LPN

A.Role Responsibilities – Administrative Duties:

1.Directs the day-to-day functions of the nursing assistants in accordance with current rules, regulations,and guidelines that govern the long-term care facility

2.Ensures that all nursing personnel assigned to you comply with the written policies and proceduresestablished by this facility

3.Reviews the department's policies, procedure manuals, job descriptions, etc. periodically and makesrecommendations for revisions

4.Meets with assigned nursing staff, as well as support personnel, in planning the shifts' services,programs, and activities

5.Ensures that the Nursing Service Procedures Manual is current and reflects the day-to-day nursingprocedures performed in this facility

6.Ensures that all nursing service personnel comply with the procedures set forth in the Nursing ServiceProcedures Manual

7.Makes written and oral reports/recommendations concerning the activities of your shift as required

8.Cooperates with other resident services when coordinating nursing services to ensure that theresident's total regimen of care is maintained

9.Ensures that all nursing service personnel are in compliance with their respective job descriptions

10.Participates in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility's quality assuranceprogram for the nursing service department

11.Provides data to the Quality Assurance & Assessment Committee as requested

12.Participates in facility surveys (inspections) made by authorized government agencies as may berequested

13.Reviews the resident's written discharge plan periodically and participates in the updating of theresident's written discharge plan as required

14.Assists in planning the nursing services portion of the resident's discharge plan as necessary

15.Interprets the department's policies and procedures to personnel, residents, visitors, and governmentagencies as required

16.Completes accident/incident reports as necessary

LPN 2

17. Writes resident charge slips and forward to the Business Office

18. Maintains the Daily Census Report and submit to the Business Office as required

19. Performs administrative duties such as completing medical forms, reports, evaluations, studies, charting, etc., as necessary

B. Role Responsibilities – Charting and Documentation:

1. Completes and files required record keeping forms/charts upon the resident's admission, transfer, and/or discharge

2. Encourages attending physicians to review treatment plans, record and sign their orders, progress notes, etc., in accordance with established policies

3. Receives telephone orders from physicians and record on the Physicians' Order Form

4. Transcribes physician's orders to resident charts, cardex, and medication cards, treatment/care plans, as required

5. Charts nurses' notes in an informative and descriptive manner that reflects the care provided to the resident, as well as the resident's response to the care

6. Charts all reports of accidents/incidents involving residents. Follow established procedures

7. Records new/changed diet orders and forwards information to the Dietary Department

8. Reports all discrepancies noted concerning physician's orders, diet change, charting error, etc., to the Nurse Supervisor

9. Fills out and completes transfer forms in accordance with established procedures

10. Ensures that appropriate documentation concerning unauthorized discharges is entered in the resident's medical record in accordance with established procedures

11. Performs routine charting duties as required and in accordance with established charting and documentation policies and procedures

12. Signs and dates all entries made in the resident's medical record

C. Role Responsibilities – Drug Administration:

1. Prepares and administers medications as ordered by the physician

2. Verifies the identity of the resident before administering the medication/treatment

3. Ensures that prescribed medication for one resident is not administered to another

4. Ensures that an adequate supply of floor stock medications, supplies, and equipment is on hand to meet the nursing needs of the residents and reports needs to the Nurse Supervisor

5. Orders prescribed medications, supplies, and equipment as necessary, and in accordance with established policies

6. Ensures that narcotic records are accurate for your shift

7. Notifies the Nurse Supervisor of all drug and narcotic discrepancies noted on your shift

8. Reviews medication cards for completeness of information, accuracy in the transcription of the physician's order, and adherence to stop order policies

9. Notifies the attending physician of automatic stop orders prior to the last dosage being administered

10. Disposes of drugs and narcotics as required, and in accordance with established procedures

D. Role Responsibilities – Personnel Duties:

1. Participates in employee performance evaluations, determining your shift's staffing requirements, and making recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor concerning employee dismissals, transfers, etc.

2. Informs the Nurse Supervisor of staffing needs when assigned personnel fail to report to work and reports absentee call-ins

3. Reviews and evaluates your department's work force and make recommendations to the Nurse Supervisor

4. Develops work assignments and/or assist in completing and performing such assignments

5. Provides leadership to nursing personnel assigned to your unit/shift

LPN 3

6. Makes daily rounds of your unit/shift to ensure that nursing service personnel are performing their work assignments in accordance with acceptable nursing standards. Report problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor

7. Ensures that all nurse aide trainees are under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse

8. Meets with your shift's nursing personnel, on a regularly scheduled basis, to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or to improve services

9. Ensures that department personnel, residents, and visitors follow the department's established policies and procedures at all times

10. Reviews complaints and grievances made or filed by your assigned personnel. Make appropriate reports to the Nurse Supervisor as required or as may be necessary

11. Ensures that departmental disciplinary action is administered fairly and without regard to any protected class under federal or state law

