Description

Title: Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) 

Department: Nursing 

Reports to: Director of Nursing 

Job Summary: 

The LVN is a professional care giver who assumes responsibility and accountability for a group of patients for a designated time frame and provides care to these patients via therapeutic use of self, the nursing process, the environment/instrumentation, and other health care team members under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities Performed: 

Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. 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 a logical assignment to the position. Plans patient care needs using an interdisciplinary approach. Follows shift specific responsibilities. 

Responsibilities: 

1. Count all narcotics/controlled substances at the beginning and end of each shift. 

2. Check assignment sheet at the beginning and end of each shift. 

3. Perform walking shift report at each patient’s bedside 7:00am, 3:00pm, and 11:00pm updating nurse coming on duty for any current changes in patient’s condition. 

4. Check MAR/TAR for meds to be given; treatments to be done. 

5. Administer all meds and treatments as prescribed by Doctor and document patient’s response to meds and treatments. 

6. Receive report from off-going nurse. Report exchange includes walking rounds, Kardex review, new orders review, skin and change of condition alerts. 

7. Do initial total body assessment on each patient. 

8. Provide respiratory treatments in the absence of a respiratory therapist to include respiratory treatments, O2 delivery and vent checks.

9. Make sure there are enough meds for incoming shift and the next day. Especially liquids, ointments, narcotics, and IV solutions. 

10. Document in patient’s chart every 2 hours or more often if needs. 

11. Check patient assignments and follow through with completion of all documents and Weekly Summary and Care plans as dictated in Policy and Procedure Manual. 

12. Notify charge nurse, physician, and responsible party of any changes in the patient’s condition. 

13. Complete verbal and written overview sheet with supervisor.

14. Demonstrate clinical competency in nursing care to technically dependent children (i.e.: children with tracheotomies, G-Tubes, J-Tubes) 

15. May start Peripheral IV lines after completing IV certification.

16. May flush and discontinue Peripheral IV lines excluding PICC lines. 

17. May hang basic IV solutions including those containing potassium, blood, and blood products per protocol. 

18. All other IV’s including pushes, TPN, Lipids, and antibiotics should be prepared for RN to hang. (ie- proper tubing, filters, saline, and heparin solutions should be ready). 

19. Check availability of all scheduled IV meds in refrigerator in IV room and inform RN. 

20. Check all infusing IV’s sites for redness, swelling, tenderness, every 2 hours. 

21. Check all other IV sites for redness, swelling, and drainage and report appropriately. 

22. Must complete IV documentation sheet and I and O sheet. 

23. Must have working knowledge of IV pumps in use in the facility. 

24. Will change dressing on all peripheral IV’s per protocol. 

25. Able to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action. 

26. Possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents family members and visitors to facility. 

27. Knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures as well as laws, regulations and guidelines that pertain to long term care. 

28. Possess leadership and supervisory ability and willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel. 

29. Possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures that are necessary for quality care. 

30. Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm as well as a willingness to handle difficult patients. 

31. Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices. 

32. Be able to relate appropriate information concerning a patient’s condition. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: 

Formal Education/Training/Licensure/Certification 

• Graduate of an accredited school of Vocational Nursing 
• Current Licensure in State of CA 
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care workers 
• Certified in Pediatric Emergency Assessment Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS)
• Proof of a minimum of six months experience of providing care to the types of pediatric subacute patients with technology dependency within the past two years upon hire; OR Proof of completion of at least 15 continuing education units specific to the provision of care to the critically ill child within a year of hire.
• One year previous Acute Care Pediatric Experience or equivalent experience in Pedi Sub-Acute preferred 

Physical Requirements: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to walk, sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel or crouch.
• The employee must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• The employee must be in good health and demonstrate emotional stability so that they are able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position. 
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Employee must be able to assist in evacuation of children during emergency situations. 

Work Environment: 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of radiation and vibration. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• The employee must be able to work near other co-employees and concentrate efforts on tasks despite noise, interruptions and general commotion. 

Contact Information: Human Resources Department, Children’s Health of Northern CA.