Heart and Vascular Center Licensed Practical Nurse

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

• The LPN is responsible for providing physician support as applicable, and comprehensive nursing care to patients and their families under the direction of the physician.  This position supports the Practice Director and Practice Manager in coordinating and leading practice personnel to ensure consistent standards of practice and competencies in the delivery of patient care services.  The position will perform duties within the scope of practice, ensuring consistency with Memorial Medical Group policies and procedures, standards of care, approved protocols, standing orders and guidelines.  The position will also adhere to practice standards governed by the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Serves as a clinical expert for the practice:

• Demonstrates clinical expertise in the care of the assigned patient specialty and is recognized as a resource in practice specialty by physicians and staff.
• Provides orientation for new staff that is planned and consistent.
• Maintains and develops clinical knowledge through participation in continuing education programs.
• Consistently follows through and implements actions. 
• Provides continued patient care practices.

Facilitates clinical operations:

• Knowledgeable of policies and procedures, and encourages practice staff to comply.
• Maintains awareness of the patient needs and the staff availability.
• Prepares schedules and coordinates the assignment of breaks, meals and in-services to maintain adequate coverage.  Ensures patient care is not affected by staff coverage.
• Monitors patient flow and takes appropriate action to optimize practice visit times; communicates delays to patients.
• Coordinates the daily preparation of staff and materials to facilitate next day practice operations.
• Addresses patient, family concerns to resolution.  Communicates incidences and outcomes to the Practice Director/Manager/Provider.
• Delegates and oversees the maintenance of clinical equipment.  Provides research and coordination with the physicians and manager during the purchase of new equipment.
• Identifies situations that can negatively impact operations/patient satisfaction and takes appropriate actions.  Communicates situations and outcomes in a timely manner to Provider and Practice Director/Manager.

Promotes staff and team development:

• Leads the practice staff in supporting the mission, values and management of the organization.
• Utilizes the chain of command and effective communication skills.
• Supports change and is a positive influence in promoting staff cooperation.
• Strives to develop working relationships among team members, physicians and administrative staff that are characterized by mutual support, open communication, trust and respect.
• Identifies performance indicators for area of expertise and provides staff education to improve clinical outcomes.

Assists the Practice Manager with functions:

• Collaborates with the Practice Director/Manager to identify, implement and evaluate opportunities to reduce costs without negatively impacting quality.
• Proactive in assessing schedules and soliciting feedback from staff or other disciplines involved in the practice.
• Assists the Practice Director/Manager with HR functions such as staff selection, discipline and evaluation.
• Assists the Practice Director/Manager to assure effective and timely communications to all staff.

Job Accountabilities – Essential:

• Receives patients from the waiting room, escorts to the exam room, prepares patient for exam.
• Obtains and records vital signs, height and weight, major complaint, medication and allergies in
• patient chart.
• Administers medications as governed by licensure, training and demonstrate competency.
• Anticipates patients and other caregivers requests/needs and responds in a timely manner.
• As per protocol may perform tests and as ordered to include but not limited to:
• EKG
•  Performs and records quality assurance data on equipment according to protocols (i.e. pulse 
•  oximeter, refrigerator, emergency cart, etc.)
•  Observes universal precautions and aseptic techniques with patient and the use of medical
•  Instruments and equipment
•  Reports and records patient critical lab values, adverse reactions and pertinent information
•  promptly to physician.
•  Performs computer order entry in the Clinic Information System and documents in EMR
•  Able to perform administrative duties (i.e. scheduling appointments, answering phones, filing, assembling and filing medical records, etc.)
•  Provides friendly assistance to patient’s family members and visitors

Job Accountabilities – Other:

• Performs other job duties as assigned
• Acts as liaison/support person for patient and family members
• Assists with patient education and discharge instruction with provider
• Inventories unit and determines supply needs.  Conveys needs to appropriate personnel
• Assists in daily cleaning of exam rooms and clinic station area. Assess maintenance needs

Problem Solving/Decision Making:

• Makes decisions according to established protocols

• Receives assistance from standard procedures, co-workers, Director/Manager and or providers.

Scope of Impact/Accountability:

• Impacts activities in other work areas on a frequent basis
• Accountability is primarily indirect, but may be shared for activities affecting the work area only
• May provide information to decision-making processes affecting work area(s)

Interpersonal Communication:

• Provides team leadership by assisting and training others
• Responds to non-routine and detailed inquiries from others who may not be knowledgeable in subject area
• Requires understanding others’ expectations/perspectives to collaborate and reach consensus on solutions

Special Skills/Aptitudes/Qualities:

• Ability to work in collaboration with a variety of individuals and disciplines
• Knowledge of medical procedures, equipment, and pharmaceuticals
• Possess good oral and written communication skills
• Serves as a patient advocate
• Possess basic computer skills
• Exhibits knowledge of nursing theory, techniques and practices
• Ability to lead and organize patient care in a high stress environment and to encourage professionalism among staff through adherence to high ethical and professional standards
• Ability to exhibit creativity and flexibility in problem solving

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated in this description.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing. LPN
• Licensed in State of Louisiana as LPN. 
• Certified CPR, Basic or specialty specific such as PALS preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of professional experience in clinical nursing, including clinical experience directly related to that of assigned practice.  Experience in nursing leadership desired.  Experience in an outpatient environment, or physician’s practice strongly desired.
• Follows general instructions
• Understands several defined work routines
• Reads various references, extracts information, and applies basic arithmetic functions
• May operate complicated equipment/machinery

Physical Demands/Work Environment

• Work requires a variety of physical activities including standing and walking for long periods of time, bending, stooping, and lifting. 
• The work environment may be physically confining. 
• Visual acuity is required for a variety of specific activities. 
• Must have normal hearing or utilize adaptive hearing devices if duties require listening with a stethoscope to discern breath sounds, heart sounds, and bowel sounds. 
• Ability to do shift work as required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.