LPN - Inpatient Orthopedics

Carle Health•Urbana, IL

About The Position

The Inpatient Orthopedics LPN supports patient care in collaboration with registered nurses. When the unit is full, the LPN works with RNs caring for patients with the highest acuity or is paired with an RN who has a heavy patient load. When the UNL has patients, the LPN is paired with the UNL to assist with that patient load. LPN duties include medication administration, IV piggyback medications and fluids (excluding IV push medications), tracheostomy care, dressing changes, and documentation on assessments and care plans after the RN has completed the initial assessment and started the care plan. The role also includes communicating with physicians and advanced practice providers, supporting patient education and discharge instructions, and completing assigned annual education related to DNV Hip and Knee Replacement Program requirements, if applicable. Carle Health is a healthcare organization with more than 17,000 team members and providers serving central and southeastern Illinois. It includes seven hospitals across eight campuses and a multispecialty provider group. Carle Health describes its workplace as one where team members are valued, respected, and empowered, and is an equal opportunity employer.

Requirements

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
College diploma as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) within 30 days.

Responsibilities

Work with RNs caring for patients with the highest acuity when the unit is full, or be paired with an RN who has a heavy patient load.
Assist the UNL with the UNL patient load when the UNL has patients.
Pass medications and hang IV piggyback medications and fluids, excluding IV push medications.
Chart assessments for assigned patients after an RN has charted the initial assessment.
Chart on care plans opened by the RN; request that an RN open new care plans as needed.
Communicate with physicians and advanced practice providers to receive orders and coordinate patient care.
Complete dressing changes and tracheostomy care as needed.
Insert and care for NG tubes and provide feedings through NG tubes.
Care for and change ostomies.
Reinforce patient education and discharge instructions.
Complete annual education as assigned to comply with DNV Hip and Knee Replacement Program requirements, if applicable.