Licensed Practical Nurse - BHCC Crisis Stabilization Unit

## Description

**Position Summary****:**

Under supervision, provides general direct nursing care to injured, ill, convalescent, or disabled individuals. Care includes providing medical treatments, administering medication, and giving injections.

**Job Responsibilities and Performance Standards:**

**1. May supervise and/or direct the work of others**

1. Administers medication(s) in the proper method, time, and dosage as indicated by the established individual nursing care plan. Explains medication and treatment to patient.
2. Observes and records patient response and/or medication side effects, and immediately reports any adverse reactions to attending physician or supervising nurse.
3. Maintains adequate supply of necessary medications and conducts and records audits of medications and controlled drugs for expiration dates and other data according to established guidelines.
4. Performs blood glucose monitoring as necessary according to established nursing care plan(s).
5. Correctly provides advanced technical nursing to patients, e.g., starts intravenous treatments, administers intravenous medications, and works with patients in intensive care unit.
6. Provides emergency treatment and crisis intervention for physical injuries and behavioral emergencies, as necessary.

**2. Administers prescribed medications or starts intravenous fluids, and notes times and amounts on clients' charts**

1. Takes patients' vital signs, records weight, and obtains laboratory specimens as necessary according to established treatment plan and/or as directed by registered nurse or attending physician.
2. Ensures that hospital, departmental, and unit policies and procedures are followed when providing care to patients under suicide or escape watch, close observation, or in seclusion or under restraints.
3. Assists patients with nutritional care by spoon feeding or tube feeding as necessary and assists with personal hygiene and grooming functions by escorting patient(s) to restroom or bathing as necessary.
4. Ensures that correct transfer techniques and restorative exercises are performed in positioning, ambulating, and maintaining the mobility of patients.
5. Regularly observes patients' daily behavior patterns and physical condition, intervenes as appropriate, and immediately communicates any indication of patient abuse(s) to proper authority.
6. Provides catheter care, tracheotomy care, and/or colostomy care, as necessary and according to established guidelines.

**3. Answers clients' calls and determines how to assist them**

1. Provides training to patients in various activities of daily living such as grooming, toilet functions, eating, and socializing in order to promote increased independence.
2. Assists nurses, therapists, or other staff members in working with patients to provide appropriate instruction, guidance, and modeling for skill acquisition.
3. Assists in conducting appropriate training classes by participating in assigned activities with patients and providing guidance and positive feedback regarding appropriate behavior.
4. Conducts training classes regarding normative, cognitive, and social behavior in the absence of instructor using appropriate and established positive behavioral management techniques.

**4. Helps clients with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene, moving in bed, and standing and walking**

1. Records patient care and other information on appropriate forms in a legible, clear, and timely manner according to established unit policy and standards of care.
2. Transcribes physicians' orders according to established guidelines.
3. Maintains and ensures confidentiality of patients' conditions and records, unit records, staff, and other data on regular basis.
4. Obtains and assesses patient immunization records, according to established guidelines.
5. Schedules appointments, as required. Assures that patients are escorted to their appointments.

**5. Measures and records clients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration**

1. Assists in teaching and demonstrating various nursing techniques, and the use of equipment, to staff as necessary.
2. Assists in orientation of new employees according to established guidelines.
3. Assists appropriate direct care support staff in developing observation and nursing intervention techniques.
4. Communicates individual nursing care plans to staff and assists in implementation.
5. Assists appropriate direct care staff in the monitoring of patients in restraints, seclusion, and protective devices, or on special precautions.
6. Makes recommendations to appropriate supervisory nurse regarding performance evaluations of subordinate staff.

**6. Observes clients, charting and reporting changes in clients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action**

1. Ensures a safe, secure, clean, and attractive environment for patients, visitors, and staff is maintained.
2. Regularly inspects work area/unit and reports needed repairs to equipment and/or furnishings to appropriate personnel in a timely manner.
3. Orders and maintains appropriate supplies and equipment as required.
4. Ensures that departmental and hospital safety and infection control policies are followed.

**7. Provides basic client care and treatments, such as dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas, douches, alcohol rubs, and massages, or performing catheterizations**

1. Attends and participates in treatment team meetings, patient staffing, unit staff meetings, and committees as necessary and incorporates new procedures and/or knowledge into daily practice
2. Contributes to the development of an individual treatment plan by providing relevant information regarding patients and incorporates new procedures and/or knowledge into daily practice.
3. Performs various quality improvement activities according to established guidelines.
4. Attends the change of shift report, as assigned.
5. Attends various in-house or outside educational and training classes as schedule permits and incorporates new procedures and/or knowledge into daily practice.
6. Maintains current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification and/or any other testing or competency requirements.

**8. Records food and fluid intake and output**

1. Defines goals and/or required results at beginning of performance period and gains acceptance of ideas creating a shared vision.
2. Communicates regularly with staff on progress toward defined goals and/or required results, providing specific feedback, and initiating corrective action when defined goals and/or required results are not met.
3. Confers regularly with staff to review employee relations climate, specific problem areas and actions necessary for improvement.
4. Evaluates employees as scheduled intervals, obtains, and considers all relevant information in evaluations and supports staff by giving praise and constructive criticism.
5. Recognizes contributions and celebrates accomplishments.
6. Motivates staff to improve quantity and quality of work performed and provides training and development opportunities as appropriate.

**9. Works as part of a health care team to assess client needs, plan and modify care and implement interventions**

1. ensures that hospital, departmental, and forensic procedures are followed when dealing with unit patients, including patients under security restraints.
2. Maintains awareness of safety and security precautions and alerts supervisory staff to any deficiencies in a timely manner.

**Sample Technical Competencies:**

1. Ability to identify medication.
2. Ability to assist physician.
3. Ability to convey patient’s information to physician.
4. Skill in routine medical procedures, i.e.: applying bandages and/or tourniquets, giving injections, measuring temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, etc.
5. Ability to maintain accurate medical records of treatments, medications, symptoms, and patient conditions.

## Qualifications

**Minimum Qualifications**

• Vocational/Technical degree from an accredited college.
• Current Georgia license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• **Preferred Qualifications:**
• None.
• **Certificates, Licenses, Registrations****:**
• Current Georgia license to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse.