LPN-WOODLAWN REHAB

Overview of Role
The licensed practical nurse is a staff nurse who provides direct, primary nursing care to residents and delegates and supervises the care provided by certified nursing assistants.

Qualifications
Current LPN/LVN licensure in the state
At least one year of nursing experience
Continuing education or special preparation or experience in gerontological and/or long-term care nursing desirable.

Major Responsibilities

Administrative
1. Meets with members of the interdisciplinary team to assess, plan, coordinate, and evaluate residents' care.
2. Documents nursing activities accurately and in a timely manner.
3. Receives and records physicians' orders.
4. Communicates staffing problems and needs to the charge nurse.
5. Develops work assignments for nursing assistants and other subordinate staff.
6. Assure subordinate staff complies with job descriptions.
7. Reports problems and complaints to the charge nurse.
8. Provides feedback to nurse managers regarding performance of nursing assistants.
9. Receives and provides end of shift report.
10. Assists in admission, transfer, and discharge of residents.
11. Serves on and participates in committees as assigned.
12. Assures nursing assistants comply with policies and procedures.
13. Reports maintenance and housekeeping needs.
14. Identifies and reports needs for supplies and equipment.
15. Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of quality assurance activities.
16. Adheres to professional codes of ethics.

Clinical
1. Greets and admits new residents.
2. Makes rounds with physicians and other team members as needed.
3. Assesses residents and assists in completion of Minimum Data Set.
4. Participates in developing, implementing, and revising residents' care plans.
5. Coordinates residents' care activities.
6. Identifies and reports changes in residents' status to physicians, responsible family members, and supervisory nursing staff.
7. Recommends, communicates, and implements changes in residents' care plans.
8. Communicates care activities and changes to other team members.
9. Responds to emergency situations.
10. Communicates and coordinates care with residents and their families/significant others.
11. Administers treatments and other direct care.
Prepares and administers medications as prescribed.
Observes and evaluates residents' responses to medications.
Identifies and promptly communicates adverse drug reactions.
Maintains narcotic records accurately.
Orders or arranges for ordering of pharmaceuticals.
Notifies physicians of automatic stop orders.
Notifies charge nurse or supervisor of discrepancies in drug inventories.
12. Collects specimens as ordered.
13. Implements restorative and rehabilitative nursing programs.
14. Respects residents' rights; protects residents from abuse and neglect.
15. Assists with emergencies; administers cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
16. Assures residents have documented advanced directives and residents' preferences are respected.

Education
1. Communicates educational needs of staff to staff development coordinator and supervisors.
2. Participates in the orientation of new employees.
3. Provides instruction to staff as needed.
4. Provides education to residents and families.
5. Attends continuing education programs to maintain competency and improve knowledge and skills.

Staff Care
1. Monitors and evaluates unit's staff efficiency; identifies inefficiencies and plans strategies to improve inefficiencies.
2. Monitors staff stress levels, and implements processes to maintain healthy levels.
3. Educates staff in self care and general health practices.
4. Supports practices that promote holistic health of staff.
5. Empowers frontline staff to contribute to resident care planning.
6. Acknowledges value and importance of staff to the lives of the residents.

Public Relations
1. Promotes a positive image of long-term care nursing.
2. Meets with prospective and current residents and their families.
3. Promotes positive guest relations.
4. Assures problems and complaints involving nursing services are managed and resolved in a timely, appropriate manner.
5. Protects the privacy of residents and employees.
6. Represents the facility and nursing services in professional and community activities as assigned.
7. Maintains positive working relationships between nursing staff and other departments.

Core Competencies
Demonstrate sensitivity to persons who are frail, dependent, and/or with compromised health status.
Provide age-appropriate care based on assessed need.
Incorporate evidence-based gerontological knowledge into practice.
Communicate effectively and actively listen.
Have critical thinking skills, including the ability to synthesize information and make role-appropriate decisions.
Demonstrate a positive attitude.
Show initiative in meeting residents' needs and addressing problems.
Demonstrate self-awareness and emotional maturity.
Follow accepted policies and procedures.
View residents holistically.
Demonstrate skill and ability to effectively work with persons from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds.
Function effectively as part of a team.
Respond appropriately to residents.
Recognize unusual or emergency situations that warrant intervention.
Value and advocate for the rights of the individual and their decisions
Demonstrate knowledge of working with person's with cognitive loss
Demonstrate knowledge of cognitive functional age assessment and data utilization in care planning
Value the psychosocial aspects of long term care
Demonstrate initiative
Be a self-directed learner.
Demonstrate beliefs that they are or are working on becoming an expert in long term care; i.e. know what they know, know what they don't know and have an idea where to go for that information.
Be willing to support their beliefs and stand up and be counted