Licensed Practical Nurse (Methadone Clinic)

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB Under general supervision, provides medical services and medication related activities in the substance abuse clinic. Responsible for the dispensing of methadone and daily documentation of services rendered to include ordering supplies, documenting records, logging records in and out, and maintaining storage for psychotropic medications ordered by the physician in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and professional standards. Administers injections, checks vital signs and weight, screens for medication side effects, interacts with other agencies, and provides consumer with educational activities and information. Reports to the Nurse Supervisor.  ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Coordinates with aftercare pharmacy to order medications, enters medication information into the computer and receives, stores, and delivers and or returns psychotropic medications in a timely manner. Communicates with pharmacies, consumers, providers, and others regarding requests for medication information and refills;  receives and handles instructions from physician, and ensures documents and documentation related to medical services are filed in consumer record. Performs psychotropic medication injections as ordered by physician; and responds to physician request for medication samples to include Abnormal, Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) testing for tardive dyskinesia; maintains records of laboratory tests ordered and results received, and notifies physician of abnormal results. Screens consumers to qualify for pharmacy assistance programs, performs and records consumers' vital signs and weight under order of physician; obtains signed release of information and requests records from outside healthcare providers for consumer medical information. Monitors and orders various medical supplies including prescription pads, needles, and syringes; maintains first aid supplies, and maintains accounting system for supplies as required. Maintains medication storage area with regard to security, cleanliness, organization, and stock; and ensures that all job activities comply with licensure requirements as well as those of other applicable regulatory bodies, a book of the state pharmacy's order and delivery, documentation and monitoring guidelines; keeps abreast of changes in the medication ordering system requirements; communicates to consumers as indicated, and gathers, maintains and updates consumer educational supplies. Coordinate and facilitate Methadone Education classes. Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS  Knowledge of Job :   Has general knowledge of the theory, principles and methodologies of nursing and the needs and services provided to substance abuse clients and the principles of supervision.  Is able to supervise staff and provide nursing care to substance abuse clients.  Is able to understand and interpret oral and written instructions.  Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.   Quality of Work :   Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities.   Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all departments, co-workers and the general public.   Quantity of Work :   Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions".   Dependability :   Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines.   Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, policies, standards and prescribed procedures.  Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.   Attendance :   Attends work regularly and adheres to policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness.  Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.   Initiative and Enthusiasm :   Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities.  Anticipates work load to be completed and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.   Judgment :   Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility; identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives.  Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations.  Implements decisions in accordance with policies and procedures with a minimum of errors.  Seeks expert or experienced advice; and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.   Cooperation : Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet goals and objectives.  Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences are justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc.  Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.Relationships with Others : Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for program and departmental benefit.  Contributes to maintaining high morale among all program employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments; projects and maintains a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city.  Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city.   Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Program Administrator, professionals and the general public. Coordination of Work :   Plans and organizes daily work routine.  Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management.   Avoids duplication of effort.   Estimates expected time of completion of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly.  Attends meetings and planning sessions.  Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules.  Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.    Safety and Housekeeping :   Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies.  Sees that the standards are not violated.  Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.  EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE Requires certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN); 1 - 2 years of progressively responsible experience providing nursing services to substance abuse clients or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities.   Methadone dispensing experience is preferred.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Must be a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the state of Virginia or license eligible. Must have or able to pass Red Cross Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid Certifications or have the ability to obtain certifications within 90 days from date of hire and maintain them as a condition of employment.   Maintains documentation and monitoring guidelines; keeps abreast of changes in the medication ordering system requirements; communicates to consumers as indicated, and gathers, maintains and them as a condition of employment.   An acceptable general background check to include a local, state, and criminal history and sex offender registrycheck.A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Individuals in the position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint. In the event of a declared emergency in the city of Portsmouth, individuals in this position are required to work shelter duty and may be called on the perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIREDTO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Physical Requirements :  Requires the ability to lift and pull up to 20 pounds of force occasionally. Requires prolonged visual concentration, stooping, kneeling, climbing and balancing. Data Conception :  Requires the ability to compare and / or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things. Interpersonal Communications :  Requires the ability of speaking and / or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, maintaining standards and coordinating activities. Must be able to receive information and assignments form supervisor. Language Ability :  Requires the ability to read program and policy manuals, medical records, lab reports, forms, medical books, patient charts, medication and pharmaceutical labels and administrative documents. Must be able to prepare patient charts, program reports, correspondence and a variety of administrative documentation using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.  Intelligence :   Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions; interprets an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; deals with several abstract and concrete variables.   Verbal Aptitude :   Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, follow oral and written instructions.  Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using Standard English and administrative, pharmaceutical and nursing terminology.     Numerical Aptitude :   Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas.  Must be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and compute discount, interest, profit and loss, ratio and proportion and calculate decimals and percentages. Form / Spatial Aptitude :   Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.  Motor Coordination :   Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a variety of nursing supplies and equipment.    Manual Dexterity :   Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as nursing supplies and equipment.   Must have minimal levels of eye / hand / foot coordination.   Color Discrimination :   Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.   Interpersonal Temperament :   Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.   Must be adaptable to performing under varying levels of stress when confronted with persons acting under stress (emergency situations).   Physical Communication :   Requires the ability to talk and / or hear (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).   Must be able to communicate via telephone.   Sensory Requirements :   Requires to the ability to identify colors of medications assessing skin color of consumer to detect possible illness or reaction to medication; detect odor of deteriorated medication; detect body odor related to illness; and hear blood pressure.  AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTSThe City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.  Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.This is a class description and not an individual position description.     A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.