LPN - PSYCH SVCS

Covenant Health•Louisville, TN

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse in Psychiatric Services, Admitting and Registration provides quality patient care under the clinical direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse. The role helps maintain a safe, therapeutic patient environment and supports patients through therapeutic communication, counseling, education, milieu management, and implementation of treatment plans under RN direction. The LPN administers medications, implements physician orders, documents care, responds to changes in patient conditions, and supports admission, discharge, and emergency-care processes. The position is full-time, 72 hours per pay period, on the night shift. A $5,000 sign-on bonus is offered for experienced candidates. Peninsula Behavioral Health, a division of Parkwest Medical Center and part of Covenant Health, provides mental health services in East Tennessee. Its inpatient and outpatient programs serve children, adolescents, and adults across multiple counties.

Requirements

Current license as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Tennessee or as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Education must be sufficient to meet the standards for the required license and/or certification; no specific minimum education is stated.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in psychiatric nursing is desired.

Responsibilities

Maintain a safe and therapeutic patient environment as part of a patient care team.
Demonstrate and maintain competence in therapeutic communication, supportive counseling, small group dynamics, patient education, and milieu management; provide support and limits to patients and assist with treatment plans under RN direction.
Assist with training, orientation, and teaching of new staff as directed by the Nurse Manager or Nurse Supervisor.
Administer medications, including accessing the pharmacy.
Implement physician orders accurately and document them properly.
Seek administrative or medical consultation to assure quality patient care.
Under RN supervision, access emergency medical care for patients, report to the Emergency Room, ensure an ER report is received before a patient's return, facilitate receipt of records, and provide patient stabilization.
Initiate the Nursing Admission Database and Interdisciplinary Care Plan under RN supervision.
Evaluate nursing actions and patient responses and document each shift in a timely, concise, and legible manner.
Recognize, respond to, and report changes in patient conditions to the RN.
Perform critical skills and deliver care appropriate to the age-specific needs of the population served.
Facilitate discharge and ensure relevant information is comprehensive, accurate, and appropriately documented.
May perform 24-hour chart reviews.
May participate in the treatment team process by interacting with the multidisciplinary team of care providers.
Apply infection control, hospital emergency, hazardous materials management, and patient/proprietary information confidentiality policies.
Advocate for patient rights and process patient complaints and concerns.
Perform ECG, VP, and bedside glucose meter procedures.
Know and follow hospital policies and procedures relevant to the program, as well as safety standards; complete annual education assignments and participate in goals, objectives, and quality improvement initiatives as requested.
Perform other duties as assigned.