Job Description

Position Summary
The LPN performs nursing functions, which involve preventive healthcare, health maintenance, and the care of persons who are ill, injured, or experiencing alterations in health processes at the direction of a delegating or supervisory registered nurse, with basic knowledge, judgment, and skills.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Other duties may be assigned.

      1. Evaluates walk-in patients and implements nursing protocols, or refers for provider evaluation/treatment when appropriate.

      2. Assesses patients using nursing process that are within the scope of practice and experience level. When presented with              patient care issues that are outside of the scope of comfort level the LPN will consult with the Physician, Nurse                                Practitioner or Registered Nurse for guidance. (LPN’s in Maryland cannot triage patients):

• Collecting data via patient interview, physical exam and observation, interpretation of diagnostic data and obtaining past medical and family history, while taking into account their physiological, psychological, sociological and spiritual needs Selecting a nursing protocol based on the assessment of the patient’s stated problem
• Assisting the patient to access services in accordance with their medical insurance
• Telephone assessment of patients using telephone calls and other means of communication.

      3. Teaches patient about their illness, preventive health strategies, and monitoring tools, as appropriate.

      4. Prepares and administers IM, subcutaneous, oral and including but not limited to immunizations and allergy injections.                  Administration of medications encompasses monitoring the patients for reactions, recording all information in the                          appropriate medical record, and seeking assistance from an RN or licensed provider as needed.

      5. Prepares patients for examination by taking the chief complaint, recording vital signs, and inquiring about and recording                allergies, prescription refill needs, and referral requests.

      6. Replaces stock medical supplies and forms, and maintains cleanliness and orderliness of assigned exam room. Takes                    responsibility for ordering supplies, checking medication expiration dates, and cleaning instruments as assigned.

      7. Assists providers with procedures as needed and ensures that appropriate instruments are available and after they are                  used that they are cleaned and properly stored or sent for sterilization. Assists the providers with obtaining lab results and            calling patients with normal results as directed by the provider.

      8. Prepares, administers, and records nebulizer respiratory treatments, EKGs, wound dressings, ear irrigation, eye irrigation,                audio-visual screening, and catheterizations as ordered by the physician and in accordance with policies and procedures

      9. Follows infection control policies by properly disposing of “dirty needles” containers and routinely cleaning exam tables, as            well as, cleaning them on a prn basis whenever body fluids come in contact with the surfaces.

Other Related Duties

• Maintains and improves knowledge and expertise through ongoing continuing nursing education and training, to include required CPR certification and customer service skills.
  
• Assists with other work related duties such as covering the front desk, calling in prescription refills, seeking pre-certification, writing referrals, calling lab results to patients, etc. as assigned.
  

 
Qualifications
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education           
High school graduation is necessary.  Completion of an accredited program of education for practical nursing is necessary.  Current licensee as a Practical Nurse is necessary.
 
Experience        
0-5 years of experience as a licensed practical nurse is preferred or an equivalent combination of training and experience is necessary.