Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Job Title: LPN Medication Nurse

Department: Nursing Services

General Summary

• To supervise the day-to-day nursing activities of the facility in accordance with current Federal, Sate, and local standards governing the facility and as directed by the Director of Nursing and Administrative staff to ensure the highest degree of quality care is always maintained.
• LPNs are to exercise supervisory authority even at times that RN supervisors are on duty and must exercise discretion and independent judgment to ensure proper discipline and productivity.
• To provide quality care to enhance quality of life.

Qualifications

• Must be a Licensed Practical Nurse in good standing and currently licensed by the State of Alabama.

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must speak and understand English.
• Must be able to supervise and instruct others.

• Patience, tact, enthusiasm and positive attitude toward the elderly
• Ability to communicate with Residents, families, personnel and support agencies
• Ability to remain calm under stress

Benefits

• Family atmosphere.
• Competitive wages.
• PTO starts accruing day one.
• Competitive shift differential.
• Strong 401k program.
• Low-cost health, dental, and vision insurance that's AFFORDABLE!
• $50,000 life insurance policy provided free for all employees.
• Additional insurance policies available through company partners.
• Tuition Reimbursement
• CNA Program

Physical and Sensory Qualifications (with or without the Aid of Mechanical Devices)

• Must be able to walk, stand, and bend

• Must be able to lift, grasp, push, and pull
• Must have fine hand coordination with or without mechanical devices
• Must have the ability to Read and Write in English
• Must have the ability to communicate with Residents, families, personnel, and support agencies
• Must have the ability to remain calm under stress

Administrative Functions

• Direct the day-to-day functions of nursing assistants and room attendants.
• Complete and maintain medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charts, etc.
• Transfer and discharge Residents.
• Ensure nursing personnel provides proper Resident care and performs their duties in accordance with written policies and procedures.
• Participate in periodical reviews of Residents charts
• Participate in surveys and inspections by Government agencies.
• Interpret policies and procedures to personnel, Residents, families and visitors.
• Report promptly to Social Services and the all complaints or grievances stated by Residents or Resident family members.
• Supervise non-licensed nursing staff's charting activities to ensure the records are complete and accurate.
• Participate in reviewing and evaluating staffing requirements.
• Record nursing personnel's absenteeism/failure to report.
• Make daily changes in staff schedule as indicated by absence or illness and obtain replacements where needed
• Make compliance rounds every shift and place them in the book(s) kept by each unit.
• Ensure that personnel, Residents, and visitors follow established policies and procedures.
• Assist in orientation of new nursing personnel.

Nursing Functions

• Administer professional services and provide direct nursing care as necessary.
• Report to nursing staff new/re-admissions, resident status change, resident transfers.
• Ensure that rooms are ready for new/readmits and staff greets the resident upon arrival.
• Report all behavior changes/ problems to the DON and Social Services.
• Make rounds on all Residents to observe and evaluate for changes in Resident physical and emotional status.
• Consult with Resident's physicians regarding care, treatment, diagnostic and therapeutic services, and notify physicians of an accident/incident involving a resident, changes in condition or when a Resident expires.
• Make rounds with physicians if requested.
• Monitor and check food brought into the facility by families and visitors to ensure that it is within the resident's dietary allowances.
• Notify sponsors of changes in Resident's condition, accident/incidents, diagnostic and therapeutic services and Resident's death.
• Complete forms and chart all accidents/incidents involving residents or employees ands submit as required by policies and procedures.
• Assist with arranging transportation for Residents that are discharged, residents that requires emergency evaluation by a physician, or Residents that require a physician visit, test, or other services that cannot be performed in the facility.
• Ensure post mortem polices and procedures are followed and arrange for transportation to the funeral home.
• Review medication administration records, physician orders, treatment orders, diabetic flow sheets, and Coumadin flow sheets for completeness, accuracy, and adherence.
• Perform wound care as necessary.
• Perform tube feedings/and assist residents during meal times as necessary.
• Perform medication pass as necessary. Verify resident's identities to ensure that prescribed medications are administered to the proper residents
• Count narcotics at the end/ beginning of shift to ensure narcotic records are accurate. Notify the DON of all drug and narcotic discrepancies.
• Ensure proper disposal of drugs and narcotics per facility protocol.
• Order prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary per physician's orders.
• Sign, date, time and perform all routine charting and record keeping in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Complete all required documentation following accidents/incidents involving residents/employees and submit according to policy and procedure.
• Properly record and process all verbal, telephone, faxed and written physician's orders to resident's charts, MAR', and TAR's.
• Communicate diet changes with dietary (using dietary communication forms), giving dietary the white copy and placing yellow copy in the physician's orders.
• Communicate all discrepancies noted concerning physician's orders, diet orders, omitted medications, charting errors, etc.
• Assist the care plan team in identifying all nursing/ medical goals and needs of each Resident to provide and implement a comprehensive care plan.
• Ensure all nursing personnel are aware of the care plan for each Resident and it is communicated via the cue card in each Resident's closet.

• Participate in the weekend rotations on the medication nurse schedule assuming those responsibilities of a charge nurse in the absence of a nurse supervisor.
• Assist with assessing, planning, and implementing plans of care for wound prevention, ADL functions, plan of care and Resident compliance.
• Assist with the body assessments for new admissions, re-admissions, and when significant changes are documented

Quality Assurance Functions

• Attend appropriate nursing staff meetings.
• Participate in the Quality Assurance Committee and in other sub committees as deemed necessary by the Administrative Staff.
• Follow hand sanitizing, PPE and Universal Precautions guidelines,
• Maintain professional competence through attendance and participation in continuing education programs, seminars, and professional activities and programs.
• Participate in care plans and other committees as deemed necessary.

Residents' Rights Functions

• Treat Resident's with kindness, dignity and respect.
• Know and comply with Residents' Rights.

• Help the residents exercise and/or protect their rights.
• Help ensure that resident complaints are addressed.
  • Document and report all Resident complaints and grievances according to facility policy.

HIPAA

• Follow and adhere to facility's policies and procedures implementing HIPAA requirements for the privacy and security of protected health information.
• Protect privacy and confidentiality of information pertaining to the resident, employee, residence, facility information and records.
• Use and/or disclose only minimum amount of Protected Health Information necessary to complete assigned tasks.
• Report all suspected violation of company's HIPAA policies or procedures to the Administrator.

Infection Control

• Follow infection control standards, policies and procedures
• Follow hand sanitizing guidelines

Equipment and Supply Functions

• Keep an inventory of equipment, material and supplies needed for resident care.
• Make periodic inspections of supplies and equipment to ensure that adequate levels are maintained and that supplies are available.
• Report needs to the DON or ADON.
• Request repairs for office equipment as necessary.

Safety

• Know and follow facility rules.
• Demonstrate proper use of equipment.
• Report equipment needs or repairs.
• Follow facility smoking policies.
• Report and document any incidents or accidents of resident, staff or visitor in accordance with facility policy and procedure.
• Maintains a safe and secure working environment and practices safe working habits.
• Performs duties, which may include transportation of residents, as assigned in Facility Disaster Plan.

Staff Development Functions

• Maintain professional competence through attendance and participation in continuing education programs, seminars and professional activities and programs