PACE Licensed Vocational Nurse

Family HealthCare Network•Visalia, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) plays a crucial role in supporting efficient patient flow and performing various back-office patient care duties. This position involves monitoring patient flow, scheduling appointments, managing patient communication regarding wait times, and following up on no-shows. The LVN assesses patient conditions, educates patients on their health, reviews health records, and obtains vital signs. They also initiate referrals, support dispensary functions like prescription refills, and complete necessary clinical forms. Key responsibilities include administering medications, performing medical tests and procedures such as starting IVs, catheter placements, suture removals, and preparing/administering tests like Tuberculin skin tests and immunizations. Documentation in the electronic health record is essential, as is maintaining exam rooms and monitoring supplies. For those functioning within the PACE program, specific duties include patient assessment, care planning, implementing care according to standards, and providing clinical support during participant visits. They also support smooth care transitions and provide supervision to home care staff. Within the Enhanced Care Management Program, the LVN provides clinical guidance, medication reconciliation, health promotion recommendations, and participates in multidisciplinary team meetings. Adherence to attendance policies and the ability to work at any FHCN location are also required.

Requirements

Proof of completion of high school with a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or completion of General Educational Development (GED) with a minimum overall score of 162.5.
Health care related knowledge frequently acquired through completion of a trade school, para-professional, or certificate type program.
If an individual has completed a degree at a higher level than required by the role and had a stronger GPA in that program, they may provide proof of GPA from that degree in lieu of the high school diploma or Bachelor’s degree.
For a Licensed Vocational Nurse working in the PACE program: Have a minimum of two years of documented experience working with frail or elderly populations.
Ability to prepare more complex documents in Microsoft Word, including creating tables, charts, graphs, and other elements.
Ability to use Microsoft Excel to review and compile data, including the use of formulas, functions, lookup tables, and other standard spreadsheet elements.
Ability to create basic presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint.
If functioning within the PACE program: Work independently and effectively interact with a wide range of health care and social services staff members who work together as an interdisciplinary team.
If functioning within the PACE program: Act within the scope of his or her authority to practice medicine.
If functioning within the PACE program: Before working independently, meet a standardized set of competencies for the specific position description established by FHCN PACE and approved by CMS.
If functioning within the PACE program: Be medically cleared for communicable diseases and have all immunizations updated before engaging in direct participant contact.
If functioning within the PACE program: Pass a criminal background which will verify that the candidate is not excluded from participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs; has not been convicted of criminal offenses related to their involvement in Medicaid, Medicare, other health insurance or health care programs, or social services programs under title XX of the Act; and have not been convicted of physical, sexual, drug or alcohol abuse.
If functioning within the PACE program: Complete all orientation requirements before providing direct participant care.
Licensed as an LVN in the state of California.
Job duties require the compilation of information prepared in effective written form, including correspondence, reports, articles or other documentation.
Effectively conveys technical information to non-technical audiences.
Regularly required to stand or walk and use repetitive hand movement to type and grasp.
Frequently required to bend waist, twist waist, squat, climb, kneel, reach above shoulder height as well as below shoulder height, and/or move items up to 20 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Intravenous Therapy Certification and Blood Withdrawal Certification are preferred.
Candidates without prior experience with the elderly will receive appropriate training.
Successful completion of an LVN externship with Family HealthCare Network.

