LPN Medication Nurse, PM (Daphne)

About the role

EastPointe Hospital is a private, free-standing psychiatric hospital for adults located in Daphne, Ala. Licensed Practical Nurses in a medication role are primarily responsible for completing the admissions process, assisting consumers with personal care, observing consumers’ physical and mental status, providing medication administration, and participating in the multidisciplinary treatment team.

Responsibilities

• Completes the admission process for consumers including medical checklist, physical health, nutritional screening, medication list, medication administration record, vital signs, height and weight, transcribing physician orders, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), and admission notes if working on the Intermediate Care unit.
• Observes consumers behavior in groups and activities and documents observations in consumers’ records.
• Interacts with consumers and evaluates needs to ensure that proper information is reported from shift to shift and during the multidisciplinary treatment team meeting.
• Provides nursing care.
• Gives direction to behavioral staff and CNAs as needed.
• Affords assistance with personal care areas like bathing, toileting and other hygiene items; medical appointments, chores, recreational activities and safety issues.
• Prepares and administers medications while observing the Six Rights of medication administration.
• Prepares and administers all wound care/treatments as ordered by the physician.
• Collects specimens from consumers as ordered to aide in the provision of treatment/care and in the diagnosis of disease and medical/physical conditions.
• Provides medication education for the consumer and family to include uses and potential side effects.
• Makes observations and reports findings to the physician regarding potential side effects of medications.
• Assists in conducting consumer orientation and other classes/groups in order to promote the consumers’ levels of understanding and coping ability as evidenced by client satisfaction/improvement and outcomes.
• Observes/examines consumers’ physical and mental status so that medication side effects are recognized and reported to the RN/physician, ensuring that the needs for treatment, continuity of care, physical and emotional support are met.
• Effectively communicates findings and observations of consumers’ physical and mental state with the physician.
• Participates in on-the-job competency training in order to promote new employee learning and job performance as evidenced by satisfactory completion of employee orientation to the medication system.
• Demonstrates willingness to work on any unit at facility as needed and as directed by management.
• Interfaces with the multi-disciplinary team and actively and cooperatively participates in development of the interdisciplinary treatment plan.
• Contacts laboratory, requests and monitors results, and reports all abnormal findings to the physician.
• Provides emergency care as needed (CPR, MindSet, PRN medications) and according to AltaPointe Policy and Procedures.
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation.
• Participates in meetings and training programs so that information can be shared or communicated, skills may improve, and licensure/credential requirements are met.
• Affords assistance with seclusion and restraints per AltaPointe Policy and Procedures.
• Demonstrates effective communication and collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team.
• Performs hand-off communication at shift change.
• Adheres to professional code of ethics.
• Documents in a timely fashion per AltaPointe policy.
• Documents in clear, concise manner types of consumers’ problems, treatment goals and services provided.
• Documentation shows that forms, notes, logs, and other applicable written information are completed promptly, accurately and updated when appropriate.
• Documents legibly.
• Treats consumers and co-workers with care, dignity and compassion.
• Respects consumers’ and co-workers’ privacy and confidentiality.
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others.
• Affords assistance to consumers and visitors as needed.
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others.
• Sensitive to consumers’ needs, expectations and individual differences.
• Active participation in Performance Improvement activities.
• Active participation in AltaPointe committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner.
• Follows AltaPointe policies and procedures.
• Maintains current license and requirements for renewals.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent standing, sitting, and walking in bursts of 5 to 10 minutes at random.
• Sitting and standing can be extended with the employee having the ability to change positions as permitted by the observance and behavior of the consumer at that time.
• Occasional forward bending from the hips while kneeling to reach to the side.
• An occasional need to be able to assume a full squat/lunge from a standing position.
• An occasional need to maintain back extension while being on stomach with one’s own body weight on hips and legs. This position is maintained for several minutes.
• An occasional need to maintain one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the same side of one’s body.
• An occasional need to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
• Occasionally, be able to put one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the same side of one’s body.
• Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
• Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
• Lift up to 10 pounds from the floor to various levels, including from the floor to overhead occasionally during shift.
• Have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds to assist in activities of daily living, as required.
• Have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds from floor to waist.
• Strong grasp is needed to use keys to open doors throughout the facility and to maintain constant contact with a consumer during a restraint procedure or with other hold techniques.
• Pushing/pulling force up to 25 pounds occasionally during shift.
• At times therapy may be inside or outside the facility; therefore, some activities will dictate physical requirements for playing or games.