LPN - PACU - Full-Time - AVALA Hospital - RH87

Summary

Assists patients with activities of daily living and provides basic care to non-acutely ill patients. Care given reflects initiative and responsibility indicative of professional expectations. Utilizes initiative, is a self-starter and strives to maintain steady level of productivity. Is compatible, supportive, and a team player. Communicates on behalf of the patient (patient advocate); care provided reflects the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department. Assists in maintenance of a safe and clean environment under the direction and supervision of the registered nurse in charge of the team and/or unit.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides general aspect of basic care to all patients within scope of practice of a licensed practical nurse (LPN) that includes actions that meet psychosocial needs and physical needs to the standard of care to optimize patient safety.
• Meets communication needs of patients and treats patients and their family with respect and dignity.
• Assists in admission, transfer, and discharge of patient.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to charge nurse, co-workers, and physicians.
• Communicates, documents, or otherwise report observations of patient behavior, complaints, or physical symptoms to RNs.
• Provides explanation to patient and family prior to administering care to patient; answers questions within scope of practice. Gives explanations and verbal reassurances consistently to family and visitors.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs, maintains a good working relationship within the department as well as with other departments by interacting professionally with co-workers and other healthcare providers.
• Assist with procedures and performs services requiring technical and manual skills under the direction of an RN.
• Responds to patient in emergency or physically distressful situations under the direction of an RN.
• Manages and operates equipment safely and correctly.
• Demonstrates knowledge of disease entities.
• Change bed linens or make beds. Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms or other patient areas.
• Responsible for the recording/charting of height, weight, and vital signs of the patients under the direction of the RN. Meets current documentation standards and policies and completes within shift.
• Using proper technique and competency shows the ability to perform a blood glucose using the FS glucose machine; able to remove IV Jelco; and able remove a foley catheter, all according to policy and procedures.
• Using proper technique and competency collect specimens such as urine, feces, or sputum.
• Using proper technique and competency Able to perform 12 Lead EKG.
• Assists with turning or repositioning bedridden patients and provides physical support to assist patients to perform daily living activities such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, and standing or walking.
• Answers the patient call signals, signal lights, bell, intercom, and telephone in a timely and polite manner to determine patients’ needs.
• Utilizes Universal Protocol (i.e. identifies patient using 2 identifiers and verifies procedure with patient).
• Communicates ideas for improvement to the unit manager/charge nurse.
• Assists Charge nurse with patient/bed management.
• Other duties as assigned.

Core Competencies

Action Orientation - Targets and achieves results, overcomes obstacles, accepts responsibility, establishes standards and responsibilities, creates a results-oriented environment, and follows through on actions.

Communications - Communicates well both verbally and in writing. Effectively conveys and shares information and ideas with others. Listens carefully and understands various viewpoints. Presents ideas clearly and concisely and understands relevant detail in presented information.

Creativity/Innovation - Generates novel ideas and develops or improves existing and new systems that challenge the status quo, takes risks, and encourages innovation.

Critical Judgment - Possesses the ability to define issues and focus on achieving workable solutions. Consistently does the right thing by performing with reliability.

Customer Orientation - Listens to customers, builds customer confidence, increases customer satisfaction, ensures commitments are met, sets appropriate customer expectations, and responds to customer needs.

Interpersonal Skills - Effectively and productively engages with others and establishes trust, credibility, and confidence with others.

Leadership - Motivates, empowers, inspires, collaborates with, and encourages others. Builds consensus when appropriate. Focuses team members on common goals.

Teamwork - Knows when and how to attract, develop, reward, and utilize teams to optimize results. Acts to build trust, inspire enthusiasm, encourage others, and help resolve conflicts and develop consensus in creating high-performance teams.

Professional Requirements

• Meets dress code standards and adheres to dress code policy.
• Completes annual education requirements.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
• Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion.
• Attends annual review, department in-services, staff meetings and/or reviews all monthly staff meeting minutes per Health Stream.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics, and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.
• Utilizes journals, books, etc. to learn and/or improve new techniques and equipment.
• Assists other staff members in performing any duty that enhances the delivery of patient care.

Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification Requirements

(CR.1c) As part of the Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification, at a minimum, the Program direct-care staff, must have eight (8) hours of education specific to the Program scope, initially, and at least annually thereafter.

(CR.1e) As part of the Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification, staff possess adaptability to processes as related to up-to-date best practices, collaboration between departments, compliance with protocols/processes, communication, cooperation, and exceptional customer service.

Within 90 days of hire or, if currently employed, within 90 days of signing the job description, must adhere to:

• Orientation of Advanced Orthopedic and Spine Certification
• In compliance with the Program education requirements
• Completed department specific competencies

Regulatory Requirements

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Current nurse licensure in the state of Louisiana
• Current BLS certification
• Minimum of one (1) year nursing experience preferred

Language Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Basic computer knowledge.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires repetitive motions, standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping all day. The employee must frequently lift or move items weighing up to 100 pounds.