Licensed Practical Nurse Days / Nights

The Licensed Practical Nurse is responsible for direct and indirect patient care. Provides care to psychiatric patients who have acute behavioral disorder and / or exacerbation of chronic psychiatric illness. The License Practical Nurse will utilize the nursing process, documentation, therapeutic behavioral interventions, communication skills, skills listed in the LPN Core Competencies, and collaboration with the RN, physicians, and other team members to meet performance requirements. The License Practical Nurse is responsible for reporting changes inpatient condition to the Director of Nursing. The License Practical Nurse is responsible to report any alleged, suspected, or witnessed abuse or neglect to a direct supervisor immediately.

Education : Degree from an accredited school of nursing. Licensed to practice nursing in the state of Louisiana.

Work experience : Minimum 1 year recent medical surgical or psychiatric clinical experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities :  Knowledgeable and demonstrate competency in current principles and practices clinically specific medical surgical and / or psychiatric nursing. Problem solver.

Interpersonal Skills :

• Strong therapeutic verbal and non-verbal communication skills are critical.
• Ability to form a sound therapeutic alliance with patients.
• Elicit and understand patient concerns, to explain healthcare issues and to engage in shared decision-making if desired.

Travel Requirements : none

Manages medication administration, knows 6 R’s; right route; right medication; right patient; right time; right dose; right documentation, and appropriate handling and disposal of expired medications. Reports and completes medication variance report on all medication errors in a timely manner. Able to identify medications and simple action. Administers medications within one hour before and one hour after scheduled time.

The Licensed Practical Nurse is accountable for providing nursing care as assigned by the RN and team participation to achieve and measure quality cost effective outcomes. Responsible for collecting data, implementing the plan of care and communicating patient information verbally and in writing. They support staff, patient and family education to enhance knowledge, skills and necessary behaviors to optimize the patient’s health status.

Provides skilled nursing care to clients as directed by the registered nurse, clinical director or director of nursing, according to the psychiatric nursing standards of practice. Promotes and maintains client health through appropriate teaching measures under the direction of the registered nurse. Assists clients in learning appropriate self-care techniques.

Demonstrates and complete Core Competencies training in dealing with difficult patients such as CPI, Restraint Training, CPR, age specific training and other training required. Recognizes the impact of group influence by behavior and demonstrates assistance with therapeutic interventions.

Provides customer service in an ethical manner, treats all customers with dignity, respect, courtesy and compassion. Works cooperating with team members to reach patient care goals.

Attends treatment team, shift report and meets with the quality improvement reviewer as needed. Understands the PI function, actively participates in data collection, measurement, assessment and improvement. Attends in-services and educational functions to maintain and increase knowledge base of psychiatric care as mandated by administrative personnel. Attends monthly unit and other required meetings. In addition, the RN is expected to accept personal responsibility for other educational activities to enhance job related skills and abilities.

Assist RN in completion of admission documentation, completes Daily Treatment Team progress note, graphic sheets and other forms as assigned. Documents significant occurrences, observed behaviors, vital signs, nutritional intake and output, sleep graphs and daily education in the patient record.

Understands the PI function, actively participates in data collection, measurement, assessment and improvement. Attends in-services and educational functions to maintain and increase knowledge base of psychiatric care as mandated by administrative personnel.

Other duties as assigned / required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Seaside Health System is committed to the principle of Equal Employment Opportunity for all employees and applicants. It is our policy to ensure that both current and prospective employees are afforded equal employment opportunity without consideration of race, religious creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to perform the essential job functions either

unaided or with reasonable accommodation.  The organization shall determine reasonable accommodation on a case-by

case basis in accordance with applicable law.