Responsibilities

Support efficient patient flow in the back office.
Scrubs appointments in advance to ensure necessary information is available for patient visit.
Assists in the effective distribution of patients, including walk-ins using clinical assessment skills.
Keeps patients informed of wait times and ensures patients are properly flowed in system.
Schedules patient appointments.
Follows-up on “no-show” appointments and ensures messages and requests are responded to accordingly.
Assesses and monitors patient’s conditions based on signs and symptoms and notifies provider for disposition.
Educates and counsels patients concerning their disease, treatment, and prevention of disease.
Reviews health records with the patient and updates clinical information such as current medication, medical, and surgical histories.
Obtains vital signs and patient data.
Initiates the follow-up of specialty care referrals and services per policy.
Supports dispensary-related functions, including requests for prescription refills, logging of medications, and pharmacy/patient phone calls.
Completes necessary clinical forms required for patient visit such as patient assistance programs, PM-160’s, and Staying Healthy Assessment forms.
Maintains continuous communication within the patient care team.
Administers medications by hypodermic injection.
Performs important medical tests and procedures on patients.
Starts and manages intravenous fluids, catheter placements and removals, apply splints, cast removals, suture/staple removals, eye irrigations, pregnancy tests and other medical procedures in support of patient care and under the clinical supervision of a Medical Provider.
Verifies medications, injections, and immunizations on behalf of the ordering provider before they are administered.
Prepares and administers Tuberculin skin tests based on standing orders and interprets skin test readings.
Prepares and administers immunizations based on standing orders.
Documents all appropriate patient care activities within the health record, including verification and administration of medications, injections, and immunizations.
Prepares necessary instruments, room set up and obtains consent for required procedures.
Performs CLIA waived screenings and proper documentation in system.
Performs standing orders and clinical indicators such as immunizations and foot screenings.
Performs specimen collection, preparation, and labeling.
Performs veni-puncture procedures.
Obtains medical record releases and ensures the processing of medical record requests.
Scans relevant documents into the electronic health record system.
Performs documentation in the patient’s electronic health record according to policy and training.
Prepares and stocking exam rooms/lab and monitoring adequate supplies in stock.
Discards Biohazard waste and sharps.
Performs weekly testing and weekly/monthly cleaning of sterilization equipment and the sterilization of medical equipment.
If functioning within the PACE program: Collects patient data and completes required forms with appropriate responses according to unit standards.
If functioning within the PACE program: Identifies patient’s overt problems/needs and sets priorities.
If functioning within the PACE program: Identifies problems requiring further referral and follow-up.
If functioning within the PACE program: Observe and record the latest diagnostic results.
If functioning within the PACE program: Makes referrals to interdisciplinary support services and follows patient care plan developed by RN.
If functioning within the PACE program: Care provided conforms to accepted practice standards.
If functioning within the PACE program: Provides correct treatments/procedures and other care according to patient care standards.
If functioning within the PACE program: Demonstrates understanding of age-related characteristics and needs of patients served.
If functioning within the PACE program: Explains nursing procedures in appropriate forms.
If functioning within the PACE program: Provides discharge teaching.
If functioning within the PACE program: Identifies emergencies and takes appropriate action.
If functioning within the PACE program: Understands and demonstrates respect for patient rights and identifies mechanisms for managing ethical issues in patient care.
If functioning within the PACE program: Provides clinical support to the provider during participant visits.
If functioning within the PACE program: Documents participant changes appropriately in the medical records and promptly communicate participant changes to the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT).
If functioning within the PACE program: Delivers and documents nursing interventions as assigned, accurately responding to provider orders, and correctly administering medications, and performing ordered tests and treatments.
If functioning within the PACE program: Supports the clinic and home health staff in managing smooth care transitions between settings (hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, homes, etc.).
If functioning within the PACE program: Provides and documents in-person supervision and instruction to home care staff assigned to participants' homes at least as frequently as specified in the Home Health Agency regulations and more often if necessary.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Review Enhanced Care Management Program (ECM) assessments and care plans to provide clinical guidance while documenting in the EHR and preparedness forms as applicable.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Provide medication, reconciliation and education.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Review depression screenings and provide guidance.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Make health promotion recommendations specific to each SMART goal.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Validate SMART goals and the relevance to patients’ medical diagnosis and medication regimen.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Identify gaps in patient care and provide guidance.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Actively participate in the Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (MDT) to present findings in patient assessments and care plans.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Complete required training for ECM clinical consultants.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Document in the chart after MDT in case conference.
If functioning within the Enhanced Care Management Program: Participate in the audit process as applicable.
Responsible for adhering to the Attendance and Absenteeism Policy.
Ability to present to and work at any FHCN location, both at the beginning of a shift or during a shift, based on business need.
Performs other duties as assigned.