Licensed Practical Nurse- Community Living Center (CLC)

The Licensed Practical Nurse-CLC Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. The LPN demonstrates unit / department specific competencies, and competency in caring for adult and geriatric residents. Patients receiving care in the long term care setting, and are being treated for any number of medical and psychological conditions.

Duties Include :

1. Explains procedures to residents, using language which they understand and displaying consideration of individual resident needs.

2. Ensures that the physical and emotional environment is consistent with the vision for resident-centered care.

3. Maintains self-control and responds consistently to the requirements of the work situation.

4. Maintains a positive attitude in accepting temporary reassignment to meet patient care needs.

5. Responds to residents' calls for assistance promptly and interacts with the resident in a tactful, courteous manner, making customer service the focus of all interactions.

6. Communicates respectfully and works effectively with administrative staff, the health care team, unit staff, residents, and visitors.

7. Provides emotional support to residents, and families / significant others to assist them in adjusting to changes brought about by illness or change in health status. Establishes constructive relationships with individual residents to elicit feelings and attitudes and to promote positive relationships, communication and socialization skills. Hospice / Palliative care needs are supported as needed based on resident self-determination.

8. Fosters an environment of respect for individual residents and family / significant other rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Serves as Veteran's / family / significant others' advocate.

9. Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary for concentrated effort and self-direction in carrying out the most complex practical nursing assignments, including assignments for long-term, short-term rehabilitation, respite, hospice / palliative care, and psychiatric residents requiring skilled nursing care.

10. Demonstrates ability to use judgment in selecting the most appropriate application of procedures and guidelines, varying the order and sequence of assigned procedures based on the resident's condition. Completed work needs only a general review by a RN for technical soundness, appropriateness and conformity with policy and nursing assignments.

11. Prepares and administers prescribed oral, topical, subcutaneous, inhaled medications, controlled substances, and suppositories according to policy and procedure. Correctly documents medications given or omitted in Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA) according to established policy and procedures. Documents effects of medications.

12. Promptly reports untoward patient incidents; examples medication errors, falls, etc. to Charge Nurse / Nursing Supervisor, and initiates incident report.

13. Appropriately initiates emergency response teams : Rapid Response Team (RRT), Code Blue, Stroke-Cardiac alerts and responds to emergency situations including cardiopulmonary arrest, choking, and disaster or fire drills.

14. Demonstrates practical knowledge of human behavior, motivations and reactions to situations. Uses this knowledge in working effectively with patients, family and other staff members.

15. As an interdisciplinary team member, provides input into the care planning process, assists and provides teaching in activities of daily living (ADLs) to residents and encourages them to participate in ADLs leading to increase independence. Provides or reinforces resident / family / significant other teaching related to medications, disease process, procedures, and self-care activities. Considers physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic and age-related factors. Participates in more complex teaching for resident self-care, such as diabetic care, self-catheterization, etc. in anticipation of discharge.

16. Performs a wide range of treatments and procedures utilizing established nursing care plans and auxiliary equipment according to policy, including but not limited to : application of heat and cold, wound care, changing complex sterile and clean dressings, administering suppositories, cleansing and retention enemas, tube feedings, weights, vital signs, glucose finger sticks, specimen collection, intake and output, colostomy irrigation, oxygen, orthopedic traction, spirometry, nebulizer treatments, and standard 12 lead EKGs, and care of well-established tracheostomies and laryngectomies.

17. Performs oropharyngeal, tracheostomy, and tracheal suctioning, and tracheostomy and laryngectomy care.

18. Other duties, as assigned.

Work Schedule : Evenings / Nights

Telework : Not Available

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized