Licensed Practical Nurse

LPN Position

The LPN functions under the supervision and guidance of the Nursing Supervisor or Provider and participates in the multi-disciplinary process of providing care and treatment to patients. The LPN reports directly to the site manager. The LPN is responsible for functioning within the scope of practice dictated by the authority of the Illinois Board of Nursing. Individuals must be able to manage a demanding workload with accuracy.

The position requires excellent customer service skills with patients, their families, other staff and providers.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Assist the provider with patient office visits including rooming patients, interviewing patients, recording vital signs. Perform point of care testing and Quality Controls including but not limited to; urinalysis, pregnancy test, blood glucose monitoring, HgA1c, Hematocrit. Documents findings into the patient's electronic chart.
• Obtain and check for informed consent from patient, parents, or guardians. Provide clear explanations and encouragement as necessary.
• Check for the presence of allergies and reconcile medications. The LPN also administers and documents medication under physician's order and follows the 6 medication rights in order to reduce the potential for medical errors. Contact pharmacies for routine medication renewal per standing, written, or verbal orders. Communicate with outside resources to assist patients with medications and to self-educate about new medications for teaching purposes.
• May schedule appointments for immediate patient needs, track hospital admission and discharges and give appointments from hospital discharges. LPN must insure correct documentation exists. Follow up on patients who did not keep their appointments, diagnostic testing or lab appointments or follow through on referrals. Contact patients or their families if laboratory findings are abnormal and also mail out letters regarding lab work.
  
  The LPN may be responsible for implementing and maintaining accurate records of patient referrals and updating the referral log as needed. Keep accurate log books including but not limited to CLIA, samples, vaccines, and inpatient tracking.
• May answer phone and relay patient's condition as well as providing messages to providers. LPN should have the ability to manage a patient call and collect the data and relay to the RN or provider to ascertain if the patient needs an office visit or if it is an emergent scenario that needs an ER recommendation. Fields patient's phone calls (patient cases).
  
  Calls may be referred to the RN Supervisor and/or Provider.
• May obtain prior authorizations from insurance companies for medication and other services ordered provider direction.
• LPN will understand the importance of Quality measure guidelines. LPN should take the initiative to have the patient fill out an ROI to obtain any pertinent medical records. LPN should also communicate to provider if patient needs to satisfy a measure.
• LPN should have basic knowledge of adult and children immunization schedules and be able schedule and give age appropriate immunizations. LPN should be able to provide education regarding risks and benefits of immunizations. LPN must understand and follow policy regarding storage and handling of all vaccines.
• The LPN will work their assigned clinical inbox daily and remain within the assigned threshold parameters.
• LPN may be responsible for training new hires/students.
• Initiate referrals to community agencies as directed by health care provider. Offer patient resources to assist with daily needs, shelter, food, transportation, medical education.
• Assist other nursing staff with organizing and stocking supplies and medications. Contribute to the orderliness and cleanliness of the patients' and staffs' environment in joint responsibility with the rest of the staff. Demonstrates appropriate use of Red Bag waste and follows proper sharps procedures. Demonstrates appropriate hand washing technique to insure proper infection control and follows universal precautions. Sterilizes, packages, and autoclaves instruments, using proper sterilization protocols.
• Function within the legal and ethical parameters of nursing care and the policies of SIHF. Ensures that all patient information is protected according to HIPPA guidelines.
• Seek opportunities to attend continuing education programs and report to nursing staff on new or updated information obtained through attendance.
• Identify problem areas with supervisor, and seek ways to improve the quality of patient care and nursing time management, and implement a plan of action to bring about change.
• Approach each situation with a positive attitude and treat every patient you meet with dignity and respect. Establish effective working relationships with members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, skills, abilities:

• Ability to work with the public and health care professionals.
• Communicate clearly and be able to respond to…