Licensed Vocational Nurse

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) is selected by and is responsible to the Director of Nursing; is capable of mature interaction with all staff members and provides extensive support to the medical health division. This specialized and highly flexible individual is responsible to report to any given nursing duty within the LVN scope of practice, as directed. Serves as role model and oversees the work of the Certified Medical Assistant(s) (CMAs). This nurse is responsible for prioritizing patient conditions while providing nursing care, performing other clinical or ancillary duties, and achieving organizational goals and program objectives. Licensed Vocational Nurses function as a member of a collaborative health care team to create and maintain a Patient Centered Medical Home where emphasis is on excellent communication; support of the patient is provided and tracked in a culturally competent, behaviorally enhanced setting supported by information technology. May be required to work extended hours or other variations of the usual shift to ensure adequate supervision, patient care, and other services to the community. CRITICAL JOB ELEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS I. Must set the example when greeting employees, customers, patients and general public via personal or over the telephone. Must use good listening skills at all times. Demonstrate a positive attitude towards patients, employees, customers and providers, with good eye contact, a pleasant voice, is attentive and responsive to their needs. II. Performs nursing activities consistent with the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas. III. Adheres to state, federal guidelines and providers standing orders and protocols. IV. Assists the Director of Nursing (DON) and Nursing Supervsior with clerical duties, timesheets, monitoring over-time, schedules, auditing, rotation of sites, day to day supervision, safety and infection control inspections, ordering and receiving of supplies. V. Provides guidance and direction for CMAs as needed and provides evaluation input for CMAs. VI. Required to perform nursing duties in the assigned department and may be required to assist in other nursing areas as needed. VII. Assists with screening patients without appointments, prior to being seen by the provider. VIII. Required to provide urgent care and stabilization of acutely ill patients under the supervision/direction of a physician. IX. May provide in-service to other nursing and clinical staff based on expertise when needed or as assigned. X. Must meet the required standards of NCQA-PCMH and HRSA(audit standards). XI. Assist staff in learning EHR changes and upgrades in new equipment. XII. Assist with the orientation or training of other employees to the department. Provides clinical expertise and leadership to nursing personnel and other team members. XIII. Oversee the work and technical skills of the CMAs and will work closely with the provider team assigned, on a rotating basis. XIV. Works closely with supervisors, providers, department leads and other staff members in maintaining adequate patient flow while prioritizing patient care. XV. Participates in the Rapid Response and Code Blue Team. In collaboration with other members of the department, responsible for maintenance of emergency equipment and ordering of acute care supplies. XVI. Must abide by all protocols and regulations as designated in the Employee Handbook, Code of conduct and Safety Policies. XVII. Must maintain confidentiality at all times according to NHHC policies and HIPAA rules. XVIII. Must abide by dress code policy in order to maintain a professional and neat appearance. (For details see nursing dress code policy). XIX. Must be an active participant in Performance Improvement (PI) activities. XX. Will play an active role in developing patient care programs according to policy and program objectives while relating them to the funding requirements. XXI. Executes additional tasks and duties to support department and organizations objectives and business needs. ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Must attain knowledge, role model and support the special projects, grants, policies and procedures such NCQA-PCMH, HRSA, Patient Portal, and Chronic Care Management. Must participate in Nurse-on-Call telephone and patient portal requests, inquiries and follow up on said requests including the accurate and appropriate EHR documentation. Must ensure the patients' health care is delivered in a safe, professional, pleasant manner, managed and coordinated with internal and external entities, and the patient support person is involved in the shared decision-making process. Uses interventions and motivational interviewing techniques to assist patients with establishing self-management goals and action plans within a time frame to promote success with chronic care plans. Coordinates with multi-disciplinary providers for transition of care. Must actively participate in the NCQA-PCMH, HRSA care team huddles daily and as needed, to prepare for scheduled patients, review opportunities for same day access, and alert/arrange with other disciplines/community and cultural resources for patients