Licensed Practical Nurse, Med/Surg, per diem, shift varies

Hours:  per diem, shift varies

• Assesses (and reassesses), plans, implements, and evaluates nursing interventions/plans of care/patient goals in collaboration with the Registered Nurse.

• Provides patient care based on standards of care, standards of practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures within scope of license.

• Respects each patient as an individual; provides care that fosters the patient’s sense of dignity and positive self-regard.

• Provides patient/family teaching based on identified learning needs, readiness to learn, and barriers to learning.

• Collaboratively plans and prepares patient/family for discharge with the RN, provider and interdisciplinary team.

• Appropriately delegates and supervises interventions performed by Certified Nurse’s Aides.

• Appropriately prioritizes patient care (e.g. seeks assistance as needed from appropriate resources, recognizes need for emergency intervention, etc.).

• Provides thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of all pertinent data, therapeutic interventions and patient responses according to established standards.
• Provides timely and thorough report on assigned patients to other health care team members to ensure integration of services and continuity of patient care.
• Promotes learning for colleagues and self, attends professional development programs, etc.).

• Proactively identifies risk to patient safety and identifies opportunities to reduce medical/health care errors (i.e. appropriate reporting of errors/incidents). 

• Identifies ethical issues in care and develops plan in conjunction with RN and team to address such issues.

• Safely administers medications in accordance with physician’s orders, protocols &  policies, done  within scope of practice.

• Assesses patient pain level upon admission and as necessary, depending upon diagnosis utilizing the numerical pain scale.

• Reassesses effectiveness of pain control and notifies physicians as needed, as well as, documents assessment 
• Responsible for obtaining supporting information and completing required documentation related to medication reconciliation for use by the Attending MD.

• Provides ongoing assessment and teaching to the surgical patient/family, utilizing current standards and protocols.

• Recognizes normal and deviant progress patterns and reports problems or concerns to RN & provider in a timely manner.

• Utilizes pain management devices and other techniques to ensure proper pain relief.

• Sets up, maintains and troubleshoots other equipment related to the surgical patient such as; traction/orthopedic equipment/devices, feeding pumps, chest tubes and drains, etc.

• Assists patients with personal hygiene, eating and drinking and provides emotional support while listening to concerns.

• Institutes appropriate measures in life threatening situations, ie; calls a CODE when necessary.

• Evaluates, reports to RN & provider,  and takes appropriate action for patients with chest pain or other cardiac related symptoms.

• Institutes and documents cardiac patient/family education.

• Recognizes normal and abnormal laboratory and diagnostic results and appropriately notifies the charge RN & provider of changes in a timely manner.

• Performs assessment of psychiatric and physical needs on each patient upon admission and uses data collected to create and/or revise nursing plan of care.

• Takes instruction from and reports updates to registered nurse and or overseeing provider

• Assesses the unit milieu and makes decisions to maintain a safe environment for all patients, staff and visitors.

• Understands the indication, therapeutic effect, dosage, and side effects of psychoactive medications on the geriatric patient.

• De-escalates volatile situations and/or individuals using non-violent techniques.

• Reports unusual or drastic changes in patient’s symptoms or behavior to Registered Nurse or overseeing provider

• Participates actively in multi-disciplinary treatment team in planning, coordinating, implementing and evaluating patient care.

• Meets with families and significant others and residential providers in planning appropriate disposition and discharge.

• Completed state-approved LPN education program

Minimum work Experience

• One year med/surg experience with skilled nursing care and post-op orthopedics experience preferred
• Previous experience in inpatient Hospital or Skilled Nursing setting is preferred

Required Licenses

• Current LPN license to practice in MA
• Current American Heart Association CPR certification card