disease prevention.
• Provides ongoing resident care under the scope the Resident’s Bill of Rights, immediately reporting any suspicions, reports or witnessed events of abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property.
• Maintains awareness of facility QAPI goals and abides by and promotes the QAPI program
• Displays and promotes a strong culture of customer service, ensuring a resident-centered experience
• Provides and ensures nursing activities are practiced in accordance with the Wisconsin BON standards while protecting resident’s dignity, privacy and autonomous decision-making whenever possible
• Interacts with resident’s families or support network, reporting any changes in health, treatment, care of living situation
• Recognizes limits of knowledge, skill and experience; facilitates situations beyond the LPN’s competency

Compliance-Safety, Documentation, HIPAA

• Ensures all call lights are promptly and courteously answered or immediately facilitates
• Uses and guides other nursing staff on using proper body mechanics at all times.
• Uses, observes and instructs nursing staff in safe lifting and care techniques including proper use of equipment
• Maintains knowledge of, promotes and follows Norther Lights Services safety policies, OSHA guidelines regarding bloodborne pathogens and Standard Precaution infection control policies to provide safe nursing care
• Maintains a safe, clean environment in resident rooms and facility following procedure to bag infectious linens and equipment or proper disposal of them; proper handwashing, disinfection/cleaning schedules
• Ensures physician orders are strictly followed, and that provisions are in place to assure compliance
• Ensures resident records are complete through systematic collection, reporting and documentation of data that is secure from unauthorized access and follows state and federal regulations, including HIPAA
• Gathers and documents data on admissions and discharges
• Documents all nursing orders that have been initiated
• Accurately complies with Northern Lights Services pharmaceutical policies including sign out and administration of medication; reporting and documenting medication errors; obtaining and transcribing physician orders; proper procedure for label changes and expirations; following controlled substance policies and end of shift count; documenting PRNs

Supervision and Management

• Evaluates supportive nursing staff practices, articulates expectations and provides corrective guidance
• Prioritizes work assignments consistent with number and level of staff available and resident care acuity
• Ensures proper staffing level
• Ensures duties are complete, following up with tasks and reviews departing staff reports
• Provides nursing order reports to nursing staff regarding daily resident care needs and significant changes in condition
• Maintains knowledge of disaster procedures and implements if needed

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Completion of a professional nursing education program approved by the Wisconsin Board of Nursing
• Current Wisconsin License as a Practical Nurse
• Current Certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and emergency care

Preferred

• Experience in skilled nursing and /or assisted living facilities

Required Skills and Abilities

• Leadership; achieves established goals through inspiration and loyalty of staff
• Resilience; ability to welcome constructive feedback, course correct and not take it personally
• Personability; ability to get along with all personality types and inspire trust with residents, staff, family
• High emotional intelligence (EQ)
• Ability to actively listen, with the goal of understanding
• Ability to clearly speak and proficiently read and write English