LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

Fulton County, GA • Atlanta, GA

77d

About The Position

The purpose of this classification is to perform duties related to providing prescribed medical treatment and patient care to County residents including collecting patient's specimens, administering therapeutic medication injections, completing nursing assessments, intervening in and managing crises, and tracking patients for immunization.  Licensed Practical Nurse is distinguished from Licensed Practical Nurse, Senior in that the former does not supervise assigned staff but provides basic patient care to County residents, whereas the latter supervises assigned Licensed Practical Nurses and support staff in addition to providing patient care to County residents.

Requirements

• Associates Degree in Nursing or a related field supplemented by two (2) years of experience as a Licensed Practical Nurse; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver's license; must possess and maintain a state of Georgia license as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Responsibilities

• Assesses client condition and administers medications:  Identifies correct client; verifies medication order; prepares and administers properly; monitors site and client for side effects or complications; disposes of used needles and syringes; monitors  blood pressure, pulse, respiration for abnormalities; monitors clients' weight and records changes; counsels clients on importance of good health and medication management and proper amount of exercise; and assists with scheduling next appointments for medication and physician.
• Maintains individual medication profiles as well as medication and injection temperature logs: Maintain clients' individual medication profile including medication name, dosage, date ordered, date received, expiration date of medication, date opened, date disposed, reason disposed. and client's tolerance level; orders and restocks medications as needed; and maintains a daily refrigerator temperature log for the medications stored in the refrigerator.
• Provides telephone assistance, problem solving and crisis intervention for mental health clients, families and staff: Answers incoming calls from clients and their families for assistance with medications and side effects, appointments, education of symptoms, requests for documentation, verification of diagnosis; calls primary care providers for appointments and lab reports; contacts pharmacies for medication refills; and communicates with state, local and other agencies and hospitals for discharge summaries and medication verification  with release of information.
• Attends and in some cases conducts weekly, monthly and quarterly meetings: Attends triage, treatment and staff meetings twice weekly with Site Supervisor, Clinicians, PHNTs and physicians to discuss  changes in clients' services and conditions; attends monthly meetings with Medical Director and other Team nurses at different locations to update information, forms, audits and new coding information; and meets quarterly for infection control meetings to discuss new information and to bring forth any issues with  the buildings, clients or equipment used.
• Completes numerous forms and assists with letters and documents: Completes lab request forms initiated by the physician; completes client appointment request for services with primary care physicians; Liaise between clients and physicians, insurance providers, pharmaceutical companies, and other internal and external agencies on behalf of the client; and gives instructions and information to client to obtain services for those without insurance.
• Provides training, education and groups for clients, families and staff: Provides training to subordinate staff and Nurse Technicians staff on PAP programs; provides education to clients, and families about diagnosis, medication injections, actions and side effects, therapeutic blood levels, good health habits and exercise in individual, family and group settings; provides training to staff on computer programs, CPR, Infection Control, and Immunizations Emergency Preparedness and drills; and coordinates and obtains resource information for staff to use.
• Provides assistance to all areas of the center to maintain smooth flow and transition of services to the clients; monitors the phones and redirects calls; pulls and files charts, takes vital signs, and coordinates the charts to the appropriate team member for services; performs crisis intervention with unruly or agitated clients and family; intervenes in emergencies and initiates 911 call in medical emergencies; and reports to site supervisor and others in authority any concerns as they arise.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees