Clinic/Specialty Clinic LVN III

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

2d • $4,867 - $6,336 • Onsite

About The Position

The Clinic Nurse performs advanced vocational nursing work to meet the healthcare needs of individuals living at a State Supported Living Center (SSLC), serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who may be medically fragile or have behavioral problems. The nurse organizes and oversees the daily functioning of an assigned clinic, including scheduling appointments, maintaining records, coordinating supplies, and supervising or assigning work to clinic staff as needed. The role works directly with Primary Care Providers and other nursing and clinic staff to support examinations and treatments, document care, communicate health findings, and promote coordinated care. The nurse also provides direct care in assigned areas when needed and works under limited supervision of an RN or other appropriate supervisor, with considerable latitude to use initiative and independent judgment.

Care duties include focused assessments and screenings; monitoring health status, vital signs, weight, diet, and feedings; collecting specimens and drawing blood as needed; administering medications and treatments; and performing advanced procedures such as tracheostomy, gastrostomy/jejunostomy, wound care, and breathing treatments. The nurse documents assessments, interventions, communications, and appointment outcomes in medical records, and reports changes, trends, and concerns to the appropriate healthcare team members. The position also supports emergency response, infection control, quality assurance, and therapeutic nursing programs; trains and mentors new LVNs and other staff; and provides education to individuals and staff in accordance with care plans.

The position is full-time, regular, nonexempt, day shift, and based at the Austin State Supported Living Center in Austin, Texas. Telework is not eligible. Travel may be up to 5%. Work schedules may include rotating or extended shifts, overtime, on-call duty, weekends, holidays, and alternate shift or location assignments during disaster response or continuity-of-operations activation. The position may be eligible for additional pay for evening, night, weekend, or maximum-security-location work.

Requirements

• Graduate from an LVN program.
• At least 6 months of prior employment experience as an LVN.
• Current license to practice as a licensed vocational nurse in Texas, or in a state that recognizes reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact.
• Maintain current CPR certification.
• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, nursing procedures, medications, side effects, adverse reactions, and signs of medication toxicity.
• Knowledge of nursing care standards and emergency procedures, and ability to use emergency equipment and provide care during emergencies.
• Ability to administer medications to people with developmental disabilities, or to learn the techniques for doing so.
• Ability to perform focused assessments, evaluate healthcare needs, prevent and treat disease processes, and provide care to individuals with complex medical, mental-health, or behavioral-health issues.
• Ability to use critical thinking, identify problems, resolve situations, prioritize work, and manage time to meet deadlines.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records and learn to use an electronic health record system.
• Ability to communicate effectively, instruct others, and interact appropriately with people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, family members, and staff.
• Ability to safely perform CPR, including the necessary strength and flexibility.
• Pass required fingerprint criminal background, pre-employment drug, and registry checks; SSLC employees are also subject to random drug testing.
• Be at least 18 years of age for employment at a state-operated facility.
• Males ages 18–25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Willingness to work weekends and holidays; flexibility in work hours may be required, including overtime or extended hours.

Nice To Haves

• At least 12 months of prior employment as an LVN.
• Experience working or volunteering directly with people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
• Experience organizing or leading others in a clinic setting.
• Experience using an electronic health record system.
• Experience training, teaching, or leading others.

Responsibilities

• Lead and organize the assigned clinic’s daily operations, including scheduling appointments, maintaining a clean and stocked clinic, and ordering or arranging for supplies.
• Supervise, monitor, and assign work to clinic staff as needed, including schedulers and LVNs.
• Prepare, process, and maintain clinic paperwork, patient records, reports, consults, and billing sheets; review clinic documentation for completeness within the scope of expertise.
• Assist Primary Care Providers and other medical staff with examinations and treatments, and monitor individuals’ health, vital signs, weight, diet, feedings, and condition after procedures.
• Perform focused assessments and screenings, draw blood as needed, collect specimens, and conduct appropriate screening tests after competency is documented.
• Accurately and promptly report assessment findings, treatments, symptoms, behaviors, and other pertinent information to healthcare providers and teams.
• Document nursing assessments, interventions, communications, missed appointments, and no-call/no-shows in the appropriate medical record.
• Communicate and collaborate with RN case managers, direct care staff, providers, administration, and other nursing staff to support coordinated care.
• Provide individuals with information and education about procedures and treatments in accordance with their care plans.
• Administer medications and treatments by oral, rectal, topical, internal, or injection routes, and perform advanced procedures such as tracheostomy care, gastrostomy/jejunostomy care, wound care, and breathing treatments.
• Position individuals for treatment and assist or instruct staff in repositioning them; provide care in other SSLC locations, including homes or units, as needed.
• Serve as a direct care or floor nurse as needed, performing routine and non-routine nursing tasks to promote individuals’ health.
• Train and orient new LVNs, observe their work, provide feedback, support completion of on-the-job training checklists, and remain a resource after orientation.
• Instruct direct support professionals and other staff in providing care that supports individuals’ medical needs; cross-train floor nurses to provide clinic backup as needed.
• Assist RNs with protocols and programs related to health and safety, infection control, quality assurance, and therapeutic nursing; collect data and report trends or concerns.
• Respond to emergencies, perform CPR, suctioning, and other emergency procedures as directed, administer prescribed emergency medications, and follow facility safety and infection-control procedures.
• Attend work regularly, follow agency and facility policies, and participate in disaster response, recovery, or continuity-of-operations activities as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Generous time-off benefits.
• Opportunities for career advancement.
• Free CEUs and updated nursing resources through Lippincott access.
• May be eligible for additional pay for work performed on evenings, nights, weekends, or maximum-security locations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed