Description

Purpose:
Under direction of a registered nurse, provide routine resident care within the scope of the Practical Nurse Act of Pennsylvania. Ensure the physical, medical and psychosocial needs of the resident are met.

Responsibilities:

• Requests opportunities to learn safe, accountable and autonomous practice from more experienced nurse leaders. Seeks, accepts and utilizes performance feedback from peers, preceptors and other leaders as a learning opportunity and to improve practice. Demonstrates enthusiasm for continuous learning and identifies and creates a plan for the continuation of learning and development. Identifies resident and family needs for education and provides needed information. Seeks professional development and involvement through membership in a professional nursing organization and/or reading professional literature on a regular basis.
• Constructively receives feedback and direction.
• Demonstrates a basic knowledge of research, how it affects practice and who/what resources are available to assist with evidence based practice by asking questions, demonstrating interest, participating in unit-based journal clubs. Clinical practice demonstrates knowledge of how quality and innovation impacts resident satisfaction, safety, and clinical quality outcomes. Identifies opportunities for improvement in the clinical area. Utilizes nursing process in providing care to residents including data gathering, interdisciplinary planning, and implementation, evaluation of resident care, teaching and discharge planning utilizing evidence-based standards of nursing practices. Provides basic psychosocial support and counseling. Collaborates with physician and care team to ensure quality resident care. Reports and records all changes observed in condition or behavior of residents in accordance with documentation practices and policies. Complies with established medication use policies, safety policies and procedures including standard infection control practices.
• Assumes responsibility for assignment and views problems as challenges.
• Observes and records resident's symptoms, condition, and/or reactions to medications and treatments and reports results to the RN in charge.
• Demonstrates accountability for self- development that improves the quality of professional practice and the quality of resident care. Makes recommendations for the improvement of clinical care and the health of the workplace and welcomes and participates in change initiatives. Contributes to building healthy relationships among team members, colleagues and other disciplines. Shows the ability to set priorities and demonstrates an understanding of shared governance and promotes at the unit level. Serves as an engaged member of a team supporting colleagues in service to residents and families and may participate in task forces or other initiatives. Assumes responsibility for delivery of safe, competent, and quality resident care, and contributes to the efficient operations of the nursing unit Completes required assignments accurately and timely. Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner, interacting and communicating with dignity and respect.
• Establishes appropriate and effective communication strategies.
• Strictly adheres to all policies and practices relative to resident care and facility-related information.
• Identifies and communicates learning needs to the Unit Manager/Nursing Leader.
• Participates in resident care conferences.
• Takes action to improve knowledge, skills and performance based on feedback or from self-identified development needs.
• Provides appropriate, direct resident care. Gives injections, takes vital signs, performs basic diagnostic tests, observes residents, dresses wounds, administers medication. Provides IV therapy as permitted by practice act and policy.
• Discusses any resident or family concerns with RN in charge, so that issues can be appropriately addressed.
• Assures equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department.
• Establishes professional and respectful interpersonal relationships.
• Suggests and supports changes within the department.
• Assists the RN and interdisciplinary team in evaluating, planning, and implementing plans of care.
• Complies with established medication use policies.
• Communicates effectively with residents and families about care concerns. Instructs and demonstrates care.
• Requests assistance to help in planning and prioritizing activities as needed.
• Oversees care given by Certified Nursing Assistants to ensure adequate and timely care is provided.
• Demonstrates the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all members of the health care team. Demonstrates awareness of cultural diversity, horizontal violence and impairment in the health professions. Cares for residents, staff, and self by supporting and promoting a culture of safety in the workplace, recognizing hazards, reporting and investigating incidents in a timely manner in accordance with policies, regulations, and prudent practices.
• Applies basic nursing knowledge and skills within the framework of Relationship Based Care, using the nursing process to meet the clinical, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the resident and family. Communicates effectively, both verbally and in documentation. Demonstrates critical thinking in the identification of clinical, social, safety, spiritual issues within the episode of care. Learns to incorporate national professional organization as well as business unit and health system's goals to improve resident safety, quality and satisfaction. Follows the plan of care that considers individual resident needs. Demonstrates initiative and seeks formal and informal opportunities to improve clinical practice. Seeks guidance and asks questions to continuously improve nursing practice. Creates a caring and compassionate resident-focused experience by building healing relationships with resident, families, staff, and colleagues. Identifies ethical situations within resident care or within the workplace and seeks assistance. Professionally accepts assignments. Applies policies and procedures in fair and consistent manner. Ensures nursing care is delivered in accordance with Pennsylvania Practice Act, established Standards of Care, Policies and Procedures, and regulations.
• Prior to performing new or challenging skills, requests assistance and reviews relevant policies and procedures.
• Complies with all safety policies and procedures, including Infection Control Precautions.
• Demonstrates awareness of behavior on the efficient functioning of the department.
• Ensures resident care is documented appropriately in the residents' medical record and addresses any areas of non-compliance issues timely. Ensures efficient and thorough hand-off of information from shift to shift to promote communication of residents' status and needs. Facilitates communication between all nursing personnel, other departments/disciplines, and physicians and ensures necessary follow-up actions are taken. Ensures appropriate and timely implementation of physician's orders and timely notification of physician/CRNP/PA of any changes in resident condition. Communicates necessary information to family/responsible person.
• Performs assigned work in a timely and productive manner.
• Contributes to the unit activities including, but not limited to, responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays and transporting residents.
• Participates in self-review as requested by Unit Manager.

Qualifications

Completion of a Practical Nursing Program approved by the State Board of Nursing. 6 months of experience as an LPN.Solid/Strong/Good or higher rating on most recent performance evaluation.Completion of Aging Institute Geriatric Sensitivity Program.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
Must complete licensure examination within FOUR MONTHS of hire or within one year of graduation, whichever comes first.? Though temporary permits are valid for one year from the date of graduation, not one year from issue of permit (or until the results of the examination are known at which time it becomes null and void), UPMC requires that GNs take the licensure examination within 4 months of their start date or they will be terminated or demoted from the GN position, at the discretion of the BU.
 

• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) OR Temporary Practice Permit (TPP)
• Act 34
• OAPSA


• UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

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