12. Receives/gives the nursing report upon reporting in and ending shift duty hours

E. Role Responsibilities – Nursing Care:

1. Informs nursing personnel of new admissions, their expected time of arrival, room assignment, etc.

2. Ensures that rooms are ready for new admissions

3. Participates in the orientation of new residents/family members to the facility

4. Makes rounds with physicians as necessary

5. Requests and arranges for diagnostic and therapeutic services, as ordered by the physician, and in accordance with our established procedures

6. Consults with the resident's physician in providing the resident's care, treatment, rehabilitation, etc., as necessary

7. Reviews the resident's chart for specific treatments, medication orders, diets, etc., as necessary

8. Implements and maintains established nursing objectives and standards

9. Makes periodic checks to ensure that certified nursing assistants are properly administering prescribed treatments and to evaluate the resident's physical and emotional status

10. Cooperates with and coordinates social and activity programs with nursing service schedules

11. Notifies the resident's attending physician when the resident is involved in an accident or incident

12. Notifies the resident's attending physician and next-of-kin when there is a change in the resident's condition

13. Carries out restorative and rehabilitative programs, to include self-help and care

14. Inspects the nursing service treatment areas daily to ensure that they are maintained in a clean and safe manner

15. Administers professional services such as; catheterization, tube feedings, suction, applying and changing dressings/bandages, packs, colostomy, and drainage bags, taking blood, giving massages and range of motion exercises, care for the dead/dying, etc., as required

16. Uses restraints when necessary and in accordance with established policies and procedures

17. Obtains sputum, urine and other specimens for lab tests as ordered

18. Takes and records TPRs, blood pressures, etc., as necessary

19. Monitors seriously ill residents as necessary

20. Checks foods brought into the facility by the resident's family/visitors to ensure that it is within the resident's dietary allowances and reports problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor and Dietary Supervisor

21. Ensures that personnel providing direct care to residents are providing such care in accordance with the resident's care plan and wishes

22. Ensures that residents who are unable to call for help are checked frequently

23. Meets with residents, and/or family members, as necessary and reports problem areas to the Nurse Supervisor

24. Admits, transfers and discharges residents as necessary

25. Assists in arranging transportation for discharged residents as necessary

LPN 4

26. Ensures that discharged residents are escorted to the pick-up area

27. Informs family members of the death of the resident

28. Calls funeral homes when requested by the family and ensures that established post-mortem procedures are followed.

F. Role Responsibilities – Staff Development

1. Participates in developing, planning, conducting, and in-service training classes that provide instructions on "how to do the job," and ensures a well-educated nursing service department

2. Implements and maintains an effective orientation program that orients the new employee to your shift, its policies and procedures, and to his/her job position and duties

3. Assists in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished

4. Assists in training department personnel in identifying tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids

5. Attends and participates in outside training programs

6. Attends and participates in annual OSHA and CDC in-service training programs for hazard communication, TB management, and bloodborne pathogens standard

7. Attends and participates in continuing education programs designed to keep you abreast of changes in your profession, as well as to maintain your license on a current status

G. Role Responsibilities - Interpersonal Skills:

1. Must function independently and have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents, personnel, and support agencies

2. Is involved with residents, personnel, visitors, government agencies/personnel, etc., under all conditions and circumstances

3. Cooperates with inter-departmental personnel, as well as other facility personnel to ensure that nursing services can be adequately maintained to meet the needs of the residents

4. Creates and maintains an atmosphere of warmth, personal interest, and positive emphasis, as well as a clam environment throughout the unit and shift

5. Maintains a liaison with the residents, their families, support departments, etc., to adequately plan for the residents’ needs

6. Communicates with the medical staff, nursing personnel, and other department supervisors

H. Role Responsibilities - Safety:

1. Monitors assigned personnel to ensure that they are following established safety regulations in the use of equipment and supplies

2. Ensures that established departmental policies and procedures, including dress codes, are followed by assigned nursing personnel

3. Ensures that assigned personnel participate in and conduct all fire safety and disaster preparedness drills in a safe and professional manner

4. Participates in the development, implementation and maintenance of the procedures for reporting hazardous conditions or equipment

5. Ensures that all personnel wear and/or use safety equipment and supplies (e.g., back brace, mechanical lifts, etc.) when lifting or moving residents

6. Reports missing/illegible labels and MSDSs to the safety officer or other designated person

7. Reports all accidents/incidents, safety violations, hazardous conditions, or defective equipment to supervisor

8. Reports occupational exposures to blood, body fluids, infectious materials, and hazardous chemicals in accordance with the facility's policies and procedures governing accidents and incidents

9. Follows established safety, fire, disaster, emergency, and evacuation policies and procedures

10. Uses only supplies/equipment trained to use and operates all equipment and use all supplies in a safe manner and according to established procedures

LPN 5

I. Role Responsibilities – Infection Control & Sanitation:

1. Assists the Director and/or Infection Control Coordinator 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

2. Participates in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the infection control program for monitoring communicable and/or infectious diseases among the residents and personnel

3. Ensures that assigned personnel follow established infection control procedures when isolation precautions become necessary

4. Ensures that nursing personnel follow established procedures in the use and disposal of personal protective equipment

5. Ensures that all personnel performing tasks that involve potential exposure to blood/body fluids participate in appropriate in-service training programs prior to performing such tasks

