Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

The Spine Hospital Of Louisiana At The Neuromedical Center•Baton Rouge, LA

56d•Onsite

About The Position

POSITION SUMMARY The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is responsible for patient reception, scheduling, and medical record management, while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality. This role coordinates all aspects of the pre-admission process for surgical patients and their families, ensuring timely, accurate, and complete documentation in accordance with anesthesia, surgical, and hospital requirements. The LPN serves as a patient educator and verifies all pre-service information received from multiple sources. Acting as a key liaison among SHOLA departments, physician offices, and anesthesia providers, the LPN supports optimal patient readiness, safety, and a seamless perioperative experience.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited nursing school for licensed practical nurses (LPN).
Two (2) years of experience as a nurse in a clinical environment is preferred.
Currently licensed as a Licensed Practical Nurse by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA).
Excellent communication skills, including oral and written.

Nice To Haves

Extensive customer service experience in healthcare, with an emphasis on perioperative services, is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide high-quality, patient-centered care that prioritizes safety, comfort, dignity, and optimal surgical outcomes.
Demonstrate strong clinical competence, sound nursing judgment, and attention to detail in all aspects of patient assessment and care delivery.
Greet and assist patients and visitors in a friendly, courteous, and professional manner.
Schedule, confirm, and modify Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) appointments in accordance with physician orders, surgery schedules, and departmental protocols.
Receive and process information related to proposed services via phone, fax, email, electronic documents, or the SHOLA worklist.
Communicate appointment changes, missing documentation, or potential delays to prevent scheduling disruptions.
Escort patients to exam rooms, prepare them for assessment, and ensure comfort, privacy, and confidentiality.
Perform thorough nursing assessments, identify patient needs or abnormalities, and report potential perioperative risks to the appropriate provider.
Accurately carry out physician orders and seek clarification when orders are incomplete or unclear.
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment while ensuring proper equipment functionality and cost-effective use of supplies.
Monitor and maintain appropriate office and medical supply inventory to support continuous operations.
Complete all required PAT documentation, including medical histories, surgical and diagnostic history, allergy documentation, and home medication lists.
Confirm preoperative medication instructions and communicate clear guidance to patients based on anesthesia and surgeon requirements.
Verify completion and documentation of all required preoperative testing and medical clearances before surgery.
Enter documentation accurately into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and ensure proper routing of referrals, updates, and supporting information.
Review daily surgery schedules to identify changes that affect patient preparation or documentation requirements.
Provide comprehensive preoperative and postoperative education to patients and families and address any questions or concerns.
Educate patients on NPO/fasting requirements, arrival instructions, check-in procedures, postoperative expectations, and transportation needs.
Maintain clear, respectful, and timely communication with patients, families, physicians, anesthesia staff, surgeons, and other departments.
Assist patients with obtaining specialty referrals; track completion and ensure all required documentation is received and routed appropriately.
Identify potential anesthesia or surgical risks and promptly escalate concerns for further evaluation or intervention.
Complete PAT documentation by phone for patients who have not been assessed in the Clear Path Surgical Clinic, ensuring accuracy and thoroughness equal to in-clinic visits.
Document all patient communication, education, documentation updates, and referrals in the EMR wholly and accurately.
Maintain current knowledge of anesthesia guidelines, preoperative preparation standards, and departmental protocols.
Collaborate with physicians, anesthesia providers, surgeons, PAT nurses, schedulers, and other team members to support seamless surgical preparation.
Assist with the completion of Health Questionnaires and Pre-Anesthesia Evaluation forms.
Protect patient dignity, privacy, and confidentiality, and comply with all federal and state laws and regulations, including HIPAA.
Promote SHOLA's culture of exceptional patient satisfaction by providing excellent service and supporting team accountability.
Participate in departmental meetings, staff education, and performance improvement activities.
Crosstrain and provide support to colleagues within the department as needed.
Meet departmental standards related to timeliness, accuracy, efficiency, and quality.
Assist with training new team members.
Perform other duties as assigned.