Licensed Practical Nurse - Evening Shift

BETHESDA 
 LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE
 JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary: Provides quality, efficient, and loving care to each resident in a personalized way. Administrates medications and performs treatments as ordered by physicians. Informs physicians and families of changes in physical or mental conditions. Insures the safety and wellness of each resident and promotes healing, strives to make the lives of each resident as comfortable and happy as possible. Through close and direct supervision of nursing assistants, promotes high quality nursing care. Provides direction, re-direction, correction, and instruction to nursing assistants. Through cooperation with the Case Managers and RN Supervisors, formulates and directs all cares of assigned residents, to insure quality care. Assists supervisor in keeping close daily contact with the needs of the residents. 

Job Relationships: 

1. Reports to: Case Manager or RN Supervisor
2. Secondary Reporting to: Director of Nursing or Assistant Director of Nursing
3. Interrelationships with: Other nursing staff, Department Directors, Dietary Department, Transportation Aides, Medical Secretary, Activity Department, Chaplain, Social Services, Housekeepers, Laundry, Maintenance, and Administrator
4. Internal Relationships: Residents and their families
5. External Contacts: Visitors to the building, physicians and other health care personnel, and volunteers
6. Supervisory Responsibilities: Nursing Assistants

Dress Code: Clean, fitted scrubs in solid colors or simple patterns. Bethesda shirts.  Footwear: Closed-toe, comfortable, slip-resistant shoes. Hair and Hygiene: Maintain a high standard of cleanliness, oral hygiene and deodorant. Neatly tied back if long.  Identification: Visible name badge, worn on chest area. PPE: Compliance with facility guidelines for masks, gloves, goggles, etc. if applicable. Piercings: Covered or removed if posing infection or safety risk. Tattoos: Covered or removed if posing infection or safety risk. General Appearance: Clean, unwrinkled scrubs. Minimal jewelry/accessories. Nails must be kept clean and neatly trimmed or filed. Jeans with no holes or rips on Fridays.. 

Hours of Work: Shift work will vary depending on shift. Typically:

• Day: 06:00AM-02:30PM
• Evening: 02:00PM-10:30PM
• Night: 10:00PM – 06:30AM

Requirements: (Minimum qualifications necessary to function at full productivity). 

1. Education
   1. Graduate from approved school for Practical Nursing and currently licensed in the State of Minnesota
   2. Maintaining 12 continuing education credits every two-years. 
   3. Attending in-services and workshops to update knowledge of all nursing procedures and medications. 
   4. Knowledge of nursing home regulations and requirements.
2. Experience: 
   1. Experience to provide knowledge of all basic nursing procedures and how they are done properly
   2. Experience in the proper administration of medication
   3. Knowledge and ability to perform CPR when needed. 
3. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities for Full Performance. 
   1. Working knowledge of medications and proper administration.
   2. Ability to foster independent self-respect and self-worth in each resident by consistent understanding and kindness.
   3. Proficient in basic communication skills.
   4. Must read and understand instructions.
   5. Must write legibly.
   6. Must follow oral directions consistently.
   7. Must give clean and concise oral directions.
   8. Knowledge of proper treatment and procedures.
   9. Knowledge of residents served and their basic needs.
   10. Knowledge of gerontology.
   11. Well-developed management skills.
   12. Effective listening and communication skills.
   13. Ability to foster teamwork.
   14. Ability to coach staff to higher performance levels.
4. Personal:
   1. Ability to read and follow oral and written English
   2. Ability to deliver oral and written communications
   3. Detail-orientated to insure no medication errors
   4. Well-developed time-management skills-able to prioritize and delegate. 
   5. Interest in gerontology
   6. Have a professional image
   7. Ability to be calm and level headed
   8. Have common sense and moral integrity
   9. Ability to ensure confidentiality
   10. Ability to communicate difficult issues in a tactful manner
   11. Ability to learn from mistakes
   12. Provide a pleasant attitude and cheerful disposition towards staff, visitors, and resident’s
   13. Arrive to work and depart from work on a timely basis
   14. Ability to use a computer

Physical Demands of the Job:

1. Prolonged walking and standing
2. Stooping, bending and twisting occasionally
3. Patient handlers must sign & comply with the Skilled Nursing Facility Safe Patient Handling Policy
4. Pushing/pulling movements occasionally

Mental Demands of the Job:

