LPN Per Diem

JEROME HOME•New Britain, CT

23h•$32 - $38

About The Position

The LPN supports the Wellness Nurse and staff in providing care to memory care residents. Responsibilities include medication management and administration, treatments, covering resident care staffing as needed, assisting the Wellness Nurse, and following up on family issues as directed. The position carries the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability needed to perform assigned duties. The LPN helps develop and revise service care plans, observes and reports residents’ medical concerns, monitors changes in resident condition, and contacts physicians or emergency personnel when indicated. The role also includes direct resident care, supervision and support of resident care staff, documentation, staff training, committee participation, and contributing to safety, sanitation, infection control, and resident-rights practices. The position works in office areas and throughout nursing service areas, including resident rooms. It involves frequent interaction with residents, families, personnel, visitors, medical staff, and others, and exposure to infectious materials and potentially challenging situations. Work beyond normal hours, including weekends and holidays, may be necessary.

Requirements

High school diploma and graduation from an accredited Licensed Practical Nursing Program.
At least two years of experience.
Current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an RN or LPN in Connecticut.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English.
Ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant.
Ability to deal tactfully with personnel, residents, family members, visitors, government agencies, and the public.
Knowledge of nursing and medical practices and procedures, and of laws, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to long-term care.
Leadership ability and willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel.
Ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and interpret programs, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for quality care.
Patience, tact, a cheerful disposition, enthusiasm, and willingness to handle difficult residents.
Willingness to seek out new methods and principles and incorporate them into nursing practices.
Ability to communicate information about a resident’s condition.
Must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace.
Ability to move intermittently throughout the workday and lift, push, pull, and move at least 50 pounds.
Ability to speak and write English understandably and to see and hear adequately, with prosthetics if needed.
Ability to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position; good general health and emotional stability.
Ability to function independently and work effectively with residents, personnel, and support agencies.
Ability to work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset, and sometimes hostile people.
Ability to perform tasks involving potential exposure to residents’ blood and body fluids, assist in resident evacuations, and perform CPR and emergency medical treatment.

Responsibilities

Assist the Wellness team in developing and revising service care plans.
Observe residents and report issues and medical concerns to the Wellness Nurse; monitor resident assignments and participate in revising plans when residents’ conditions change.
Contact physicians or emergency personnel when indicated; report residents’ conditions, receive physician orders, and transcribe and reconcile written orders.
Administer assigned resident medications and treatments in accordance with written physician orders and document them in Matrix-Care.
Participate in direct resident care as needed and provide emergency support to resident care assistants.
Monitor resident care assistants’ compliance with infection-control practices and act as a resource to caregivers on health-related matters.
Document incidental occurrences in resident records and follow up on family issues as directed by the Wellness Nurse.
Attend required facility committee meetings and assist with written or oral reports on nursing service programs and activities.
Directly supervise resident care staff, participate in staff training, and maintain effective working relationships across departments.
Help ensure staff, residents, and visitors follow department policies and procedures; foster a calm, warm, respectful environment.
Maintain required dementia and pain-in-dementia training, participate in in-service and continuing education, and maintain an annual physical as required by ALSA.
Help develop and enforce nursing department safety standards; monitor safe equipment use and maintain clean and sanitary work areas and resident rooms.
Ensure staff participate in fire and disaster drills and follow procedures for reporting hazards, infection control, handwashing, and protective equipment use and disposal.
Protect resident confidentiality and rights; monitor respectful care, privacy, and residents’ right to refuse care; review complaints and grievances and report actions taken to the Wellness Nurse.
Use position and facility equipment safely and only when trained, including nursing and communication equipment and the Matrix-Care system.
Assist the Wellness Nurse in identifying, evaluating, and classifying tasks with potential exposure to blood or body fluids.
Perform other reasonable duties requested by management.