LVN Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases Clinics

Job Summary

Under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) and guided by the policies and procedures of Ambulatory Services, the Licensed Vocational Nurse works in collaboration with the clinical team in delivering high‑quality care to patients in the Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases Clinics. The LVN is responsible for providing nursing care to patients in the ambulatory setting, individualizing care to meet each patient’s physiological and psychosocial developmental level and needs.

Functions as a member of the interdisciplinary and nursing teams; carries out established nursing procedures and performs related duties as required by patient need. Works collaboratively with the RN as a nursing resource for staff and provides nursing supervision that is within the scope of practice in the absence of the RN. The LVN triages patient phone calls and messages, directing assessment‑need calls to RN or MD.

The LVN supports the clinical team that consists of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, medical assistants and program coordinators.

The Allergy and Immunology (AI) Clinic evaluates and treats patients with a variety of allergic conditions including asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, rashes, food allergy, drug hypersensitivity, and bee sting allergy. The AI Clinic also cares for patients with immune deficiencies, frequent infections and inflammatory diseases. Complete skin testing and injection therapy for allergies are available. The UCSF Infectious Diseases Clinic offers evaluation and treatment for a wide range of infectious diseases, with a focus on complex or unusual conditions.

Common concerns include:

• Recurrent infections of the skin or other soft tissue (supportive tissues such as muscles and fat)
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Recurrent herpes virus infections
• Mycobacterial infections of the lungs and skin
• Coccidioidomycosis, or valley fever, a type of fungal infection
• Fever of unknown cause
• Bone and joint infections
• OPAT (Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy)

General duties and responsibilities include clinical and administrative functions. The LVN supports nursing duties and follows the nursing process. Clinically, the LVN manages patient flow, obtains vital signs, reviews health maintenance status, administers immunizations, monitors and maintains exam‑room supplies, enters and reviews patient information in the electronic medical record (Apex), and assists with emergencies as outlined in the departmental Emergency Manual.

Administratively, the LVN performs patient registration, verifies patient health insurance, schedules appointments, receives telephone calls, manages insurance authorizations, coordinates new patient visits and collects copays. The LVN demonstrates outstanding customer service skills with patients and staff and is proficient with the electronic medical record system. The LVN must comply with all organizational policies pertaining to HIPAA and the safeguarding of patient health information, organizational nursing policies and state laws regarding scope of practice, infection control and safety policies, and maintain current licensure with all required trainings.

The LVN notifies the Administrative Nurse and clinical team of any problems in the clinic.

• Screening
• Identifies the needs and responses of patients to medical regimens and treatment through observation of symptoms, emotional state, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and responses.
• Recognizes and reports specific physical and emotional conditions/needs/concerns of the patient to appropriate members of the health‑care team, alerting a provider of unusual observations (e.g., chest pain, shortness of breath, allergic reactions).
• Planning
• Works cooperatively with the health‑care team to discuss patient alternatives to health‑care services and to develop short‑ and long‑range goals to meet patient needs.
• Implementation/Evaluation
• Provides individualized nursing care which responds to the growth and developmental needs of patients and demonstrates an understanding of the range of treatment required.
• Demo…