6. Ensures that an adequate supply of personal protective equipment is on hand and are readily available to personnel who perform procedures that involve exposure to blood or body fluids

7. Ensures that your unit's resident care rooms, treatment areas, etc., are maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner

8. Ensures that assigned personnel follow established handwashing techniques in the administering of nursing care procedures

9. Ensures that your assigned work areas (i.e., nurses' stations, medicine preparation rooms, etc.) are maintained in a clean and sanitary manner

10. Follows established isolation, personal protective equipment, and infection control precautions and procedures

11. Follows established policies concerning exposure to blood/body fluids

12. Demonstrates proper hand-washing techniques and disposes of waste properly

J. Role Responsibilities – Equipment and Supplies:

1. Recommends to the Nurse Supervisor the equipment and supply needs of your unit/shift

2. Ensures that an adequate stock level of medications, medical supplies, equipment, etc., is maintained on your unit/shift at all times to meet the needs of the residents

3. Participates in the development and implementation of the procedures for the safe operation of all nursing service equipment

4. Ensures that all personnel operate nursing service equipment in a safe manner

5. Monitors nursing procedures to ensure that nursing service supplies are used in an efficient manner to avoid waste

K. Role Responsibilities – Care Plan:

1. Reviews care plans to ensure that appropriate care is being rendered

2. Informs the Nurse Supervisor of any changes that need to be made on the care plan

3. Ensures that your nurses' notes reflect that the care plan is being followed when administering nursing care or treatment

4. Reviews resident care plans for appropriate resident goals, problems, approaches, and revisions based on nursing needs

5. Ensures that assigned certified nursing assistants (CNAs) are aware of the resident care plans

6. Assists the Resident Assessment/Care Plan Coordinator in planning, scheduling, and revising the MDS, including the implementation of RAPs and Triggers

L. Role Responsibilities – Resident Care/Dignity:

1. Maintains the confidentiality of all resident care information

LPN 6

2. Monitors nursing care to ensure that all residents are treated fairly, and with kindness, dignity, and respect

3. Ensures that all nursing care is provided in privacy and that nursing service personnel knock before entering the resident's room

4. Ensures that all nursing service personnel are knowledgeable of the residents' responsibilities and rights including the right to refuse treatment

5. Reviews complaints and grievances made by the resident and make a written/oral report to the Nurse Supervisor indicating what action(s) were taken to resolve the complaint or grievance. Follow the facility's established procedures

6. Maintains a written record of the resident's complaints and/or grievances that indicates the action taken to resolve the complaint and the current status of the complaint

7. Reports and investigates all allegations of resident abuse and/or misappropriation of resident property

8. Ensures that nursing staff personnel honor the resident's refusal of treatment request and ensures that such requests are in accordance with the facility's policies governing advance directives

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

1. Must possess, as a minimum, a Nursing Degree from an accredited college or university, or be a graduate of an approved LPN/LVN program

2. Participation in continuing education classes, workshops, and seminars affiliated with outside nursing organizations desirable

3. Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN/LVN in this state

4. Must be able to understand and carry out oral and written instructions

5. Must be able to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate effectively in English

6. Must be able to handle stressful situations and be flexible and adaptable

7. Must be knowledgeable of nursing and medical practices and procedures, as well as laws, regulations, and guidelines that pertain to long-term care

8. Must possess leadership and supervisory ability and the willingness to work harmoniously with and supervise other personnel

9. Must possess the ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret the programs, goals, objectives, policies and procedures, etc., that are necessary for providing quality care

10. Must have patience, tact, a cheerful disposition and enthusiasm, as well as the willingness to handle difficult residents

11. Must be willing to seek out new methods and principles and be willing to incorporate them into existing nursing practices

12. Must be able to relate information concerning a resident's condition

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

1. Works in office areas as well as throughout the nursing service area (nurses’ stations, resident rooms)

2. Moves intermittently during working hours

3. Is subject to frequent interruptions

4. Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents, family members, personnel, and visitors

5. Works beyond normal working hours, on weekends and holidays, and in other positions temporarily, when necessary

6. Is subject to call back during emergency conditions

7. Is subject to injury from falls, burns from equipment, odors, etc., throughout the work day, as well as to reactions to dust, disinfectants, tobacco smoke, and other air contaminants

8. Is subject to exposure to infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including TB, AIDS, and Hepatitis B Virus

9. Is exposed to blood, body fluids, or tissues, and requires use of personal protective equipment

10. May be subject to the handling of and exposure to hazardous chemicals

11. May be necessary to assist in the evacuation of residents during emergency situations

LPN 7

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

1. Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day

2. Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position

3. Must be able to see and hear (with or without aid) to ensure that the requirements of this position can fully be met

4. Must not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of other individuals in the workplace

5. Must be able to push, pull, move, and/or lift a minimum of thirty-five pounds

6. Must meet health assessment requirements set forth by the policies of this facility, including medical and physical examination, two stage Mantoux skin tests and one-step annually thereafter

7. Must be capable of performing the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations