LPN Unit Coordinator

JOB SUMMARY:

The primary purpose of the LPN Unit Coordinator position is to coordinate the clinical applications and facility operations on a 24/7 basis for an assigned unit in the facility.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative Functions

• Assist the Director of Nursing (or designee) and facility administrator in directing the day-to-day functions of the facility’s nursing services and other areas of facility operations, per assigned unit.
• Ensure that a copy of the Clinical Systems Manual is available at each nursing station, is current and reflects the day-to-day nursing procedures performed at this facility.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Clinical Systems Manual.
• Make written and oral reports/recommendations to the DON or designee concerning operation of the assigned unit.
• Assist in coordinating nursing services with other resident services to ensure the continuity of the residents’ plans of care.
• Participate in the implementation and evaluation of the unit’s Quality Assurance Performance Improvement program.
• Participate in facility surveys made by authorized government agencies as requested.
• Review the resident’s written discharge plan. Participate in the updating of the resident’s written discharge plan as required, implementing eInteract.
• Meet with the nursing staff, and other departmental representatives, to plan and coordinate unit services, programs and activities.
• Assist with the admission, transfer, and discharge residents as required.
• Respond to reports of resident, employee and/or visitor accidents, incidents or unusual circumstances. Ensure that required documentation is made and that the initial investigation is initiated and then completed and reported to appropriate persons.
• Implement department and facility policies and procedures under the direction of the DON or designee personnel, residents, visitors, and government personnel as required.
• Make daily rounds of the unit to ensure that all nursing personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards of practice and in accordance with all federal and state licensure regulations.
• Perform other administrative duties as requested by the DON or designee.
• Review and revise unit staffing to ensure adequate coverage to meet resident needs with the DON or designee.

Committee Functions

• Participate actively in various committee meetings of the department and/or unit as requested by the DON or designee.
• Communicate and assist with implementation of recommendations from established committees.

Human Resource Functions

• Ensure that a sufficient number of qualified RNs, LPNs and CNAs are available to ensure quality care is delivered.
• Develop or assist in the development of work assignments for nursing service personnel.
• Participate in the Orientation program for new associates and provide oversight to competency under direction of the DON or designee.
• Delegate to each Charge Nurse the authority, responsibility and accountability necessary to perform his or her assigned duties.
• Assist the Nurse Educator in developing and presenting in-service programs. Ensure that these programs meet the continuing education requirements necessary for continued licensure and certification.
• Monitor absenteeism based on absentee reports for individual associates.
• Review complaints and grievances made by department personnel.
• Develop and maintain a good working rapport with other departments to ensure that nursing services are coordinated with other resident services with the goal of meeting the residents’ needs.
• Meet with unit staff on a regularly scheduled basis to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas and to assist in the improvement of services. Communication with the DON or designee the problem areas as necessary.
• Review nursing service staffing patterns and make recommendations to the DON or designee for revisions, as appropriate.
• Participate in associate performance evaluations as requested.
• Ensure that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and in compliance with established disciplinary procedures in collaboration with the DON or designee
• Create and maintain an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest and positive emphasis, as well as a calm, quiet environment throughout the facility
• Report occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility’s policies and procedures.

Nursing Care Functions

• Implement and maintain established clinical objectives, consistent with federal and state licensure regulations and nursing standards of practice.
• Follow the facility’s clinical standardas governing the provision of direct care to residents, including the administration of medications, treatments and other care in accordance with physicians’ orders and the residents’ care plans.
• Encourage attending physicians to sign progress notes, physician’s orders, etc. on a timely basis and according to regulations.
• Inform the DON or designee when physician visits are not made in a timely manner.
• Consult with the resident, his or her family, the resident’s physician and other members of the interdisciplinary care team in planning the resident’s care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc.
• Visit residents on a regular basis in order to observe and observe each resident’s physical, mental, cognitive, psychosocial and emotional status and notify the resident’s attending physician and responsible party when there is a significant change in a resident’s condition.
• Review nurses’ notes to ensure that they are informative and descriptive of the nursing care being provided, timley, and that they reflect the resident’s response to the care, and that such care is provided in accordance with the resident’s wishes.
• Provide direct nursing care support to nurses and CNTs, as appropriate.
• Report problem areas to the DON or designee and assist in developing corrective action.
• Keep the DON or designee informed of the status of residents and other related matters through written/oral reports and telephone reports as needed.
• Monitor seriously ill and/or residents with complex needs to ensure needs are met and collaborate with the DON or desinee as needed.
• Ensure that all nurses on your shift comply with written procedures for the administration, storage, and control of medications and supplies.
• Monitor medication passes and treatment schedules to ensure that medications are being administered as ordered and that treatments are provided as scheduled and Medselect utilized appropriately.
• Review medication orders for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of physician orders, and adherence to stop order policies. Audit missing documentation reports daily and coordinate corrections in collaboration with the DON or designeeas needed.
• Inspect the treatment carts and medication carts/rooms on at least a weekly basis to ensure that they are maintained in a clean, safe and appropriately stocked condition.
• Meet with residents, and/or family members, as necessary. Report complaints/concerns to the DON or designee.

