LPN - Outpatient Observation Unit

LPN

POSITION SUMMARY

• The Licensed Practical Nurse works to promote good health and prevent illness.
• Educates patients and the public about various medical conditions
• Treats patients and help in their rehabilitation
• Provides advice and emotional support to patients' families.
• Uses considerable judgment in providing a wide variety of services.
• Focuses on the overall care of patients by administering medications under the supervision of doctors or RNs and keep records of symptoms and progress.
• May supervise Patient Care Techs.

OVERVIEW

• The evaluation is to assure individual performance, departmental goals and organizational goals are aligned. It is designed to support communication between the manager and the employee. Employee perception of their own performance is very important. To maximize the benefit of this process, both the manager and the employee participate in the evaluation process.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
   • Excellent customer service skills.
   • Reads and understands the English language.
   • Ability to think critically and analytically with little or no supervision
   • Ability to work effectively in situations of high stress and conflict and communicate goals and outcomes.
   • Ability to process information and prioritize
   • Possesses exceptional verbal and written communication skills
   • Possesses independent work habits, is self-reliant and self-directed
   • Ability to learn, adapt, and change as required by the job functions
   • Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of material and information accessed and reviewed
   • Basic computer literacy
   • Ability to move freely, reach, bend, and complete light lifting
   • Ability to use good body mechanics while performing daily job functions and ability to follow specific OSHA guidelines
   • Ability to maintain attendance to meet standard job practices

1. Education
   • LPN – Licensed Practical Nursing Degree
2. Licensure
   • Licensed in good standing with the Georgia Board of Nursing.
3. Experience
   • 1 - 2 years experience preferred.
4. Interpersonal skills

1. Essential technical/motor skills
2. Essential physical requirements
   • Heavy: Exert 50 – 100 lb. of force occasionally and/or up to 30 lb. of force frequently - greater than 75%

1. Essential mental requirements

1. Essential sensory requirements
2. Other
   • Basic skills as defined by licensure/certification.

1. Equipment used

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

1. Exposure to hazards (body fluid exposure level)
   • Level I

1. Age of Patient Populations Served
   • Neonates 1 - 30 days
   • Infants 30 days - 1 year
   • Children 1 - 12 years
   • Adolescents 13 - 18 years
   • Adults 19 - 70 years
   • Geriatrics - 70+ years

STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE

• CRMC employees are devoted to serving our customers – including patients, physicians, fellow-employees and our community by adhering to the Standards of Performance. We are here to make all of our customers feel special.

1. Respectful and Confidential – Employee respects the rights of privacy of our patients. Ensures cultural differences are respected.
2. Responsive – Employee responds quickly, graciously and appropriately to customer needs. Employee thanks customers.
3. Gratitude and Attitude – Employee’s behavior shows that he/she believes that each of us controls our own attitude and that what is important is not so much as what happens to us, but how we choose to react to it.
4. Pride, Ownership, and Image – Employee accepts all the rights and responsibilities of being a part of the CRMC family.
5. Communication – Employee is personally accountable for positive communication with the customer – patients, family members and co-workers.
6. Teamwork - Employee contributes positively to the CRMC team and is committed to treating coworkers with courtesy, honesty and respect. Employee abides by the Time and Attendance Policy. Employee has team pride in the purpose of our work – saving lives.

JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Below are those tasks, duties, and responsibilities that comprise the means of accomplishing the position’s purpose and objectives. These are critical or fundamental to the performance of the position. They are the major functions for which the person in the position is held accountable. Following are the essential functions of the position, along with the corresponding performance standards.
  • Demonstrates the skills and judgment necessary to implement medical plan of care, nursing intervention, and procedures as necessary for the care of the patient as evidenced by:

• Demonstrates knowledge of hospital policies and procedures for administering and recording medication.
• Demonstrates knowledge of commonly used meds: action, dose, and side effects.
• Observes five Rs for administering meds: right patient, right drug, right method, right dose, and right time.
• Demonstrates proper procedures in all methods of medication administration.
• Maintains IV access according to hospital policy and procedures.
• Assesses and documents IV site every eight hours per unit standard.
• Updates Plan of Care and basic documentation.
• Identifies patient care problems and communicates them to RN as evidenced by:
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  • Reports change in patient status to RN immediately.
  • Reports the progress of the patient's/significant other's response to teaching plan to RN.
  • Implements changes in plan of care under the direction of the RN.
  • Maintains up-to-date and accurate documentation of nursing care as evidenced by:

• Patient is oriented to unit and vital signs recorded within one hour of admission.
• Each identified problem is addressed using PIE format every eight hours (if applicable).
• Flow sheets and I & O sheets are signed with name and title.
• Medication administration record must include full signature and title of nurse administering med, time given, reason for omission, and site for infection (if applicable).
• Documents narcotic use according to hospital policy and procedure.
• Maintains current knowledge/certification/licensure. Pursues professional growth and development as evidenced by:

• Practices within legal boundaries of nurse practice act and according to hospital policy and procedures.
• Attends continuing education programs in order to maintain licensure. Attends at least one seminar per year in your area of practice.
• Attends hospital-sponsored training programs as required by department.
• Attends all required safety training programs and can describe his/her responsibilities related to general safety, department/service safety, and specific job related hazards.

• Meets clinical competencies for age-specific competencies as evidenced during skill competency check-offs.
• Follows the hospital exposure control plans/blood borne and airborne pathogens as evidenced by:

• Demonstrates knowledge of techniques, procedures, and correct use of protective barrier equipment.
• Attends annual education programs.
• Wears and/or uses appropriate safety equipment.
• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment as evidenced by:

• Interacts with all of the above in a considerate, helpful, and courteous manner as observed by nurse manager and peers.
• Fosters mature professional relationships with fellow employees in a courteous, friendly manner as measured by management observation and peer input.
• Maintains professional composure and confidence during stressful situations.
• Maintains open communication using appropriate chain of command regarding issues.
• Conducts all work activities with respect for rights and wishes of patients, visitors, families, and fellow employees.
• Maintains confidentiality of all hospital and patient information at all times.
• Presents neat appearance in proper attire and identification as required by hospital policy.
• Displays a positive attitude that contributes to the overall customer service program in place at the hospital.
• Assumes all other duties and responsibilities as necessary.

• Performs all responsibilities/duties required by the LPN position in the unit/department specific to the scope of service as evidenced by:

• Demonstrates knowledge of MRI patient care observation and management.
• Has knowledge of procedures for PCA pain management.

EDUCATION AND COMPETENCY

• Attends all mandatory and department-specific education and training programs as required.
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  Attends all required education and training and can describe his/her responsibilities related to department safety and specific job related hazards.
• 
  Has met all required competencies for the evaluation period as evidenced by job specific competency evaluations.