Licensed Practical Nurse

NATURE OF POSITION
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) functions as a key member of an interdisciplinary team and supports integrated, patient-centered care delivery in both primary care and behavioral health settings. This position supports medical and psychiatric medication management, counseling coordination, preventive services, chronic disease management, and whole-person care. This role requires flexibility, strong clinical judgment, trauma-informed care skills, and a commitment to serving underserved populations.

QUALIFICATIONS
A.  An unrestricted LPN licensed to practice in the state of Oklahoma.
B.  Current BLS/CPR certification.
C.  Experience in ambulatory care setting.
D.  Possesses strong clinical skills and competency in ambulatory care.
E.   Strong interest in working with an interdisciplinary health team and culturally diverse patient populations.

SALARY GRADE AND CALSSIFCATION:  Non-Exempt

RESPONSIBLE TO:  Site Manager / DON

SUPPORTIVE CHARGE RESPONSIBILITIES
A.   Works in harmony with others, exhibits a positive attitude and commitment to the health center mission.
B.   Knowledgeable of the scope of practice for all nursing disciplines as described by the Nursing Practice. Follows policy and procedures of FMFI.
C.   Demonstrates the ability to effectively organize and prioritize work and utilize available resources to assist with efficient patient flow in the clinic.
D.   Demonstrates understanding of appropriate nurse to provider ratios, skill levels, and cost effectiveness strategies.
E.    Actively assists with routine clinic tasks. Utilizes established methods to ensure consistency in maintaining emergency supplies, stock medications, immunizations, forms, sterile instrument inventory, equipment, and appropriate exam room inventory, etc.
F.    Actions show commitment to team effort, works well with others, supports group objectives, participate in staff meetings and team problem-solving.
G.   Participate in emergency preparedness, safety protocols, and de-escalation procedures as trained.
H.   Participate in team huddles, case conferences, and population health activities as assigned.
I.     Assists in the orientation of new nursing employees.

DIRECT AND INDIRECT PATIENT CARE/CLINIC RESPONSIBILITIES
A.  Obtain and document vital signs, medical histories, chief complaints, and screening data.
B.  Accurately assesses current status as well as preventive health status and communicates needs to provider.
C.  Provide patient education related to medications, chronic disease management, preventative care, and treatment plans.
D.  Provides skilled nursing care as demonstrated by safely and accurately performing technical skills (sterile dressings, EKGs, pulmonary treatments, etc.) and the safe, accurate administration of medications, IV fluids, and immunizations.
E.   Anticipates the needs of providers related to patient visits and assists providers with patient care.
F.   Assumes role of advocate to ensure health needs are met including responding to patient phone messages and requests in a timely and professional manner.

G.  Documents all provider orders, nursing actions, and interventions on patient record consistent with health center guidelines.
H.  Coordinate referrals, diagnostic testing, and follow-up appointments.
I.    Assists with patient triage on-site and via telephone for appropriateness and timeliness of care per approved triage protocols and standing orders.
J.   Knowledgeable of and follows all established Infection Control guidelines and OSHA standards and participates in staff training events.
K.  Collaborate with medical, behavioral health, dental, and case management teams.
L.   Performs laboratory testing, including proper handling and labeling of all test samples according to health center policies and in compliance with CLIA guidelines.
M. Keeps patients/families informed of situations that affect patients’ clinic visit, i.e. extended waiting times, seeing provider other than originally scheduled, etc.
N.  Able to perform effectively and appropriately in emergency situations.
O.  Floats to satellite sites as needed.
P.   Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATION MANAGMENT
A.   Prepare patients for psychiatric medication management appointments.
B.    Administer long-acting injectable antipsychotics and other prescribed psychiatric medications.
C.    Monitor and document medication side effects and therapeutic response.
D.   Conduct standardized screening tools, including but not limited to:

o  PHQ-9
o  GAD-7
o  Substance use screenings
E.    Assist with suicide risk screening under provider guidance.
F.    Provide education regarding psychotropic medications.
G.   Support crisis response procedures per clinic policy.
H.   Coordinate refills, prior authorizations, and medication assistance programs.
I.     Monitor lab work required for psychiatric medication management (e.g., metabolic labs).
J.     Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality related to sensitive behavioral health information.

DOCUMENTATION & COMPLIANCE
A.  Document patient encounters accurately and timely in the electronic health record (EHR).
B.  Comply with organizational policies and procedures, HIPAA, OSHA, and infection control standards.
C.  Follow privacy and confidentiality requirements, including heightened protections for behavioral health information.
D.  Support quality improvement initiatives, audits, and performance metrics (e.g., UDS reporting).

MAINTAINS PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
A.  Maintains current licensure, required training and credentialing.
B.   Assists in identifying the center needs related to any aspect of patient care and customer service.
C.   Demonstrates flexibility in work roles and schedules to meet the changing needs of the center.
D.  Maintains awareness of new information applicable to job, i.e. policies, meeting minutes, procedures, memos, and protocols.
E.   Utilizes slow time constructively to enhance center operations and assists other departments when time and workload permits.
F.   Maintains professional appearance; follows established dress code.
G.  Promptly informs supervisor of real or potential clinic problems.
H.  Actively pursues continuing education in order to improve job skills or performance.
I.    Ability to identify own areas of needed improvement and formulates goals to work toward.
J.    Utilizes appropriate methods to deal with stressful situations.
K.  Understands and supports organizational goals.
L.   Meets work schedules, fulfills responsibilities and commitments, i.e. attendance, punctuality, dependability, initiative, productivity and efficiency.
M.  Age Specific Competencies Infants through Adolescents.
N.  Age Specific Competencies – Adult.