special needs. Must identify patient needs and use of resources and hospital services and develop a plan to improve care if overutilization or underutilization is identified. Ensures open and effective communication regarding patient status with providers and care team especially while escalating critical results and issues in an appropriate, timely manner. Uses professional judgment to identify complex patients needs, initiate a needs assessment, then, interacts with the Physician, Nurses, Social Workers, etc. to develop a multi-disciplinary solution and then allocate duties to appropriate care team members. Timely and accurately maintains required documentation on EHR, logs and records, preparing patient EHR chart prior to the patients visit and obtains discharge summaries from hospitals or other facilities as needed to coordinate care. Tracks outcomes, reviews test results, assist with medication management, and works with patient, their support person(s), and care team regarding risk issues identified. Participates and helps to implement and maintain all requirements for NCQA-PCMH and HRSA. PCMH Performance Description: The LVN must gain and understand knowledge of the NCQA-PCMH model, principles, policies, and procedures. Performs all duties to ensure that patients have a pleasant and satisfactory experience in the manner in which their health care is delivered, managed, and coordinated with both internal and external entities and in which the patient participates in the decision-making. Actively participates in daily and PRN huddles, along with the provider and care team to prepare patients scheduled, reviews opportunities for same day access, and alerts other disciplines for patients special needs. Performs duties within the scope of an LVN as delegated by providers, supervisors and the Director of Nursing, through the use of approved standing orders and / or protocols. Must follow job responsibilities within their scope of practice as described by the TX Board of Nursing and in accordance to NCQA-PCMH Standards of Patient Care, regulatory agencies, and NHHC needs. Helps to arrange contact with other resources needed to support the treatment plan. Identifies patient needs and use of resources and hospital services and develops a plan to improve care if overutilization or underutilization identified Develops care management plans, interventions, and treatment goals in collaboration with patient/family; utilizes motivational interviewing techniques to assist patients with establishing self-management goals, and action plans with timeframes. Promotes success with chronic care plan. Coordinates care and communicates with multiple providers, with particular attention to transitions of care.Acts as a liaison to the hospital, long term care, specialists and home care. Reviews test results and tracks outcomes. Reviews medications and works with provider and/or pharmacist as needed to assist with medication management Reviews patient risk issues and works with patient / support person(s) / care team to reduce risk. Identifies and utilizes cultural and community resources. Ensures open communication, regarding patient status, with providers and care team. Is a role model and applies patient centered medical home principles including promoting shared decision making with patients. Communicate effectively with collaborative team while escalating critical results and issues in an appropriate and timely manner. Identifies complex patients and their needs and initiates a needs assessment and then reviews and determines needs and allocates duties. Interacts with the medical providers involved, social workers, other nurses and Certified Medical Assistants, to identify patient needs and attempts to develop multi-disciplinary solutions. Works closely with Supervisor, Providers, and Staff to effectively serve the patient, maximize patient care, and assure that patients receive the services needed. Timely and accurately maintains required reports, logs and records. Exercises judgment while coordinating care and referring patients to agencies or health care professionals for other services / transitions in care where indicated. Obtains discharge summaries from the hospital and other facilities as needed for coordination of care.Scans records into the EHR to maintain a complete medical record. Ability to perform basic skills such as, but not limited to: vital sign monitoring, EKG, ear lavage, injections. Assists as needed to draw blood and/or obtain laboratory specimens to include waive lab testing. Specimen labeled and prepared as per NHHC police and procedure. If not tested at NHHC, prepares specimen/s to be sent to reference lab following proper protocol. Acts as the NHHC Infection Control Nursing Department Designee as assigned, and tracks and coordinates all interactions with the Health Department when necessary. Acts as the NHHC Immunization Clinic Nursing Department Designee as assigned, and will maintain adequate records as well as serve as the liaison between NHHC and all programs and entities involved with immunization and vaccine administration. It is mandatory that the LVN participates in Performance Improvement (PI) projects aimed at improving patient care, its outcomes, and efficiency.