Licensed Practical Nurse (Part-Time)

Mission: 

The LPN will deliver quality psychiatric nursing care to adult patients with behavioral health illnesses and substance abuse issues and serve as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.  The LPN will administer prescribed medications and treatments to patients in accordance with policy.  

Essential Functions: 

• Administers all medication safely in accordance with policy and documents medication given and its effectiveness.
• Promptly and correctly notifies the Shift Director or DON of contracted orders and unavailable medications.
• Recommends improved methods for administering medications within the limits of clinical training.
• Completes all required assessments promptly.
• Consistently reflects ongoing assessments in the patient’s treatment plan and progress notes.
• Implements special precautions when indicated following established policy.
• Consistently puts patients and families at ease regarding hospitalization and treatment.
• Is vigilant and identifies potential patient problems.
• Participates in the treatment planning process, sharing observations and other relevant information.
• Assists patients with treatments and identifies when patients need assistance with ADLs.
• Demonstrates respect for patient rights, as reflected in individualized care.
• Verbalizes and demonstrates proper procedures for infection control.
• Directs staff to ensure the patients are engaged in the activity and the schedule is followed.
• Conducts community meetings and other groups as needed.
• Monitors assignments to ensure that tasks have been completed as assigned.
• Identifies problems promptly, reports, and corrects.
• Communicate effectively to the Shift Director to resolve unit and/or staffing issues promptly.
• Faxes admissions, transfers, and discharges to the admissions office promptly.
• Assures the rounds and interval checks are properly made and documented.
• Treats all patients with dignity and respect.
• Consistently maintains confidentiality of patient and hospital information; follows release-of-information policies and procedures.
• Uses effective verbal and non-verbal techniques to ensure positive outcomes for patients. 

Job Requirements:  

• Possess a valid license as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, two (2) years experience in substance abuse or mental health nursing in a community health care setting, and CPR Certification. 
• Knows how to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as being verbally or physically confronted.

Physical and Mental Job Requirements:

• Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner.
• Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation, and foot traffic.
• Ability to handle interruptions often and move from one task to another.
• Must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinion.
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips.
• Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which they must accurately convey details or important spoken instructions to others, sometimes quickly and loudly. Hearing is to perceive the nature of sound with no less than 40 db loss a Hz, 1000 Hz, or 2000 Hz with or without correction.
• Ability to perceive detailed information through communication and make fine sound discriminations.
• Individuals must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and to be able to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction that will enable people in the role to complete administrative and clerical tasks and visually observe patients on the unit and in therapeutic activities.
• While a worker may possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside.
• Required to travel throughout the city where drug trafficking activity is prevalent.