Licensed Practical Nurse New

Position Summary

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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Administrative Functions
• Direct the day-to-day functions of the nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations, and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility.
• Ensure that all nursing personnel assigned to you comply with the written policies and procedures established by this facility.
• Periodically review the department's policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc. Make recommendations for revisions.
• Meet with your assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts' services, programs, and activities.
• Ensure that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects the day-to-day nursing procedures performed in this facility.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing Service Procedures Manual.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations concerning the activities of your shift as required.
• Cooperate with other resident services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that the resident's total regimen of care is maintained.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions.
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's quality assurance program for the nursing service department.
• Participate in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as may be requested.
• Periodically review the resident's written discharge plan. Participate in the updating of the resident's written discharge plan as required.
• Assist in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan as necessary.
• Interpret the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and government agencies as required.
• Admit, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Complete accident/incident reports as necessary.
• Write resident charge slips and forward to the Business Office.
• Maintain the Daily Census Report and submit to the Business Office as required.
• Perform administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary.
• Agree not to disclose assigned user ID code and password for accessing resident/facility information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
• Agree not to disclose resident's protected health information and promptly report suspected or known violations of such disclosure to the Administrator.
• Report any known or suspected unauthorized attempt to access facility's information system.
• Charting and Documentation
• Complete and file required recordkeeping forms/charts upon the resident's admission, transfer, and/or discharge.
• Encourage attending physicians to review treatment plans, record and sign their orders, progress notes, etc., in accordance with established policies.
• Receive telephone orders from physicians and record on the Physicians' Order Form.
• Transcribe physician's orders to resident charts, cardex, medication cards, treatment/care plans, as required.
• Chart nurses' notes in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided to the resident, as well as the resident's response to the care.
• Fill out and complete accident/incident reports. Submit to Director as required.
• Chart all reports of accidents/incidents involving residents. Follow established procedures.
• Record new/changed diet orders. Forward information to the Food Services Department.
• Report all discrepancies noted concerning physician's orders, diet change, charting error, etc., to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Fill out and complete transfer forms in accordance with established procedures.
• Ensure that appropriate documentation concerning unauthorized discharges is entered in the resident's medical record in accordance with established procedures.
• Perform routine charting duties as required and in accordance with established charting and documentation policies and procedures.
• Sign and date all entries made in the resident's medical record.
• 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.
• Personnel Functions
• Participate in employee performance evaluations, determining your shift's staffing requirements, and making recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.
• Inform the Nurse Supervisor of staffing needs when assigned personnel fail to report to work.
• Report absentee call-ins to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Review and evaluate your department's work force and make recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Develop work assignments and/or assist in completing and performing such assignments.
• Provide leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift.
• Make daily rounds of your unit/shift to ensure that nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor.
• Ensure that all nursing assistants are enrolled in or have graduated from an approved nursing assistant training program.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Ability to read technical procedures.
• Ability to read and comprehend policy and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from managers and employees.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
• Must demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age-related needs of the residents served.
• Must be a supportive team member, contribute to and be an example of team work and team concept.
• 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 nursing care facilities.
• Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel.
• 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 not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday.
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.

Education & Experience

• Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/LVN program.
• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN/LVN in this state
• Current CPR certification.
• Knowledge and experience with PCC preferred.
• Must maintain all required continuing education/licensing.
• Must remain in good standing with the State Board of Nursing at all times.