LPN Outpatient, Family Medicine

Physical Requirements

The role involves the following physical demands:

• Frequent standing while retrieving files, handling paperwork, and distributing medication.
• Frequent sitting for 5-10 minutes at a time; extended sitting may occur for 1.5 to 3 hours during documentation.
• Frequent squatting and/or lunging to stock supplies and retrieve materials from file cabinets and bookshelves.
• Fine manipulation for writing, handling paperwork, and dispensing medications.
• Pushing and/or pulling force up to 1-5 pounds horizontally (e.g., opening file cabinets, placing binders on shelves).
• Frequent lifting of items weighing 1-5 pounds from the floor to overhead.

Responsibilities

• Assists with patient assessments, including medical checklists, physical health screenings, medication reconciliation, depression screenings, height/weight, and vital signs.
• Administers medications while observing the Seven Rights of medication administration.
• Provides education on disease processes, medication uses, and potential side effects to patients and families.
• Monitors patients for medication side effects and reports findings to the physician.
• Delivers direct patient care, evaluates outcomes, consults with specialists, and adjusts nursing care as needed.
• Accurately assigns triage categories and maintains thorough nursing documentation (e.g., patient histories, treatments, responses, pain management).
• Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual needs of patients and families.
• Communicates effectively with physicians regarding patients’ physical and mental conditions.
• Administers medical and psychiatric screenings (e.g., PHQ-2, UNCOPE) and completes required documentation (e.g., medical checklists, AIMS, vital signs).
• Performs ancillary testing and tasks as ordered by the physician (e.g., PFT, EKG, injections, audiograms, x-rays) or schedules tests with medical facilities.
• Administers injections, treatments, and routine laboratory tests.
• Supervises nursing functions, including medical assistants, to ensure adherence to standards and procedural requirements.
• Assists patients with assistance programs and referrals; maintains updated referral files.
• Responds to medication refill requests and reviews charts for treatment compliance.
• Follows up on missed injections and documents findings.
• Collaborates with the multidisciplinary team to develop interdisciplinary treatment plans.
• Monitors laboratory results and reports abnormal findings to the physician.
• Provides emergency care (e.g., CPR, PRN medications) according to Accordia Health policies.
• Demonstrates crisis recognition and de-escalation skills.
• Participates in general and medical staff meetings as required.
• Maintains office and patient records by entering data into computer systems.
• Educates the community and patients on health issues to improve health literacy.
• Conducts infection control for staff and consumers when indicated.
• Meets AltaPointe Health productivity standards and demonstrates nursing competencies.
• Adheres to professional code of ethics.
• Actively participates in performance improvement activities and committees as required.
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner and accesses community resources based on patient needs.
• Follows Accordia Health policies and procedures.
• Maintains current state licensure, including CEUs, and attends required in-services and workshops.

Requirements

• Current LPN or Registered Nurse licensure in the state of Alabama.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Knowledge of adult/geriatric and/or child/adolescent specialty to be attained within six months of employment.
• Knowledge of general and psychiatric nursing care, including safe medication administration practices (IM injections).
• Understanding of psychiatric disorders in adult and/or child populations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of growth and development principles across the lifespan and age-appropriate care.
• Familiarity with medical terminology, particularly related to adult psychiatric care and/or substance abuse.
• Current knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on patient age and clinical condition.
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention, and non-violent crisis intervention practices.
• Basic understanding of educational methods.
• Awareness of the behavioral, psychological, physical, and social effects of psychoactive drugs (including alcohol and tobacco) on patients and families.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and cultural diversity.

Additional Information

AltaPointe requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Candidates who are not fully vaccinated at the time of hire will be given a reasonable amount of time to obtain vaccinated status. This position requires vaccination or an approved accommodation for religious or medical reasons.