Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Description

Job Summary 

The Staff Nurse is an integral part of the health care team.  The Staff nurse assists the health care team in a professional manner in the community health center setting.  Responsibilities include administering quality nursing care, immunizations, and health education to patients of all ages in accordance with established nursing standards; assisting in the lab and pharmacy as appropriate; working with all health center personnel to ensure an efficient and safe environment of care. 

Key Responsibilities:

· Communicate effectively with patients

· Phone etiquette and customer service

· Schedule patient appointments and check patients in/out

· Obtain and update demographic information

· Collect payment for appointments and bad debt

· Obtain and verify patient insurance

Duties and Responsibilities 

The Staff Nurse performs the following duties as assigned. 

1. Provides clinical services. 
2. Maintains clinical expertise and competency (to include age specific competency) as well as demonstrates thorough knowledge of procedures to deliver quality primary health care. 
3. Documents delivery of health care and nursing process in accordance with the Center’s policies and procedures in a timely, accurate, and consistent manner. 
4. Educates the patient and family / significant others about diagnosis and the plan of care.  Acts a resource for facilitating communication when necessary. 
5. Coordinates the delivery of patient care provided by the health care team. 
6. Familiar with PCMH standards and works as part of the medical team to prove patient centered care. 
7. Interacts with health center personnel and assists providers to ensure optimal patient care and to obtain optimum patient flow and increased patient satisfaction. 
8. Identified and responds promptly to changes in patient’s condition and / or clinic environment. 
9. Coordinates and delegates the timely processing of patient referrals, prescribed medications, and other identified needs of the patient. 
10. Acts as resource within the clinic to other staff members in regards to patient care. 
11. Participates as a team member and promotes teamwork by assisting others with patient care and department activities. 
12. Maintains adequate inventory of medical forms, supplies, in-house medications, STD medications, and immunizations and completes monthly inventory reports as required. 
13. Performs maintenance and controls on medical equipment and documents results. 
14. Administers all medications accurately using the five (5) rights of medication administration, documenting medications according to health center policy and procedures. 
15. Upon completion of laboratory skill assessment, performs all laboratory functions according to Provider orders. 
16. Provides support to the Center pharmacy (If Applicable) 
17. Maintains an adequate inventory of pharmacy medications and prepares medication orders. 
18. Assists Pharmacist in re-packaging, re-labeling, and logging of medications. 
19. Fills medication orders. 
20. Verified patient’s medications with provider’s orders. 
21. Responds to patient and outside pharmacy calls for refills and clarification of orders. 
22. Responsible for full personal compliance with all applicable regulations of the operation of Class D Pharmacy. 
23.  Fulfills administrative duties. 
24. Assists in maintaining an efficient, safe, secure, orderly, and aseptic environment of care for all patients and employees. 
25. Is familiar with and abides by OSHA Standards, Hazardous Materials, Universal Precautions, use of personal protective equipment, Evacuation, Fire, Disaster, and Safety Plans. 
26. If bilingual, translates in Spanish between non-Spanish speaking staff and Spanish speaking patients as requested. 
27.  Performs all other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Required 

• Knowledge of basic principles of health promotion, prevention, and motivation. 
• Knowledge of protocols in general and an ability to quickly gain specific knowledge of the Center’s current operational protocols. 
• Knowledge of medical terminology and appropriate abbreviations. 
• Demonstrates knowledge of the Texas Nursing Practice Act. 
• Ability to read and comprehend medical instructions, short correspondence, and memos. 
• Ability to document, with clarity, all information relevant to a patient’s needs. 
• Ability to effectively present information in small group situations to patients, Center staff, and the general public.  Ability to prepare statistical and administrative reports. 
• Ability to work cooperatively with community agency personnel to coordinate services for patients. 
• Ability to use a glucometer and interpret the results. 
• Ability to use office equipment including, but not limited to, computers, fax machines, telephones, and copiers. 
• Ability to prioritize and allocate resources. 

Preferred 

• Spanish speaking and writing skills. 

Credential and Experience 

Required 

• Licensed Vocational Nurse degree from an accredited school of nursing. 
• Current unrestricted license from the Texas Board of Vocational Nurse Examiners to practice as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in the State of Texas 
• Current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Healthcare Professionals Certification 

Preferred 

• One (1) year of practice experience as an LVN giving direct patient care. 

Special Requirements 

The employee must be able to lift and / or move more than 50 pounds.  Requires full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients, manual and finger dexterity and eye / hand coordination.  Requires sitting, standing, and walking for extensive periods of time.  Requires working under stressful conditions or working irregular hours.  Requires frequent exposure to communicable diseases, body fluids, toxic substances, medicinal preparations, and other conditions common to a clinic environment.  The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  Ability to work with a moderate noise level in the work environment is required.  

The above information is intended to describe the most important aspects of the job.  It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required in order to perform the work.  The health center reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the business need arises.  Additionally, this job description is not intended as an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and then Center continues to maintain its status as an at-will employer. If the essential functions of this position cannot be performed in a satisfactory manner by the employee, reasonable accommodations may be made.