Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurse

Hours: 35 Hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm.

Position Summary:

The House of John Licensed Practical Nurse provides adults with disabilities (ages 21 plus) with daily support and timely medical care within their Day Habilitation environment.  This role administers to individual’s ongoing medical needs and dispenses prescribed medications to individuals as directed by physicians, responds to emergencies, administers first aid and CPR, and determines if more complex medical attention is required.   The House of John Licensed Practical Nurse ensures health and appropriate medical practices are met and maintained according to the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities and other state, federal and agency guidelines, and ensures safety by regularly checking equipment and common use areas and maintains confidentiality concerning medical issues.  This role communicates clearly and at various levels on medical status of individuals, works collaboratively with staff and supports, assists, and fills in for other nurses within the Agency as needed, and recognizes that the highest quality of service is delivered with Hospitality, Respect, Quality, Spirituality, and Responsibility, the core values of the Agency, and maintains confidentiality of departmental records, persons, and activities.

Agency Expectations of Coworkers:

Coworkers are expected to perform their duties in such a way that enhances the dignity and quality of life of all the children and clients that we serve.  St. John of God Community Services (the Agency) is a service of The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, a Religious Order of the Roman Catholic Church, whose mission is to serve the sick, poor, and needy people in over 50 countries worldwide.

St. John of God Community Services expects the following to be met by all coworkers:

• Understands and supports the Agency’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Understands and Respects the Catholic Identity of The Hospitaller Order of St. John of God and St. John of God Community Services.
• Adheres to Agency and departmental policies and procedures.
• Acts as a role model within and outside the Agency while maintaining information in a confidential and needs-to-know manner regarding persons served, families, staff, volunteers, and community partners.
• Performs duties as the workload necessitates by demonstrating flexibility, efficient time management, and the ability to prioritize one’s workload.
• Responds appropriately to interruptions, emergencies, and various safety and evacuation drills.
• Treats attendance and punctuality as essential components of the job.
• Communicates on a timely basis with a supervisor about departmental issues and concerns affecting the safety and well-being of all.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensures appropriate medical practices are met and maintained.  Keeps abreast of medical protocols and guidelines concerning client’s health conditions.

• Administers to client’s ongoing medical needs, dispenses prescribed medications to clients as directed by physicians.  Performs seizure management, oral suctioning, tracheotomy, and g-tube care as needed.  Assesses ongoing physical well-being of clients and follow-up on medical reports. 
• Administers First Aid/CPR or other appropriate medical intervention as needed.  Provides medical opinion and/or health counseling in cases of accidents, injuries, or exposed incidents.  Completes detailed accident/incident reports and notifies program supervisor and administrators in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate and confidential medical records of clients according to NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities guidelines and within HIPAA guidelines.  Documents issues relating to client health, family/guardian contact and Program activities. Assists in the development of Individualized Service plans for clients.
• Complies with policies and procedures concerning infection control/infectious disease and hygiene.   Provides information and reinforcement about universal precautions, communicable diseases, and other health concerns to staff.
• Participates in intakes and case management meetings.  Interprets health history findings.  Acts as liaison between Agency and key medical personnel following the individual, family/guardians, staff, supportive agencies, and community personnel.  Coordinates health referral process and communicates findings with appropriate persons and/or agencies.
• Accompanies clients to and from home and various program activity sites on agency vehicle.
• Assists clients with basic life skills and personal hygiene.
• Provides personal care assistance to both ambulatory and non-ambulatory clients.
• Attends ISP meetings with families/guardians and Agency staff.
• Participates in daily program activities with clients and reinforces goals and objectives.
• Complies with standards set forth in the DDD Supports and Community Care Manuals.
• Complies with HCBS guidelines.
• Participates in planning and implementing cross-training/cross utilization for various department functions.       
• Observes Agency and departmental procedures concerning safety, emergencies, behavior management, and professional conduct.
• Monitors client areas for safety and ease of access.
• Participates in all Safeguarding Trainings related to the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
• Participates in departmental meetings, information sharing and in-service training.  Offers ideas for improved services and operations.
• Develops professional competencies; keeps abreast of related literature, enhances technical skills and knowledge. 
• Promotes teamwork.
• Work flexible hours as needed based on program needs. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications for the Position:

• High School Diploma.  Valid NJ Licensed Practical Nurse license.
• Maintains valid Providers Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation certification from the American Heart Association or the equivalent from the American Red Cross. Continues education to maintain certification and licensure.
• Two (2) years as a Licensed Practical nurse working with people with complex medical needs, and preferably in a DDD/IDD environment.
• Proficient using Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Required skills, knowledge, and ability to perform job.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships.
• Ability to learn new tasks quickly.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) Specifications:

The demands described herein below are representative of those that must be met by a coworker to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Proficiency Rating Legend:

                O = Occasionally – May be called upon to perform from time-to-time.

                R = Regularly – Commonly call upon to perform.

                F = Frequently – Repeatedly called upon to perform; cannot perform job without this function.

• Lifting unassisted: Up to 50 pounds, from the floor level to the at waist level. (F)
• Lifting assisted: Up to 100 pounds, from any level. (O)
• Standing/Walking: Remaining on one’s feet in an upright position or moving about a work area. (F)
• Sitting: Remaining in a normal, seated position. (R)
• Bending/Stooping: Continual, intermittent flexing of the spine; bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. (F)
• Crouching/Kneeling: Bending legs at knees; coming to rest on knees. (F)
• Crawling: Moving about a surface on hands and knees. (O)
• Pushing/Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from or toward the force. (F)
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction. (F)
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, ramps, and the like, using feet and legs, and hands and arms. (F)
• Repetitive finger/hand movements: Usage or other special equipment operated. (F)
• Precise finger/hand movements: Seizing, grasping, turning, or otherwise performing precision work with hand or hands. (F)
• Close vision: Clear vision at 20 inches or less. (F)
• Distance vision: Clear vision at 20 feet or more. (F)
• Color Vision: The ability to identify and distinguish colors. (F)
• Peripheral vision: To observe an area that can be seen up/down or to the left/right, while the eyes are fixed on a given point. (F)
• Depth perception: The ability to judge distance and spatial relationships. (F)
• Focus adjustment/ability: To adjust eyes to bring an object into sharp focus. (F)
• Distinguish foreground/background sounds. (F)
• Hear high/low frequencies. (R)
• Hear/process for conversation speech. (F)
• Effective articulation. (F)
• Voice Projection. (F)
• Read and write at (degree dictated by qualifications) level. (F)
• Taste: The ability to distinguish different flavors. (O)
• Smell: The ability to distinguish different scents. (R)
• Touch: The ability to distinguish tactually. (R)