Inpatient LPN

Job Summary:

Responsibilities:

• Involves patient/family in the development of care plan.
• Updates care plan daily.
• Proficiently prioritizes and performs direct care to patients according to policy.
• Explains and documents procedures and interventions.
• Identifies and performs appropriately in emergent situations.
• Assists multidisciplinary team with all processes related to patient care.
• Delegates responsibilities to staff based on patient needs and staff competencies.
• Utilizes and documents patient safety restraints per hospital policy.
• Performs all IV skills including starts according to unit policy.
• Accurately documents medications on medication administration record (MAR).
• Monitors patient's response to medications and reports appropriately.
• Reports medication errors and adverse reactions per hospital policy.
• Demonstrates knowledge concerning medications, including side effects.
• Educates patients.
• Safely administers blood and blood products per hospital policy.
• Verifies patient ID per hospital policy. Performs all PYXIS monitoring and counts per hospital policy.
• Determines patient/family educational readiness.
• Develops plan based on educational assessment.
• Documents educational plan, intervention and outcome.
• Provides patient with discharge instructions/education and facilitates a safe discharge.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited practical or vocational nursing program.

Languages:

• N/A

Certifications:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) through American Heart Association (AHA); Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) through American Heart Association (AHA) preferred if working a monitored unit;
• Florida Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license.
• IV Therapy certificate required within 3 months of hire.

Complexity of Work:

• All employees are expected to meet the standards of performance outlined in the Organizational-Wide Competencies listed below as applied to the position:
• World Class Service Orientation: Demonstrates courteous, polite, friendly and cooperative behaviors toward others.
• Supports and participates in activities that promote customer satisfaction.
• Utilizes approved hospital scripts.
• Courteously answers the telephone utilizing approved script (department, name and "How can I help you").
• Assists in answering call lights when on the nursing units (includes ancillary and non-patient care personnel).
• Answers call lights within 4 rings.
• Acknowledges patients/guests/others immediately upon entering the department/work area.
• Communicates and follows the organizational chain of command for notification of patient care/service issues, when appropriate. (Calls are answered within 4 rings.)
• Attitude: Chooses to have a positive attitude every day.
• Customer waiting: Updates waiting patient/family per protocol. (Scheduled visit every 10 minutes, unscheduled every 30 minutes.
• Adaptability: Exhibits good communication and listening skills.
• Speaks clearly, actively listens.
• Able to work with diverse populations (patient, staff, physicians) under difficult and stressful situations.
• Supports the team approach.
• Committed to Customer Service standards.
• Encourages patients and family members to ask questions.
• Avoids jargon.
• Teamwork: Understands and supports the needs of individuals in other departments, works as a team to achieve mutual goals.
• Offers assistance and promptly responds to requests (patient, physician, manager and others).
• Performs any other duties or responsibilities that may be assigned.
• Carries Spectralink phone at all times.
• Updates patient boards with numbers. (Appropriate personnel) Attends 90% of all staff meetings.
• Participates in coordination/delivery of approved Facility events.
• Efficiency and Effectiveness: Offers suggestions for departmental and/or hospital-wide performance/process improvement. Intervenes to correct problems (patient and system) as they occur.
• Notifies manager/director of actions and outcome.
• Participates in the performance/process improvement process.
• Completes required logs and quality controls as per hospital/department requirements (crash cart, 24 hour chart check, narcotic count, point of care testing, etc.).
• Work Habits: Readily accepts work assignments in a positive manner.
• Performs work that is accurate, neat and consistent.
• Documentation is legible.
• Safety: Keeps work area neat and maintains equipment in accordance with health and safety codes.
• Uses Standard precautions in all patient contacts.
• Provides a safe environment for patients/family and visitors, and reports safety issues and equipment failures appropriately.
• Confidentiality: Sensitive information including, but not limited to, patient records, charts, hospital documents and employee information is kept confidential without exception, according to HIPAA guidelines.
• Ensures that the rights of all patients are respected and maintained by allowing for privacy, cultural diversity and dignity in the provision of care.
• Demonstrates organizational skills in the form of prioritization and time management.
• Essential Job Requirements: Policies/Procedures: Is aware of and follows all hospital, corporate, regional, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Appearance: Projects a professional image, follows the hospital dress code policy and/or department requirements.
• Wears hospital ID badge at all times on duty.
• Attendance: Employee reports to work each regularly scheduled work day. Does not take advantage of sick time.
• Punctuality: Clocks in by the scheduled start time of the shift and is ready for work
• Continues working until scheduled departure time.
• Leaves as scheduled unless overtime is approved by supervisor.
• Managerial Responsibilities: Makes suggestions to reduce waste.
• Ensures that personnel and supplies of the organization are used in a cost effective manner. Identifies cost saving strategies for department/hospital. Submits accurate and timely hospital charges for department/hospital.
• Will take the time to speak with an employee (privately) if they observe or overhear that an employee is not being an ambassador of the hospital.
• Understands how individual job performance affects department and hospital growth.
• Identifies and communicates opportunities to improve service or care.
• Participates in hospital/departmental committees to improve service and streamline organizational processes.
• Note: The above stated duties are intended to outline those functions typically performed by individuals assigned to this classification.
• This description of duties is not intended to be all inclusive nor to limit the discretionary authority of supervisors to assign other tasks of similar nature or level of responsibility.

Work Experience:

• One year experience in an acute care setting is preferred.
• Knowledge of infection control practices.
• Knowledge of quality improvement practices.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires frequent walking from department to department; requires sitting at a workstation or desk; requires standing; work may include occasional pushing and/or pulling, lifting, and carrying objects weighing up to 50 lbs., such as files, documents and computer printouts.
• Work requires finger dexterity and eye/hand coordination to operate a computer keyboard at a moderate skill level.
• Mental Demands: Ability to work at a fast pace and prioritize multiple assignments/projects and respond to numerous requests; ability to resolve conflicts among staff and to work collaboratively with department directors, physicians and other members of the healthcare team; ability to ensure operational efficiency; ability to problem-solve and make decisions; ability to exercise self-control and tolerate stress when dealing with multiple requests and/or conflicting demands from multiple customers.
• Special Demands: Needs minimal sustained direction in assessing needs, directing staff and carrying out departmental and professional responsibilities.
• Self-starting and self-motivating; working hours may exceed eight (8) hours per day and is based on what is needed to accomplish work at hand.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required..