Licensed Vocational Nurse

Job Summary

The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) performs skilled nursing care for terminally ill patients in their home in accordance with the plan of care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN). The LVN assists with provision of services that reflect the philosophy and standards of care of the hospice program. 

Qualifications  

• Graduate of an accredited school of practical nursing.  
• Current license to practice in California  and CPR.  
• Prefer minimum one year recent nursing experience in acute, long-term care, or home care/hospice.  
• Must have demonstrated patient teaching skills, and strong written and verbal communication skills.  
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner.  
• Must be self-directed; able to work without the direct presence of a supervisor.  
• Must have a strong sense of initiative and urgency in addressing unexpected patient crises.  
• Demonstrated skill with general use and functions of the computer; internet; e-mail; navigation of computer. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities  

• Anticipate and recognize changes or potential changes in patient status; identify signs and symptoms of deviation from current health status.  
• Contribute to the development of a comprehensive plan of nursing care and develop focused plans of nursing care; including: identify priorities in the plan of care, select appropriate nursing interventions and strategies based upon the patients’ goals.  
• Evaluate patient responses to nursing interventions and progress toward desired outcomes; collect, document, and communicate finding to the appropriate members of the healthcare team.  
• Provide follow-up on problems and intervene when needed.  
• Obtain orders from DPCS/Medical Director as needed.  
• Have difficult and challenging conversations with patients, caregivers, and families related to the patient condition, need for care, and prognosis.  
• Give and demonstrate safe, individualized nursing care to patients and families according to patient plan of care.  
• Continue family/patient instruction initiated by the RN Case Manager.  
• Maintain up to date patient records, within 24-hrs, to ensure that all patient issues are accurately and clearly stated and changes are reflected as they occur; ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with regulations, certification standards, legal and ethical standards.  
• Prepare, administer, and record medications.  
• Reinforce appropriate interventions, medications, effects and side effects to the patient, caregiver, volunteers, and others as appropriate and as directed by the RN. 
• Participate in the interdisciplinary team (IDT) meeting to include an exchange of information, review of problems, and sharing of professional support. 
• Must attend and participate in in-house education programs.

Physical and Environmental Demands and/or Conditions  

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move over 50 pounds and up to 100 pounds when lifting residents with use of assistive devices.  
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and/or run or walk rapidly.  
• Ability to turn, reposition, and assist patients to transfer and ambulate.  
• Push/pull with up to 50 pounds of force  Occasional bending and twisting at waist.  
• Occasional reaching above or below shoulder height, e.g. charts or supplies on upper/lower shelves.  
• Perform repetitive tasks and/or motions with fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and feet. 
• Distinguish colors and have clarity of vision with or without corrective lenses.  
• Able to hear alarms, telephone, and normal speaking voice.  
• Requires manual dexterity sufficient to provide hands-on care to patients under variable conditions and settings.

Other Non-Physical Requirements  

• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state and company requirements and in good working order.  
• Must furnish own cell phone;plan must include texting.

Working Conditions  

• Subject to hostile and emotionally upset residents/patients, family members, personnel, and visitors.  
• Works beyond normal working hours and on weekends and holidays when necessary.  
• Subject to falls, odors, etc. throughout the workday.  
• There may be a fluctuating workload with periods of stress and deadlines.  
• Frequent travel is required; up to several hours of driving per day.  
• Exposure to variable weather conditions is likely.  
• General office environment is favorable; lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are no hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, etc..