1. High degree of accuracy 
2. Accuracy in ordering medications
3. Working in an environment with many residents who exhibit a wide range of emotions and needs, including occasionally aggressive behavior
4. Ability to work within time restraints
5. Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions, having skills to prioritize job duties
6. Ability to change work assignments with short notice

Principle Job Responsibilities:

Tasks: 

1. Administer medications by mouth or directly to the skin, eyes, ears, nose, or rectum.
2. Use the six rights at all times (Right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, right record)
3. Comply with governmental regulations when administering medications including the necessary recording for controlled substances
4. Uses standard medication references
5. Medications can be given up to ½ hour before or after scheduled dose
6. Crush medication as needed. 
7. Observe residents for properly taking medications
8. Sign and document on medication administration record MAR
9. Set up med cart with needed supplies, re-stock, and clean at the end of shift together with another nurse or TMA; sign book. 
10. Count and be responsible for narcotics at the beginning and end of shift together with another nurse or TMA, sign book.
11. Check note, follow through and order medication with new physician’s order, making sure order is complete and correct
12. Assist TMA’s with medication administration 

Job Responsibility: Appropriately and safely do procedures and treatments as ordered by physician or per plan of care. 

Tasks: 

1. Perform treatments as listed on MAR or “To Do” list as ordered.
2. Obtain equipment, explain procedure to resident, follow proper policy and procedure, observe resident’s status and response to treatment and document results. 
3. Procedures and treatments include:
   1. Dressing changes
   2. Catheterizations-men and women
   3. Tube feedings
   4. Trachea care
   5. IV administration and site care
   6. Vitals 
   7. Respiratory therapy including nebulizer treatments
   8. Blood glucose monitoring

Tasks:

1. Know and implement nursing procedures correctly.
2. Administer all ordered medications according to procedure.
   1. Glucometer checks and giving insulin.
3. Administer or is responsible for all nursing treatments and initiates accordingly.
4. Monitors resident health status and acts accordingly.
5. Assist RN supervisor in the admission and discharge of each resident.
6. Assist RN supervisor in assessing the needs of the resident, i.e. rehab, diet spiritual, social.
7. Document all incidents (resident and employee) and fill out report.
8. Promote resident and employee safety.
9. Count narcotics with licensed nurse daily.
10. Take vitals on all seriously ill residents.
11. Support the terminal resident in a dignified death.
12. Provide aseptic techniques to prevent spread of disease and infection.
13. Ensure privacy for residents and visitors.
14. Follow through with items on the 24-hour report.
15. Perform CPR according to procedure.

Job Responsibility: Monitoring of Nursing Assistants

Tasks:

1. Monitor all cares given by aides.
2. Assist aides in learning new procedures.
3. Coordinate teamwork between aides and other staff.
4. Report any problems to supervisor.
5. Monitor answering of lights and assist as necessary. 
6. Monitor meals and assist with feeding if necessary.
   1. Insure HS nourishments are passed and offered.
7. Monitor work performance on a daily basis providing positive feedback.
8. Correct performance problems on a timely basis.
   1. Initiate corrective action if needed.
9. Ensure confidentiality of self and staff.
10. Conduct performance evaluations on a regular basis.
11. Facilitate return to work program for staff on Worker’s Compensation.

Job Responsibility: Communication and Documentation

Tasks:

1. Reports to on-coming LPN/RN/TMA.
2. Give report to aides at start of shift. Take report from aides at end of shift.
3. Communicate to other departments any pertinent information.
4. Cooperate with other departments in providing holistic care.
5. Inform family of any change regarding resident and report to supervisor.
6. Call physician as needed, in absence of RN.
7. Answer telephone and relays messages.
8. In absence of RN Supervisor
   1. Make rounds with physicians and document any pertinent information.
   2. Transcribe orders.
   3. Complete transfer form and send all pertinent information with resident.
9. Replace staff when needed and signs return to work slips.
10. Report and document any verbal or physical abuse to resident.
11. Document on assigned residents using care plan.
12. Document daily any pertinent change in resident’s condition or behavior. 

Professional and Personal Growth:

1. Attend in-services on regular basis.
2. Participate in continuing education workshops pertinent to work area.
3. Keep current any reading material in LPN field.
4. Keep current on all new medications.
5. Participate in the performance evaluation process.
6. Write yearly goals. 
7. Work towards improvement in your performance of duties.