Minidoka Memorial Hospital

Job Description

Job Title: Licensed Practical Nurse

Department: Med-Surg / Swing / Surgical

Reports To: RN Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Summary

Provides direct and indirect patient care in the swing bed setting with potential for need to cross train in the medical-surgical setting as well. Communicates with physicians/Nurse Manager/co-workers, as appropriate about changes in patient’s clinical condition including results of diagnostic studies and symptomatology. Is able to respond quickly and accurately to changes in condition or response to treatment. Additionally, is able to perform general nursing duties in all departments with adequate supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of the patient and their clinical condition.

• Follows the seven (7) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
• Ability to monitor hemodynamic status of patient and correctly interpret the results.
• Ability to perform a head-to-toe assessment on all patients and reassessments as per policy. This includes geriatric and the general patient population.
• Ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Ability to interpret results of waived tests; take appropriate action on waived tests results.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
• Under to direction of the RN Charge Nurse, formulate an individualized plan of care, revise plan as indicated by the patient’s response to treatment and evaluate overall plan daily for effectiveness.
• Formulates a teaching plan based upon identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning, family is included in teaching as appropriate.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cardiac monitoring identifies dysrhythmias and treats appropriately based upon ACLS protocol. It is preferred for ACLS training to occur within the first 6 months of starting on swing bed unit.
• Provides care to patients with compromised nutritional/metabolic status.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to charge nurse, co-workers and physicians.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Provides care appropriate to disease condition and age of the patient.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care as necessary.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function well under stressful situations.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families. Functions as a liaison between administration, patients, physicians and other healthcare providers.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and the skills necessary to provide age appropriate care to the patient population served. Able to interpret data about the patient’s status in order to identify each patient’s age specific needs and provide care needed by the patient group.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments.
• Documentation meets current standards and policies.
• Participates in performance improvement activities.
• Completes annual education requirements.
• Maintains regulatory requirements, including all federal, state, local regulations and accrediting organization standards.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Current state Licensed Practical Nurse Licensure in Idaho
• Current BLS certification

Preferred Requirements

• Bilingual (Spanish and English)
• Current ACLS certification

Skills/Competencies

• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Read, write, and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos in English.
• Effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

• Add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Basic computer knowledge.

• Compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

• Apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form and deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Requirements

Perceive the nature of sounds by the ear, express or exchange ideas by means of spoken word, perceive characteristics of objects through the eyes, extend arms and hands in any direction, seize, hold, grasp, turn, or otherwise work with hands, pick, pinch, or otherwise work with fingers, perceive such attributes of objects or materials as size, shape, temperature, or texture; and stoop, kneel crouch, and crawl. Must be able to lift 50 pounds maximum with frequent lifting, carrying pushing, and pulling of objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Continuous walking and standing. Must be able to identify, match, and distinguish colors. Rare lifting of greater than 100 pounds.