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.

Drug Administration Functions

• Prepare and administer medications as ordered by the physician.
• Verify the identity of the resident before administering the medication/treatment.
• Ensure that prescribed medication for one resident is not administered to another.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of floor stock medications, supplies, and equipment is on hand to meet the nursing needs of the residents. Report needs to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Order prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary, and in accordance with established policies.
• Ensure that narcotic records are accurate for your shift.
• Notify the Nurse Supervisor of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift.
• Review medication cards for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of the physician’s order, and adherence to stop order policies.
• Notify the attending physician of automatic stop orders prior to the last dosage being administered.
• Dispose of drugs and narcotics as required, and in accordance with established procedures.

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.

Staff Development

• Participate in developing, planning, conducting, and in-service training classes that provide instructions on “how to do the job,” and ensure a well-educated nursing service department.
• Implement and maintain an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to your shift, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties.
• Assist in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
• Assist in training department personnel in identifying tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids.
• Attend and participate in outside training programs.
• Attend and participate in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and blood borne pathogens standard.
• Attend and participate in continuing education programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status.

Safety and Sanitation

• Monitor your assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Ensure that your assigned nursing personnel follow established departmental policies and procedures, including dress codes.
• Assist the Director and/or Infection Control Coordinator in identifying, evaluating, and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Ensure that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment are on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids.
• Ensure that your assigned work areas (i.e., nurses’ stations, medicine preparation rooms, etc.) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Ensure that your unit’s resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner.
• Ensure that your assigned personnel follow established hand washing techniques in the administering of nursing care procedures.
• Ensure that your assigned personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the infection control program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel.
• Ensure that your assigned personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary.
• Ensure that nursing personnel follow established procedures in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
• Participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of the procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving residents.
• Report missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person.

Equipment and Supplies

• Recommend to the Nurse Supervisor the equipment and supply needs of you unit/shift.
• Ensure that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on your unit/shift at all times to meet the needs of the residents.
• Participate in the development and implementation of the procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment.
• Ensure that all personnel operate nursing service equipment in a safe manner.
• Monitor nursing procedures to ensure that nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste.

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.

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.

Specific Requirements

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN/LVN in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel, and the general public.
• Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care.
• Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.