Care Plan and Assessment Functions

• Participate in the development of written preliminary and comprehensive assessments of the nursing needs of each resident as necessary.
• Participate in the development and/or revision of an interim and comprehensive plan of care for each resident that identifies the problems/needs of the resident, goals and interventions.
• Ensure that all personnel involved in providing resident care are adhering to the resident’s care plan.

Safety and Sanitation Functions

• Assist the DON or designee in identifying, evaluating and classifying routine and job-related functions to ensure
• that tasks in which there is potential exposure to blood/body fluids are properly identified and recorded.
• Ensure that all personnel who are performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate training prior to performing such tasks and that nursing personnel follow established Universal Precautions and safety procedures.
• Ensure that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is on hand and readily available to personnel.
• Ensure that personnel follow established procedures for the use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
• Monitor personnel to ensure that they are following established safety procedures in the use of equipment and supplies.
• Ensure that work areas are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
• Participate in the development, implementation and maintenance of the infection control program.

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Recommend to the DON or designee the equipment and supplies needed by the unit and ensure that an adequate level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc. is maintained on the unit at all times.
• Monitor nursing procedures to ensure that nursing supplies are used in an appropriate and efficient manner to avoid waste.
• Ensure that the crash cart is clean and adequately stocked and prepared each day.

Resident Rights Responsibilities

• Maintain the confidentiality of all resident information.
• Monitor nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated equally, and with kindness, dignity and respect.
• Ensure that all nursing care is provided in accordance with HIPAA and regulatory standards.
• Ensure that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents’ responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment.
• Review complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Director of Nursing or designee indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance.
• Document, report and investigate all allegations of resident abuse, neglect and/or misappropriation of resident property.
• Ensure that nursing staff honors the resident’s refusal of treatment requests. Ensure that such requests are in accordance with the facility’s policies governing advance directives.

Working Conditions

• Works throughout the nursing unit (medication rooms, nurses’ station, resident rooms, etc.)as well as other areas of the facility.
• Moves intermittently during work hours.
• Is subject to frequent interruptions.
• Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, under all conditions and circumstances.
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel and visitors.
• Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel and other department supervisors.
• Works beyond normal working hours and in other positions temporarily, when necessary.
• Is subject to callback during emergency conditions.
• Attends and participates in continuing educational programs.
• Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc. including TB and the AIDS and Hepatitis B viruses.
• Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the workday, as well as to reactions from dust, plastics, synthetics, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other potential contaminants.
• May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
• Maintains a liaison with the resident, their families, support departments, etc. to adequately plan for the residents’ needs.

Staff Development Functions

• Evaluates staff competency in collaboration with the DON or designe during care delivery and provides individual, small group and large group education as indicated.
• Reports to DON or designee.
• Reports identified educations needs to Nurse Educator or designee.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education

• Must possess an LPN Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved diploma program.
• Should be actively enrolled in an accredited RN program and pursuing an RN license.

Experience

• Must have a minimum of one (1) year of nursing leadership experience in a clinical setting.
• Must have a minimum of three (3) years of experience as a staff nurse in a long-term care facility.
• Training in rehabilitative and restorative nursing practices preferred.

Specific Requirements

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN in this state.
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
• Must display professionalism both in appearance and attitude.
• Must possess the ability to solve problems and make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action.
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agency 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 long-term care.
• Must possess the ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and to coach other personnel.
• Must be able to plan, organize, develop, implement and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures that are necessary for providing quality care.
• Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult personnel.
• Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices.
• Must be able to relate information concerning a resident’s condition.
• Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace.

Physical and Sensory Requirements (with or without the aid of mechanical devices)

• Must be able to move continuously throughout the workday.
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to see and hear or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately to ensure that the requirements of this position can be fully met.
• Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with residents, families, personnel, and support agencies.
• Must meet the general health requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, which may include a medical and physical examination.
• Must be able to relate to and work with the ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and at times, hostile people within the facility.
• Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of 10 pounds to a minimum height of 5 feet and be able to push, pull, move, and/or carry such weight a minimum distance of 5 feet.
• May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations.
• Sitting: 1-2 hour per 8-hour shift. Alternates frequently to standing and walking.
• Standing: 4-5 hours per 8-hour shift. Alternates frequently to walking and occasionally to sitting.
• Walking: 2-3 hours per 8 hour shift. Alternates frequently to standing and occasionally to sitting.

Salary : $46,100 - $58,300