LVN APPRENTICESHIP

United Regional•Wichita Falls, TX

12d

About The Position

The Nurse Apprentice plans and delivers selected aspects of nursing care under the direct supervision of an LVN or Registered Nurse Preceptor/Clinical Instructor. The apprentice may perform technical skills taught in their nursing program after accurately demonstrating the skill to the Preceptor or Clinical Educator. The role includes personal and hygiene care, patient activity and transport, support with admissions, transfers and discharges, observation and reporting of patient conditions, assistance with routine unit protocols and technical skills, and medication administration under direct supervision. Medication administration must be documented in the electronic medical record and co-signed by the preceptor or clinical instructor. The Nurse Apprentice may not receive verbal orders, acknowledge physician orders without direct RN Preceptor supervision, initiate blood products, or co-sign high-risk medications. The position involves extensive standing and walking, lifting and carrying items up to 50 pounds, pushing and pulling heavy objects, working under stressful conditions and irregular hours, and some exposure to communicable diseases or bodily fluids.

Requirements

Must be enrolled and in good standing with an accredited LVN or RN program.
Must be within 12 months of anticipated graduation.
CPR certification.
Ability to carry out written and oral instructions.
Ability to recognize problems and take reporting action based on sound judgment.
Reading, writing, speaking, and basic addition and subtraction skills.
Full range of body motion, including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity, and eye-hand coordination.
Ability to stand and walk for extensive periods.
Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds and push and pull heavy objects.
Corrected vision and hearing within the normal range.
Ability to work under stressful conditions and irregular hours.
Ability to work with some exposure to communicable diseases or bodily fluids.

Responsibilities

Provide personal or hygiene care, including assistance with elimination, activity, and patient transport.
Ensure proper equipment and supplies are used and avoid wasting supplies; report broken equipment or unsafe conditions; assist with stocking and cleaning supply areas and nutrition stations.
Follow hospital and safety policies and procedures.
Respond promptly to patient call-lights and assist with patient admissions, transfers, and discharges.
Observe patient conditions and immediately report untoward signs or symptoms and unusual occurrences.
Assist other team members with their duties and seek assistance when needed.
Assist with collecting and transporting laboratory specimens and retrieve blood or blood products from the laboratory and supplies or equipment from CS.
Perform technical skills for which competence has been verified through educational checkoffs or United Regional precepted orientation programs. Examples include 12-lead and remote-monitor EKGs, Foley catheter insertion and care and specimen collection, surgical preps, and NG tube insertion or removal.
Assist with unit-specific routine patient care protocols, BBG monitoring, peripheral venipuncture, IV starts, and discontinuation of peripheral IVs.
Shadow and learn organizational and medicolegal aspects of accepting and transferring patients and managing death.
Administer medications under direct supervision of the preceptor or clinical instructor, document administration in the electronic medical record, and obtain a co-signature.
Perform other tasks and responsibilities as necessary.
Do not receive verbal orders, acknowledge physician orders without direct RN Preceptor supervision, initiate blood products, or co-sign high-risk medications.