Primary Care Center- Licensed Practical Nurse

Job Description

Provides general nursing care to patients in an ambulatory setting or clinical practice. Provides nursing service to patients and families in accordance with the standards of practice of a Licensed Practical Nurse, Connecticut Children’s policies and procedures, State and federal regulations. Provides Care coordination for patients following provider’s orders. Reports to the Nurse Practice Manager and Practice Director.

The practice of nursing by a licensed practical nurse is defined as the performing of selected tasks and sharing of responsibility under the direction of a registered nurse or an advanced practice registered nurse and within the framework of supportive and restorative care, health counseling and teaching, case finding and referral, collaborating in the implementation of the total health care regimen and executing the medical regimen under the direction of a licensed physician, physician assistant, podiatrist, optometrist or dentist.

• Perform vital sign measurements: temperature (tympanic, oral, rectal and axillary), blood pressure (manual and electronic), pulse (apical, radial, brachial, femoral and pedal), respirations and pulse oximetry, head circumference, weight, height, hearing and vision exams, and point‑of‑care testing as utilized by the clinic.
• Verify patient using two identifiers prior to care or data collection.
• Notify RN or physician immediately if a patient presents in distress or has vital signs out of normal limits.
• Document care accurately, thoroughly and efficiently during the patient visit.
• Complete Pedi Essentials, annual competencies and mandatory in‑services as scheduled.
• Follow infection control guidelines, policies and procedures during every patient and family encounter.
• Administer medication within the scope of practice for a Licensed Practical Nurse, including oral, rectal, topical, ophthalmic, otic, respiratory and injections, and perform spirometry procedures as directed.
• Triage phone calls within the LPN scope of practice, deferring triaging, assessments and teaching to the registered nurse or provider when outside scope of practice.
• Facilitate the flow of patients within the clinical practice.
• Maintain knowledge of the pediatric and adolescent vaccine schedule.
• Assist with administrative tasks: answering phones, completing prior authorizations, abstracting data into EPIC, updating medical record demographics, following HIM processes, and completing school form requests.
• Complete orientation for the state vaccine program and remain compliant with all program aspects, including patient eligibility screening, administering vaccines based on correct schedule and physician order, reviewing all allergies prior to vaccination, proper injection technique, correct handling and storage of vaccines, maintaining temperature logs, and following protocols for ordering, receiving, transferring, wasting vaccines, temperature excursions, and adverse reactions.
• Demonstrate age‑specific and cultural competence, applying knowledge of population‑specific differences from pre‑school through adolescence, ensuring cultural sensitivity in interactions with patients, families, and coworkers, and supporting the mission and values of the organization through behaviors consistent with CCMC Standards.
• Compliance with all aspects of the Vaccine for Children Program.
• Supervise medical assistants, ensuring correct vital sign technique, infection control compliance, and delegation for overall clinic flow; report compliance deviations to the nurse practice manager immediately.

• 
  
  Education and/or Experience
  
  Required:
  
  High School Diploma, GED, or a higher level of education that would require the completion of high school is required.
• Education and/or Experience Preferred: Completion of a state accredited practical nurse education program preferred; one year in a pediatric clinical setting or school nurse role is preferred.
• License and/or Certification
  
  Required:
  
  Current State of Connecticut Department of Public Health licensure as a licensed practical nurse required; CPR certification required.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of theories, principles, techniques and practices of professional nursing;
  State Department of Education regulations and requirements related to pediatric immunizations, patient health record maintenance and medication administration and policies.
  
  Skills:
  
  effective oral and written communication skills; first aid skills.