Licensed Practical Nurse Job Covington area,Kentucky USA,Nursing

Position Summary

Under supervision, provides general direct nursing care to injured, ill, convalescent, or disabled individuals. Care includes providing medical treatments, administering medication, and giving injections.

Responsibilities

May supervise and/or direct the work of others.

Administers medication(s) as indicated by the established individual nursing care plan, explains medication and treatment to patient, observes and records patient response and/or medication side effects, and immediately reports any adverse reactions to attending physician or supervising nurse. Maintains adequate supply of necessary medications and conducts and records audits of medications and controlled drugs for expiration dates and other data according to established guidelines.

Performs blood glucose monitoring as necessary according to established nursing care plan(s). Provides advanced technical nursing to patients, such as starting intravenous treatments, administering intravenous medications, and working with patients in intensive care units. Provides emergency treatment and crisis intervention for physical injuries and behavioral emergencies, as necessary.

Administers prescribed medications or starts intravenous fluids, and notes times and amounts on clients' charts. Takes patients' vital signs, records weight, and obtains laboratory specimens as necessary according to established treatment plan and/or as directed by registered nurse or attending physician. Ensures that hospital, departmental, and unit policies and procedures are followed when providing care to patients under suicide or escape watch, close observation, or in seclusion or under restraints.

Assists patients with nutritional care by spoon feeding or tube feeding as necessary and assists with personal hygiene and grooming functions by escorting patient(s) to restroom or bathing as necessary. Ensures that correct transfer techniques and restorative exercises are performed in positioning, ambulating, and maintaining the mobility of patients. Regularly observes patients' daily behavior patterns and physical condition, intervenes as appropriate, and immediately communicates any indication of patient abuse(s) to proper authority.

Provides catheter care, tracheotomy care, and/or colostomy care as necessary and according to established guidelines.

Answers clients' calls and determines how to assist them. Provides training to patients in various activities of daily living such as grooming, toilet functions, eating, and socializing in order to promote increased independence. Assists nurses, therapists, or other staff members in working with patients to provide appropriate instruction, guidance, and modeling for skill acquisition. Assists in conducting appropriate training classes by participating in assigned activities with patients and providing guidance and positive feedback regarding appropriate behavior.

Conducts training classes regarding normative, cognitive, and social behavior in the absence of instructor using appropriate and established positive behavioral management techniques.

Helps clients with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene, moving in bed, and standing and walking. Records patient care and other information on appropriate forms in a legible, clear, and timely manner according to established unit policy and standards of care. Transcribes physicians' orders according to established guidelines. Maintains and ensures confidentiality of patients' conditions and records, unit records, staff, and other data on regular basis.

Obtains and assesses patient immunization records, according to established guidelines. Schedules appointments, as required. Assures that patients are escorted to their appointments.

Measures and records clients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration. Assists in teaching and demonstrating various nursing techniques, and the use of equipment, to staff as necessary. Assists in orientation of new employees according to established guidelines. Assists appropriate direct care support staff in developing observation and nursing intervention techniques. Communicates individual nursing care plans to staff and assists in implementation.

Assists appropriate direct care staff in the monitoring of patients in restraints, seclusion, and protective devices, or on special precautions. Makes recommendations to appropriate supervisory nurse regarding performance evaluations of subordinate staff.

Observes clients, charting and reporting changes in clients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action. Ensures a safe, secure, clean, and attractive environment for patients, visitors, and staff is maintained. Regularly inspects work area/unit and reports needed repairs to equipment and/or furnishings to appropriate personnel in a timely manner. Orders and maintains appropriate supplies and equipment as required.

Ensures that departmental and hospital…