LPN, Pre-Admission Testing

Description

About Us: Founded in 2004 by local physicians, Animas Surgical Hospital has been an integral part of the Four Corners region for more than two decades. Our goal has never been to be the only hospital in Durango but to be the best option for surgery, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, occupational medicine, and internal medicine.

Our Mission: To provide innovative, exceptional healthcare that patients recommend, physicians prefer, and employees are proud of.

Job Summary: The Pre-Admissions Testing (PAT) Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) supports the safe and efficient preparation of patients for surgical and procedural care. Working collaboratively with and under the direction of the Registered Nurse (RN), providers, anesthesia team, and other members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team, the PAT LPN facilitates completion of the pre-surgical health history, medication reconciliation, ordered pre-admission testing, patient education, and preparation of the medical record.

The PAT LPN reviews and collects relevant clinical information, identifies findings requiring further review, and communicates potential concerns to the appropriate RN, provider, or anesthesia team in accordance with established protocols, organizational policies, and the LPN scope of practice. The PAT LPN plays an important role in ensuring the patient's medical record is complete and available to the care team so that identified needs can be addressed prior to the scheduled procedure.

• Conducts pre-admission patient interviews and collects relevant health information, including medical and surgical history, allergies, current medications, previous anesthesia experiences, and other information required for the planned procedure.
• Completes medication reconciliation and documents medications, dosages, frequency, and last dose taken in accordance with established procedures.
• Reviews available patient records and ensures required clinical information and documentation are entered into or available within the electronic health record (EHR).
• Reviews patient information using established PAT protocols, screening criteria, and checklists and escalates findings requiring additional clinical assessment or review to the RN, provider, anesthesia team, or other appropriate personnel.
• Recognizes and promptly communicates abnormal findings, incomplete testing, changes in patient condition, or other potential concerns that may impact readiness for surgery.
• Coordinates completion of pre-admission testing as ordered or indicated by established protocols, including laboratory testing, 12-lead EKGs, and other diagnostic testing within the LPN's scope of practice.
• Performs peripheral venipuncture, specimen collection, and peripheral IV initiation as needed and within demonstrated competency and organizational policy.
• Reviews available test results and communicates abnormal or unexpected findings to the appropriate RN, provider, anesthesia professional, or other designated clinical personnel according to established protocols.
• Facilitates referrals or additional review by anesthesia, the surgeon, primary care provider, or other clinical team members when indicated by established screening criteria or at the direction of the RN or provider.
• Provides patients and families with standardized preoperative education and instructions, including arrival information, medication instructions as directed by established protocols or providers, fasting requirements, preoperative skin preparation, transportation requirements, and other procedure-specific instructions.
• Reinforces patient education and verifies patient understanding of preoperative instructions, escalating questions or concerns outside the LPN's scope to the appropriate RN or provider.
• Communicates with surgeon offices, primary care offices, specialty providers, anesthesia personnel, pharmacies, laboratories, and other departments to obtain necessary records, testing, clearances, orders, and clinical information.
• Assists with identifying incomplete documentation, outstanding testing, or other barriers that may delay or impact the scheduled procedure and communicates these concerns to the appropriate team members in a timely manner.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and complete documentation of patient interactions, clinical information, testing, education, and communication within the EHR.
• Demonstrates appropriate application of age-specific standards, policies, procedures, and guidelines when caring for adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients and pediatric patients as applicable to organizational services.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and complies with HIPAA, organizational confidentiality policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Participates in departmental quality improvement activities, process…