LPN-Med-Surg/Neurology/Oncology

Overview

Responsible for providing safe and reliable patient care, under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). Assists the RN in the nursing process, consistent with accepted and prevailing practice, which includes monitoring, observing, and reporting reactions to the patient’s plan of care. Performs tasks or skills which fall within the scope of practice of a licensed practical nurse.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.  

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:      

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.   

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.  

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.   

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.   

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. 

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Clinical Excellence

• Collaborates with healthcare team to provide patient care.
  • Consults with RN and/or other healthcare team members, as appropriate.
  • Obtains instruction and supervision, as necessary, when implementing new or unfamiliar nursing practices or techniques.
  • Shall have knowledge and understanding of the laws governing licensure and function within the legal boundaries of their discipline.
  • Complies with established department routines, policies and procedures.
• Contributes to the admission assessment process by collecting, reporting and recording objective and subjective data in an accurate and timely manner. Data collection includes:
  • Observation of patient
  • Noting change in condition
  • Signs and symptoms of deviation from normal health status
• Assists in the identification of appropriate patient care interventions to maintain comfort, support human functions and responses, and maintain an environment conducive to safety and well-being. Implements measures to promote a safe environment.
• Assists the healthcare team to achieve the patient care outcomes and goals of care.
• May receive telephone, verbal and written physician orders and process per hospital policy. May implement orders following RN acknowledgement.
• Administers medications, including IV fluids, and performs tasks within scope of practice.
• Integrates multidisciplinary approach to maintain comfort, support human functions and responses, and maintain an environment conductive to safety and well-being. Implements measures to promote a safe environment.
• Incorporates the St. Luke’s Hospital’s Comfort/C.A.R.E. Professional Practice Model into their daily nursing practice. Focuses plan of care on patient-centric goals.
• Focuses on patients’ care needs across all sites of care.
• Collaborates with the patient/family to anticipate steps needed to ensure safe transitions in care.

Effective Communication

• Informs assigned RN of any changes in patient condition in a timely manner.
• Collaborates with the RN and other healthcare team members to communicate progress towards agreed upon goal of care. Assists in updating the plan and goals of care to reflect changes in needs, under the direction of the RN.
• Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills with patients, families, healthcare team members and other customers.
• Demonstrates real-time EMR documentation in accordance with hospital and unit policies.
• Multidisciplinary patient charting is completed in real-time to assure that goals of care and patient outcomes are being achieved.
• Completes hand-offs with attention to detail and with safety as a priority..
• Communicates with providers during routine rounding and as needed.

Patient Education

• Integrates patient/family teaching throughout the hospitalization, including the overview of the plan and goals of care, pre- and post-operative procedures, diagnostic procedures and discharge teaching.
• Integrates preventative health maintenance into the education plan.
• Provides discharge instructions following review and signature of the RN.
• Assess and chooses teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
• Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
• Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately. 

Qualifications

• Completed an accredited LPN program and/or be eligible to take licensure exam
• Possess current LPN licensure in the State of Iowa or compact state
• Maintain current BLS certification
• Writes, reads, speaks, and comprehends fluent English
• Demonstrates proficiency in the manual skills and techniques required to perform basic nursing procedures and the operation of specialized equipment
• Ability to successfully complete a basic computer course on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) through in-hospital training.
• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.