Licensed Practical Nurse

Campbell Street•Grundy Center, IA

About The Position

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides residents with high-quality direct routine care under RN supervision and in accordance with Board of Nursing standards, the Residents’ Bill of Rights, and the facility’s Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program. The LPN participates in developing and modifying resident-centered Plans of Care, implements interventions delegated, ordered, or prescribed by an RN or physician, collects and documents resident health data, and reports changes and responses to interventions to the RN. The LPN also assigns and monitors tasks performed by unlicensed nursing staff, taking their knowledge, skills, and capabilities into account. Nursing activities support residents in achieving and maintaining the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. The position includes conducting focused resident assessments; communicating care needs and changes to caregivers, the RN, residents’ families, and the interdisciplinary team; implementing and evaluating nursing interventions; providing health promotion and disease-prevention information; protecting residents’ dignity, privacy, rights, and safety; and maintaining accurate, secure records in accordance with applicable regulations, including HIPAA. The LPN supports safe medication administration and compliance with physician orders, infection-control and safety practices, incident reporting, and facility procedures. The role also includes guiding nursing staff, prioritizing assignments according to staffing and resident acuity, following up on delegated work, providing nursing reports, and implementing disaster procedures when needed.

Requirements

Completion of a professional nursing education program approved by the Board of Nursing for the state in which the facility is located.
Current Practical Nurse license in the state in which the facility is located.
Current certification in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and emergency care.
Leadership ability to achieve established goals through staff inspiration and loyalty.
Resilience and ability to receive constructive feedback, course-correct, and not take feedback personally.
Personability and ability to work with different personality types and inspire trust among residents, staff, and families.
High emotional intelligence.
Ability to actively listen with the goal of understanding.
Ability to clearly speak and proficiently read, write, and understand English.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a skilled nursing and/or assisted living community.

Responsibilities

Conduct focused resident assessments using interviews, observation, and medical-record review, and use the collected information to participate in drafting integrated, resident-centered Plans of Care.
Carry out nursing responsibilities in the Plan of Care, communicate resident needs to primary caregivers, and report changes and responses to interventions to the RN.
Monitor and document resident care and outcomes, and provide recommendations to support quality of life.
Implement nursing interventions and assist with evaluating their effectiveness in collaboration with the interdisciplinary care team.
Provide equitable, resident-centered care; share health-promotion and disease-prevention information; and protect residents’ rights, dignity, privacy, and autonomous decision-making.
Immediately report suspected, reported, or witnessed abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property.
Interact with residents’ families or support networks and report changes in residents’ health, treatment, care, or living situation.
Recognize limits of knowledge, skill, and experience and facilitate situations beyond the LPN’s competency.
Promptly answer or facilitate responses to call lights and promote proper body mechanics, safe lifting, and safe care techniques among nursing staff.
Follow site safety policies, OSHA bloodborne-pathogen guidelines, infection-control procedures, handwashing practices, and cleaning and disinfection schedules; maintain safe and clean resident rooms and facility areas.
Ensure physician orders are followed and that resident records are systematically collected, reported, documented, and protected from unauthorized access in accordance with state and federal regulations, including HIPAA.
Gather and document admission and discharge data and document nursing orders that have been initiated.
Follow pharmaceutical policies for medication sign-out and administration, medication-error reporting, physician orders, labeling and expiration dates, controlled substances and end-of-shift counts, and PRN documentation.
Promptly report and document incidents and errors involving residents, staff, visitors, or the LPN.
Evaluate supportive nursing staff practices, communicate expectations, and provide corrective guidance.
Prioritize assignments according to staffing availability and resident-care acuity, and ensure adequate staffing, working as a staff nurse if needed.
Ensure assigned duties are completed, follow up on delegated tasks, review departing staff reports, and provide nursing reports on daily care needs and significant changes in residents’ conditions.
Maintain knowledge of disaster procedures and implement them when needed.