LPN

REPORTS TO: Clinical Manager

POSITION SUMMARY: Provides services and skilled nursing care to patients in accordance with the State Nurse Practice Act, Hospice policies, and accepted professional standards of practice. The LPN delivers care to patients as delegated by the RN Case Manager

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

1. Knowledge and application of policies and protocols of SSRCH.
2. Practices infection control techniques.
3. Within the scope of practice, prioritizes daily work, makes adjustments taking into account the needs of the patients, physicians and others in the organization.
4. Organizes and maintains safe patient care and work areas.
5. Documents patient care on a timely basis according to policy.
6. Responds to emergency situations.
7. 200% Accountability for all Personal Behaviors Exhibited
   1. 100% accountability for self-professional behavior
   2. 100% accountability for addressing professional behaviors of others.

1. Provides professional nursing care as defined in the nurse practice act and under the direction of a Registered Nurse. Communicates appropriate status/condition changes to the RN per facility guidelines.

1. Provides skilled nursing visits for clients as directed by the RN Case Manager. Follows the care plan established by the Registered Nurse.
   1. Recognizes and reports changes in patient condition to the Case Manager and Physician as directed.
   2. Communicates information on a timely basis, consistent with hospice
      policy and urgency of the situation. Communicates verbally, as needed, and through complete and accurate documentation in the clinical record.

d. Scope of clinical practice includes personal care services, monitoring and reporting findings, medication administration and monitoring, patient teaching, emergency intervention, and nursing services within professional scope of practice and as delegated by the Case Manager.

1. Promotes personal safety and a safe environment for patients and coworkers.
   1. Demonstrates knowledge of safety/infection control practices by compliance with policies and procedures.
   2. Recognizes and responds appropriately to potentially unsafe situations.
   3. Demonstrates safe practice in the use of equipment.
   4. Makes recommendations on improvement of safety.
   5. Seeks education/training or assistance with areas of concern.
2. Performs job in compliance with hospice policies and procedures and professional and community standards.
   1. Accepts responsibility for professional nursing role.
   2. Follows applicable state and federal laws and hospice standards.
   3. Maintains confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
      1. Refrains from discussing patient or staff identities, conditions or circumstances in public or with others who do not have a legitimate interest in the person.
      2. Participates in the development implementation and evaluation of the hospice Quality improvement program and pertinent activities.
3. Performs other related duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

HOME CARE.

1. Contacts patient or family to set up schedule for home visits.
2. Teaches family members’ patient care skills, meds, treatments, use of equipment and informs them of signs and symptoms of dying and grieving process.

PERSONNEL

1. Supervises, supports, gives guidance and direction to volunteers and ancillary staff according to patient/family needs and State regulations.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Obtain CHPLN certification within 3 years of hire or upon eligibility for testing.
2. Participates in SSRCH provided education and employee meetings.

1. Affirms the knowledge, philosophy and principles of hospice care.
2. Maintains patient confidentiality.
3. Directs and applies problem-solving techniques in resolving issues.
4. Required to work reasonable amounts of overtime and flexible hours.
5. Instills confidence in the patient by maintaining a neat and attractive appearance and performing duties in a competent and caring manner.
6. Able to maintain healthy boundaries.

1. Will work on-call hours, weekends, and holidays on a rotating basis.

1. Physical Requirements: Frequent ambulation; constant bending, lifting, twisting, pushing and pulling; reposition patients; able to sit for extended periods of time; manual dexterity to operate computer and other office equipment.
   1. Home Care - Locates and drives to and from patients’ homes and to meetings at other locations as necessary.
2. Mental Requirements: Read, speak, write and understand English; cognitive processes to interpret patient condition and apply appropriate nursing procedures; ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide and work with fractions; must function independently without supervision.
3. Working/Environmental Conditions: Fast-paced changing environment, with multiple directives from several disciplines.
   1. Home Care: Requires work in patient homes with no control over environmental conditions.
4. Machines, Equipment, Tools Used: IV equipment; glucometer; PCA; computerized equipment; blood pressure equipment; Foley catheter; bed boards; bed cradle; enteral feeding equipment; infusion pump; automobile; pager; telephone; oximeter; phototherapy equipment; computer.
5. Exposures: Reasonably anticipated exposure to blood, other body fluids or other potentially infectious materials. Possible exposure to communicable diseases or infections. Reasonably anticipated exposure to hazardous equipment, assorted chemicals, gases/vapors and other pollutants.
6. Personal Protective Equipment Required: Assorted gloves; assorted masks, utility gloves; protective eyewear; impervious gowns; impervious aprons; needleless systems as appropriate.

1. Certificate/Degree/License Requirements: Current license of practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse in the state of Wisconsin. Current CPR Certification. Licensed driver with automobile insured in accordance with state and/or hospice requirements and in good repair. Has a good driving record. Certified in CPR BLS according to the American Heart Association and/or the Red Cross.
2. Experience Requirements: Minimum of one year experience in an acute care setting or equivalent experience.
3. Education Requirement: Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing.
4. Communicative Skills: Able to communicate directions to RN’s, LPN’s, CNA’s, Team Assistants and auxiliary personnel; communicates and explains new policies and procedures to employees and new hires; able to describe patient condition to physician, patients and family members and offer comfort; able to recognize and respond to non-verbal cues and communication.

Note: The following non-essential job functions are listed to inform you of significant duties and/or skills which form some of the bases for evaluation of performance of the employee in the position, but will not exclude consideration of applicants who do not possess the ability to perform those skills or duties upon application.

1. Leadership qualities.
2. Positive interpersonal relationships.
3. Self directed.
4. Ability to handle stressful and emergency situations.
5. Sensitive to needs of others without being judgmental.
6. Ability to emphasize the importance of quality rather than quantity of life, and assist patients and family to live as fully as possible.

I can perform the above essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodations:

Yes No Initial Here

I have read and understand the requirements of this position. I further understand that this is a summary of job responsibilities and does not imply contractual relationships of any type and furthermore is subject to change in order to meet organizational needs

Signature: Date: ____/____/_____

(Employee)