Licensed Practical Nurse (40 Hour) Office/On-site #260803-5415FK-001

Position Highlights

• Work Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, Two-Week Rotational Schedule
• Work Shift: First shift, 6:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
• Location: 287 West St, Rocky Hill, CT

Work Schedule

• Week 1: Friday (Off), Saturday (Work), Sunday (Work), Monday (Work), Tuesday (Off), Wednesday (Work), Thursday (Work)
• Week 2: Friday (Work), Saturday (Off), Sunday (Off), Monday (Work), Tuesday (Work), Wednesday (Work), Thursday (Work)

What We Can Offer You

• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

What You'll Be Doing

You will be serving those who have served at the Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center, a Skilled Nursing Facility licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and certified by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Healthcare Center is also certified as a State Veterans Homes by the Federal Veterans Administration and regularly inspected by the VA.

At our Health Care Facility, we provide both short and long-term care for patients requiring daily medical management. This can include:

• Cancer
• Cardiac disease
• COPD
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• End Stage Renal Disease
• Hypertension
• Parkinson's
• Stroke

About the Agency and Facilities

For over 140 years, the Department of Veterans Affairs has been caring for its Veterans and their dependents. As a Department, we believe in "serving those who have served." This is accomplished through our: Office of Advocacy and Assistance, Residential Facility, Healthcare Center, and Cemetery and Burial Services.

The DVA has supported Connecticut Veterans and continues this tradition with residential and healthcare programming on our campus in Rocky Hill. There are two paths for residency at the DVA:

• Residential Facility: offers temporary, supportive living with programming designed to return Connecticut Veterans to independent living in the community
• Sgt. John L. Levitow Healthcare Center: a state-of-the-art medical facility that offers long-term care for Veterans with chronic, disabling conditions who require 24-hour assistance

When you walk through the doors of the Healthcare Center (HCC), one immediately feels a sense of community, comfort, and camaraderie. Our highly trained staff is dedicated to providing compassionate care to meet the unique needs of Veteran patients, built on the foundation of integrity, honor, and respect. We pride ourselves on fostering these qualities as we honor Veteran patients for their service and encourage the innate bond between them.

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In a state facility this class is accountable for rendering bedside care or mental health services to individuals with physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability in instances where the services of a registered nurse are not required.

Examples of Duties

• Assists doctors and nurses in the general care and treatment of individuals
• Measures doses and administers medications including insulin injections
• Documents medications using appropriate forms
• Performs narcotic counts
• Checks and may administer intravenous medications
• Reports changes in individuals to doctors
• Ensures that restraints are applied correctly
• Transcribes doctors medication orders
• Dispenses certain medications in doctor's absence
• Applies topical medication
• Takes and charts temperatures, pulses and respirations
• Performs simple nursing treatments
• Monitors general individual needs including personal hygiene
• Reports on individual conditions and behavior
• Keeps the unit safe and healthy
• Administers enemas or suppositories
• Performs Foley catheterization care
• Orients individuals concerning medications and their use
• May perform emergency first aid
• May drive individual to necessary appointments/outings
• Performs related duties as required

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

• Knowledge of practical nursing specialties and bedside care
• Knowledge of various medications used in conjunction for the care of individuals who have physical disabilities and/or an intellectual disability
• Knowledge of infection control practices
• Knowledge of nutrition and diets
• Knowledge of medical and lab sciences
• Considerable interpersonal skills
• Oral communication and written skills
• Ability to keep records
• Ability to lead staff

Minimum Qualifications

License or temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing OR hold a Multistate or Compact Licensed Practical Nurse license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a Skilled Nursing Facility
• Experience utilizing Department of Public Health and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulations in a Long-Term Care Facility
• Experience working with Veteran population
• Experience working with dementia patients
• Experience documenting in electronic Health Record (eMAR)
• Experience deescalating and calming clients/patients

Special Requirements

Department of Developmental Services: Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Connecticut Motor Vehicle Operator's license, Public Passenger Endorsement or Commercial Driver's license for designated positions.