Outpatient LPN

Job Title: Outpatient Licensed Practical Nurse

Supervised by: Program Director/Director of Nursing

Job Summary: Plans, coordinates, and, as necessary, delivers all aspects of care for patients.

Qualifications:

* Possess a current Louisiana Nurse license

* Two years experience in a psychiatric setting

* Two years experience in a medical/surgical setting

Description of activities or skills:

* Participate in the development, interpretation and implementation of the department’s philosophy, objectives, standards, policies and procedures.

* Utilize the nursing process in planning, providing and evaluating each patient’s care and produces a written assessment on assigned patients.

* Is actively involved in the treatment planning process; assists in physicals, psychosocial, spiritual, education/vocational assessments of patient, assists in the assessment of patient problems, short and long-term goals and specifying outcomes following interventions.

* Reviews all treatment plans for assigned facilities to ensure they are present and complete.

* Documents nursing intervention and patient response in the multidisciplinary progress notes.

* Provides general nursing care as required.

* Develops a therapeutic relationship with assigned patients.

* Sets limits on patient behavior when appropriate.

* Encourages independent behavior in patients.

* Serves as a role model for patients.

* Ensures the collection of all specimens as necessary.

* Supervises nursing services activity on assigned facilities; directly supervises and evaluates the performance of assigned staff members

* Establishes contact with the patient’s physicians, caregivers, pharmacy, and any consultants in order to assist with the planning of the patients’ care.

* Assesses patient’s physical needs and follows up with the physician referral, if indicated.

* Intervenes to decrease panic in disturbed patients.

* Utilizes the nursing process to complete an admission assessment as per facility policy.

* Ensures that the admission process is completed per facility policy.

* Maintains established standards of safety on assigned facilities and throughout the facility, including, implementing fire/safety/disaster and emergency code plans when indicated as per facility policy.

* Provides a safe, therapeutic environment that ensures patient rights.

* Assesses vital signs including temperature, pulses, respiration and blood pressure and responds appropriately.

* Remains on facility except when excused by supervisor for meals, breaks or in-house errands.

* Initiates the discharge planning process on admission of the patient.

* Demonstrates effective milieu management by anticipating and preventing untoward patient behaviors/incidents.

* Demonstrates an active interest in the patients by making appropriate contact and maintaining a supportive, empathetic and respectful therapeutic style.

* Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team. Assists in the evaluation of nursing care and modifies approaches accordingly, as well as determines whether the treatment objectives for each patient are being met.

* Follows-up on patient signs and symptoms or other information that is reported by other shifts or team members.

* Completes progress notes in compliance with facility policies and procedures reflecting planned treatments and interventions and addressing problems as identified by the interdisciplinary treatment team.

* Keeps consistently abreast of all applicable facility policies, procedures and standards and immediately conforms to the changes in them.

* Completes all required annual education/mandatory in-services.

* Attends and participates in facility staff meetings.

* Completes all work required discharge or transfer of a patient.

* Serves as a role model for staff.

* Collaborates with members of other disciplines.

* Performs and documents patient or family teaching when indicated.

* Reviews medical records and performs chart audits as necessary or as instructed by supervisor.

* Participates in research projects as appropriate.

* Maintains good working relationships with nursing staff, medical, ancillary staff, visitors, patients and the facility.

* Makes frequent facility and patient rounds to evaluate the needs of the patients and the facility.

* Reports maintenance, housekeeping and safety problems to the appropriate forms and ensures delivery to the appropriate persons.

* Reports possible drug errors and reconciles as indicated.

* Reports to supervisor staffing, patient status, infection control, quality assurance issues and/or facility problems/needs.

* Monitors utilization of direct care supplies for the patient and the facility.

* Participates in clinical staffing sessions.

* Maintains adequate supplies for the nursing staff use of the facility. Including: checks stock supplies periodically to maintain adequate supplies in good working order; observes nourishment and refrigerator for freshness and cleanliness; monitors the facility conditions and makes recommendations when needed.

* Demonstrates adequate nursing and communication skills to allow for effectiveness in working within the treatment program.

* Demonstrates a proficiency in the following skills and personal attributes:

i. Good grooming and appearance

ii. Courteous and diplomatic manner

iii. Good reading/spelling ability and comprehension

iv. Neat and legible handwriting

v. Ability to work well with others

vi. Organize and complete work in scheduled time

vii. Ability to perform arithmetic

viii. Punctual and dependable attendance

ix. Discrete in handling confidential information regarding patients

x. Ability to direct staff and assign/delegate duties as required in charge role.

* Demonstrates a good, working knowledge of the program and implements same.

* Attendance is maintained with minimum absenteeism.

* Is punctual for all scheduled shifts

* Completes tasks in a timely fashion.

* Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks.

* Adheres to all facility and departmental policies and procedures

* Attends and successfully passes post test (as required) for CPR, body mechanics, infection control, fire and electrical safety, confidentiality, and charting in-services designated as mandatory during the year.

* Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of physiology of the aging adult.

* Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of emotional and behavioral disorders related to chronic psychiatric patient.

* Demonstrates knowledge of policies related to suspected abuse/neglect procedure including interviewing, reporting and documenting.

* Performs other duties as assigned.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.