Licensed Vocational Nurse – Front Entrance First Responder & Registration

East Houston Medical Center•Houston, TX

122d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is a shared role between Emergency Services and Admitting/Patient Access and functions at the hospital’s main entrance as the first clinical and registration contact for arriving patients. Under Emergency Services, the LVN supports front‑end triage by performing LVN‑scope assessments, identifying urgent/emergent conditions, initiating basic interventions, and rapidly notifying ED nursing and providers to support safe, timely care. Under Admitting/Patient Access, the LVN completes registration, verifies insurance, obtains required consents, collects point‑of‑service payments when appropriate, and ensures accurate demographic and coverage data to support billing and throughput. The Licensed Vocational Nurse – Front Entrance First Responder & Registration is stationed at the hospital’s main entrance and serves as the first clinical and administrative contact for arriving patients, families, and EMS. This role combines LVN‑scope first response with accurate registration, insurance verification, and coordination of patient flow to support safe, efficient hospital operations.

Requirements

Current, unencumbered LVN license in the State of Texas (or state of practice) and current BLS certification.
Knowledge of LVN scope of practice, patient safety standards, and basic emergency response expectations in the hospital setting.
Prior experience in patient registration, patient access, or admissions preferred; or proven ability to learn EHR and registration/financial systems quickly.
Working knowledge of health insurance terminology (copay, deductible, prior authorization, in‑network/out‑of‑network) and medical terminology.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to manage distressed patients and families while maintaining workflow and safety.
Demonstrated attention to detail, accuracy in data entry, and adherence to confidentiality/HIPAA requirements.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience as an LVN in hospital, emergency, or urgent care preferred
experience in triage/team‑triage or front‑end ED operations is a plus.

Responsibilities

Receive all walk‑in and EMS‑arriving patients at the main entrance, quickly determine whether they require immediate clinical attention, and notify ED triage/charge nurse or rapid response per protocol.
Perform LVN‑scope assessments as directed by RN or provider (e.g., vital signs, pain assessment, brief history, observation of distress) and communicate findings promptly.
Initiate LVN‑appropriate interventions according to hospital policy (e.g., basic comfort measures, assisting with positioning, preparing for IV/labs if in scope and ordered) while awaiting transfer to clinical care areas.
Complete patient registration in the EHR for ED, observation, and outpatient encounters, including demographics, guarantor, emergency contacts, and visit reason, following patient access workflows.
Verify insurance eligibility and benefits using established tools; document coverage, plan details, and authorizations as required and flag self‑pay or coverage concerns financial counseling.
Collect co‑payments, deductibles, and other required payments in accordance with hospital policies; issue receipts and follow cash‑handling procedures.
Present and obtain signatures on consent to treat, financial responsibility, HIPAA, and other required forms; ensure all required documentation is completed before or shortly after treatment, consistent with EMTALA and hospital policy.
Generate and apply patient ID bands and labels, verifying two patient identifiers and correct encounter for every visit to support patient safety and reduce mislabeling risk.
Answer phones and in‑person inquiries at the front desk, provide directions and general information, and route clinical or operational calls to the appropriate department.
Monitor the entrance and lobby for safety, infection‑prevention, and behavioral concerns; escalate to security, nursing leadership, or administration per established chain of command.
Document all clinical observations and LVN‑level care provided at the entrance in the medical record, following hospital documentation standards and scope‑of‑practice guidelines.
Participate in patient flow initiatives (e.g., communication with bed control, ED charge, or house supervisor) to reduce wait times and improve throughput from entrance to treatment area.