Licensed Vocational Nurse

About Us

Sonoma Specialty Hospital, the county’s only Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, is dedicated to caring for patients that require an extended acute care stay due to severe illness or catastrophic injury. We receive patients from the ICU, Step‑Down and Telemetry units of partner hospitals and continue their care for up to 45 days. Focus is on ventilator weaning, wound healing, post‑operative recovery and rehabilitation to speed return to daily life.

The hospital provides ICU, surgical and step‑down care with dialysis, multi‑specialty therapies and plans for transition back home or lower level of care.

Using independent and interdependent judgement, the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) maintains the delivery of quality care by ensuring the nursing care plan is followed. In collaboration with the physician and registered nurse, the LVN implements the assessment plan and follows up on the plan of care for patients.

• Participate in ongoing systematic data collection of patients’ physical, emotional, social, educational, and functional needs via interview, observation, and physical examination.
• Provide plans, coordinate or manage nursing care, nursing services and health education to patients and residents.
• Interpret data collection and implement nursing care plans, including problem identification, nursing diagnosis, orders, interventions, goals and discharge planning.
• Follow nursing care plans utilizing nursing diagnosis.
• Assess safety and fall‑risk levels for patients.
• Ensure medical orders are transcribed, processed accurately and integrated into nursing care.
• Administer medications correctly and in accordance with nursing policies; look up unfamiliar medications, process orders, administer as ordered, evaluate effectiveness of PRN medications and verbalize processes for self‑administered medications.
• Ensure personal and environmental safety per hospital and nursing policies.
• Demonstrate skills in handling emergencies and life‑threatening situations (e.g., locate and use crash cart items, call Code Blue, initiate CPR, follow P&P and POLST).
• Maintain complete, factual and timely documentation in the medical record, including materials used, order notation, discharge notes, care plans and inter‑agency transfer forms.
• Collect data for a complete head‑to‑toe assessment during each shift; act promptly on changes in patient condition; review lab and test results and notify physicians of abnormal or critical values; perform wound care according to policy.
• Perform basic respiratory monitoring and support (non‑invasive): collect respiratory data, assist with pulse‑oximeter and basic devices, administer aerosolized medications, provide hygiene care related to respiratory needs, assist with oxygen therapy, document and communicate respiratory status.
• Prioritize activities and plan for effective use of time for patient needs.
• Communicate nursing care plans through reports, conferences, rounds and patient care records; conduct shift‑to‑shift reports and huddles with aides.
• Teach nursing assistants new techniques, policies and procedures (preceptor responsibilities).
• Participate in quality improvement activities and attend appropriate meetings.
• Communicate learning needs to the Director of Nursing and assist in orientation of new staff.
• Adhere to established hospital and nursing policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in nursing committees.
• Perform additional duties as assigned or requested.
• Evaluate own performance; seek opportunities for growth and skill expansion.
• Maintain current nursing licensure and required competencies; complete assigned program tracks and clinical advancement levels.
• Maintain membership in professional organizations and personal health; report symptoms of illness or contagious disease to Employee Health.
• Show a customer‑service attitude toward patients, visitors, and colleagues; demonstrate telephone and intercom skills and correct paging of physicians.
• Follow safety, infection‑control and other guidelines (isolation care, hand‑washing, equipment cleaning).
• Promote continuous quality improvement and document implementations.
• Provide competency to treat adults (18+) and…