The Licensed Practical Nurse is a member of our primary care team and participates in nursing care and services to patients, including assessment of health status, gathering and interpreting information, providing health teaching, and performing specific nursing functions. Additionally, he/she collaborates with other health care providers to ensure quality and continuity of care. The LPN bears full responsibility for the care he/she provides. The Licensed Practical Nurse may delegate nursing activities within his/her scope of practice to administratively assigned staff, such as medical assistants. LPNs perform nursing functions with the exception of rendering a clinical judgment; can delegate to others, though not to RNs, NPs, or MDs; and communicate with and to others on the team.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides direct and indirect nursing care as part of a nursing care plan or a prescribed medical regime that has been incorporated into a nursing care plan.
- Gathers information basic health status, records and related health data.
- Participates in analyzing and interpreting an individual’s basic health status and information.
- Documents own activities in a timely manner in the patient record.
- Provides health education to facilitate patient treatment plan.
- Actively empowers patients and families to effectively manage their health care and navigate the health care system.
- Respects and supports patient and family’s cultural beliefs and values, individual needs, health goals and treatment preferences.
- Participates in population health management activities
Participates in planning and implements nursing interventions and functions, including but not limited to:
- Administers medications ordered by a licensed prescriber
- Administers immunizations, vaccinations and allergy injections ordered by a licensed prescriber
- Conducts health screening activities
- Changes wound dressings consistent with a nursing care plan
- Performs respiratory treatments ordered by a licensed prescriber
- Performs first aid
Collaborates with all members of the health care team to ensure coordination of care as indicated.
- Acts as patient flow manager when needed
- Actively engages in creating a healthy, respectful work environment
- Participates in health activities in the community as indicated e.g. vaccination and screening clinics
Participates in activities that ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective care.
- Identifies opportunities, and solutions, to ensure a safe, efficient, and cost-effective practice environment.
- Demonstrates compliance with regulatory requirements and prepares for regulatory and IDT site visits
- Participates in quality and safety initiatives
- Generates innovative ideas to improve care delivery and workflow in the practice environment.
- Participates in departmental and organizational committees and initiatives.
- Oversees ordering of supplies, vaccine and medications
- Participates in the oversight of POCT competencies and documentation
Medication Management
- Responsible to retrieving electronic prescription requests
- Responsible for prepping prescription refills for provider approval at direction of nurse leader
- Provides assistance with the care of patients on opioids by ensuring MGH Opioid Prescription Guidelines are followed
- Completes prior authorization forms and other forms such as camp and school forms, immunization records, etc
- Completes DME requests with provider approval
Collaborates in Professional development
- Maintains and updates skills based on current nursing practice.
- Adheres to departmental requirements for required training.
- Identifies specific learning needs and goals and collaborates with nursing leadership in developing a plan to meet them.
- Precepts new members of the MA/LPN Team
All other duties as indicated within scope of practice
SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:
- BLS Certification
- Proficiency in wound care, and injection administration.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Proficiency in Phlebotomy preferred but not required
- Proficiency in EPIC ambulatory EHR preferred