Licensed Vocational Nurse II

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Corpus Christi, TX

3d • $4,548 - $5,921 • Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Vocational Nurse II provides highly complex vocational nursing care to individuals residing at a State Supported Living Center who may have complex medical, mental health, or behavioral health issues. The nurse performs routine and non-routine nursing tasks to promote residents’ health, treatment, and general welfare, and works under the general supervision of an RN with moderate latitude to exercise initiative and independent judgment. The role includes evening shifts across multiple homes and may involve work at other SSLC locations, rounds or home visits, clinic or laboratory duties, and accompanying individuals to off-site activities or appointments requiring nursing attendance. The position is not eligible for telework and may require travel up to 5%. Additional pay may be available for evening, night, and/or weekend work.

The nurse administers medications and treatments; performs technical procedures such as tracheostomy, gastrostomy/jejunostomy, wound care, and breathing treatments; collects laboratory specimens; conducts screenings; monitors vital signs, weight, diet, feedings, and post-treatment health; recognizes and reports signs of illness; and accurately documents care in an electronic health record or paper chart. The nurse instructs direct support professionals and other staff on residents’ medical needs and care, trains and mentors new LVNs, and assists RNs with protocols and programs related to health, safety, infection control, quality assurance, and therapeutic nursing. The position also requires responding to emergencies, maintaining supplies, providing information and education to residents as appropriate to their care plans, and treating HHS employees injured in the course and scope of employment.

Employees must attend work regularly and may be assigned rotating schedules, extended shifts, overtime, on-call duty, weekends, holidays, or alternate shifts and locations during disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations activation. Applicants must pass applicable background, registry, fingerprint, and drug-screen checks. Employees at State Supported Living Centers are subject to random drug testing.

Requirements

• Graduation from an LVN program.
• Current licensure to practice as a vocational nurse in Texas or in a state recognizing reciprocity through the Nurse Licensure Compact, or a temporary permit to perform supervised nursing duties while awaiting licensure.
• Maintain current CPR certification.
• Knowledge of nursing care standards, nursing procedures and techniques, and principles and processes for providing appropriate patient care.
• Knowledge of emergency procedures and equipment, including CPR, and ability to assess and care for residents or staff in emergencies.
• Reasoning skills to identify problems and consider appropriate resolutions.
• Computer and applicable software skills, including ability to use an electronic health record system once trained.
• Skill in the care and treatment of patients.
• Ability to provide care to individuals with complex medical, mental health, and/or behavioral health issues.
• Ability to prepare and maintain records.
• Ability to communicate effectively and instruct others.
• Ability to interact appropriately with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, their families, and staff.
• Strength and flexibility to safely perform CPR.
• Must be at least 18 years of age for employment at a state-operated facility.
• Must pass required fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks, including CANRS, Nurse Aide, Medication Aide, Employee Misconduct, and HHS LEIE checks.
• Must be willing to work weekends and holidays; flexibility in work hours, overtime, and extended hours may be required.
• Employees are subject to random drug testing.
• Males aged 18–25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

Nice To Haves

• Prior employment experience as an LVN.
• Experience working or volunteering directly with people with intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities.
• Experience using an electronic health record system.

Responsibilities

• Administer medications and treatments orally, rectally, internally, or by injection.
• Assist RNs, physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants with examining and caring for patients.
• Perform complex technical nursing procedures, including tracheostomy care, gastrostomy/jejunostomy care, wound care, and breathing treatments, in accordance with facility and state regulations.
• Collect laboratory specimens and conduct requested screening tests.
• Monitor individuals’ weight, diet, feedings, vital signs, and health status following treatments and procedures.
• Recognize symptoms of illness and report them accurately to the RN and/or Primary Care Provider.
• Document and report treatments and observations accurately and promptly in electronic or paper medical records.
• Communicate pertinent information to interdisciplinary team members to support care decisions.
• Instruct direct support professionals and other staff on resident care, medical needs, and post-treatment monitoring.
• Train and mentor new LVNs, including helping them learn nursing functions and residents’ needs and preferences.
• Assist RNs with implementing protocols, procedures, and programs to improve the health and safety of staff and individuals.
• Assist with infection-control measures, quality-assurance programs, therapeutic nursing programs, and data collection for the RN or Primary Care Provider.
• Provide residents with information and education about procedures and treatments in accordance with their care plans.
• Ensure individuals are positioned appropriately for treatments and assist or instruct staff with repositioning when needed.
• Maintain inventory and ensure supplies are available and homes or units are properly stocked; order supplies through appropriate channels.
• Respond to emergencies and follow facility safety and infection-control procedures.
• Provide treatment to HHS employees injured in the course and scope of employment.
• Work in the clinic or laboratory, assist with patient scheduling, make rounds or home visits, and accompany individuals off site when nursing attendance is needed.
• Attend work regularly and, as operationally required, work assigned shifts, rotating schedules, extended hours, overtime, on-call duty, weekends, holidays, or alternate shifts and locations.
• Participate in disaster response or recovery and Continuity of Operations activation as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Generous time-off benefits.
• Opportunities for career advancement.
• Free continuing education units (CEUs) and updated resources through Lippincott access for nurses.
• Additional pay may be available for work performed on evenings, nights, and/or weekends.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed