Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Wound Treatment

About the role

This is licensed practical nursing work performing a variety of nursing and medical support functions in a County medical facility. A position in this class is responsible for providing direct wound care treatments in collaboration with the overseeing practitioners, and for the implementation of the facility wound prevention and treatment programs. In addition, a position in this class dispenses medications, provides treatments and has the required knowledge for documentation on a medical record.

Responsibilities

• Works closely with the Unit Managers, Charge Nurses, Staff Development Coordinators, practitioners, and Unit Staff to ensure proper principles of wound prevention.
• Implements treatment plans on residents following appropriate wound care practices.
• Affords assessments of skin condition using standardized assessment tools.
• Obtains physician orders for treatment modalities as determined and implements treatment modalities as assigned.
• Ensures reports are updated and entered accurately in medical record, documenting care provided to residents.
• Reviews previous documentation to assure consistency.
• Completes weekly rounds, taking photos and ensuring treatment plans are followed.
• Provides the needs of the resident upon recommendation and orders of the attending physician and reports to Registered Nurse (RN), Nursing Supervisor, or physician, the resident's condition and reaction to medication, treatments or significant incidents.
• LPN is also responsible for including but not limited to: timely documentation, assistance with admissions, discharges, transfers, returns, medication, reporting of untoward events, updating care plans, notifications to RN's, supervisors, physicians, families, etc.
• LPN will follow established procedures; utilizes resources as needed, i.e. staff development, policies, adjust work assignments in response to unanticipated absences, changes in resident load or nursing needs, or similar situations.
• Works with unit personnel to ensure effectiveness of treatments and general care provided, correct inappropriate or ineffective care, and determine overall patient status; carries out specific nursing functions restricted to performance by LPN.
• Administers and accurately records prescribed medications and treatments, observing resident's reactions to medications and treatments; reports to Registered Nurse (RN), Nursing Supervisor any visible symptoms or adverse reactions.
• Performs nursing duties and responsibilities relevant to routine bedside nursing, including but not limited to: care required to meet the physical, psychological, nutritional, religious, emotional and social needs of the residents. These duties/responsibilities include but are not limited to bathing, feeding, making beds, ambulation of patients via wheelchair, geri chair, cane, walker, or assistance of nursing personnel, complete vital signs, intake and output, enemas, hot and cold applications, skin care, wound care, tracheostomy care, catheterization, tube feedings, perform CPR, etc.
• Performs nursing duties and responsibilities relevant to the health and welfare of the patient including safety measures, i.e. restraints (all types), oxygen therapy, etc.
• Maintains residents' clinical record by accurately and timely charting all pertinent data, untoward events, focused assessments and appropriate observations.
• Documentation on the resident's clinical record to include but is not limited to; i.e. vital signs, clinic tests, intake and output, accurate and timely nurses notes, notifications to family and physicians, etc.
• Captures, instructs, and assumes lead work responsibilities for Certified Nurse Aides and students when assigned.
• Processes forms and miscellaneous documents as necessary.
• Other job duties as necessary.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited school of nursing;
• Two (2) years of clinical nursing experience in a health care facility, preferably long-term care, including work experience with patient care regulatory requirements for documentation;
• Possession of current licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse or GPN/Graduate Practical Nurse, issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification;
• Must have Certified Wound Specialist (CWS), Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN), Wound Care Certification (WCC), Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurse Accreditation (WOCN/WOC), or Advanced Wound Care Certification upon hire.
• OR Complete advanced wound care training and receive national accredited wound care certification within one (1) year of hire.

Qualifications

• Graduate Practical Nurse Candidates - After completion of a nursing program, Graduate Practical Nurse candidates who obtain their diploma may be hired if they meet the following requirements:
• Must be an accredited school.
• Applicant must possess their temporary practice permit and have a scheduled test date. The scheduled test date must be within forty-five (45) days of hire.
• Must provide documentation to Human Resources upon hire that test date has been scheduled. Failure to schedule test date, and/or provide proof to Human Resources, will result in the postponement of hire date.