Licensed Practical Nurse

TITLE : LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE / FLOAT (LPN)

TYPE : Unit E

SALARY : Per Unit E Collective Bargaining Agreement

REPORTS TO : Supervisor of Nurses

OBJECTIVE :

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is a valuable member of the school health team led and supervised by the Supervisor of Nurses and professional school Registered Nurses. According to the Massachusetts Nurse Practice Act in which the LPN is state licensed, the LPN performs nursing functions and shared nursing responsibilities under the supervision of the school Registered Nurses. The demand for health services in schools continues to increase with an increased number of students with special healthcare needs, disabilities, and chronic conditions (i.e. hearing impairment, speech or language impairment, emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, learning disability, asthma, diabetes, seizures and life-threatening food allergies) requiring nursing services. The needs of the students may include medication administration, care coordination for students with chronic disease, gastrostomy care and feedings, skin assessment, positioning, or equipment monitoring. Under the direction of the Supervisor of Nurses and supervision by the school Registered Nurses within the established organizational structure and District policies and procedures, the Licensed Practical Nurse will be assisting the school Registered Nurses by completing nursing assessments for students, determining the individual healthcare needs, administering medication, and assisting in managing the minor injuries and illness complaints that make up a large portion of the health room visits. Lastly, this position will assist the Supervisor of Nurses and school Registered Nurses with providing care so that the healthcare needs and the medical safety of all students are provided for during the school day.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Provides for the medical safety and well- being of all students in the school setting.
• Administers medications and appropriately documents.
• Maintains an accurate health record on students. Documents health related activities and treatments on the computer based health record program as appropriate.
• Performs a variety of tasks related to the care of the child i.e.., tube feedings, etc.
• Attends field trips to monitor and prepare medications as needed.
• Assists the school Registered Nurses with providing care to students.
• Communicates regularly with the school Registered Nurses and the Supervisor of Nurses.
• Performs appropriate emergency care as needed.
• Collaborates with the school Registered Nurses to manage the accurate and confidential status of students' health records, yearly physicals, and immunization records.
• Upholds professional standards, the Massachusetts Nursing Practice Act that is applicable to the school nursing practice, and adheres to District policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as directed by the school Registered Nurses or the Supervisor of Nurses.
• Complies with District policies and procedures and state laws relative to the administration of medication to students.
• Other duties as assigned by the School Registered Nurses and the Supervisor of Nurses per students' Individualized Health Care Plans.

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

Licensed Practical Nurse with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Current Healthcare Provider CPR / AED certification.

ADA & MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements : Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, fax machines, etc. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and / or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Must be able to stand, crouch and bend over for a long period of time at intervals throughout the day.

Data Conception : Requires the ability to compare and / or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication : Requires the ability to speak and / or signal people to convey or exchange information.

Language Ability : Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, schedules, manuals, invoices, requisitions, menus, recipes, journals, etc.

Intelligence : Requires the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently.

Numerical Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of algebra and geometry.

Form / Spatial Aptitude : Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination : Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Manual Dexterity : Pour / measure medications, administer medications / subcutaneously.

Interpersonal : Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

Physical Communication : Requires the ability to talk and hear : (Talking : expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing : perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone