LPN Same Day Surgery-2 – Central Maine Healthcare – Lewiston, ME

Position Summary: The Licensed Practical Nurse functions as an integral member of the interdisciplinary healthcare team in providing direct patient care. The LPN scope of practice utilizes the nursing process and is defined within the Maine Nurse Practice Act. The LPN while under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Licensed Provider, practices with minimal supervision and in accordance with CMH’s clinical and departmental policies and procedures. The LPN, assists clinically in the delivery of patient care, acts as the patient’s advocate, aides in directing nursing activities to Certified Nursing Assistants, provides clerical support, and promotes teamwork with co-workers, staff, providers, and personnel in other departments while exhibiting the values of CMH. The LPN, communicates effectively with members of the health care team about a patient’s condition, symptomatology, and results of diagnostic studies.

Job Functions and Duties:

• Participate in bedside handoff, reporting to nurses coming on duty while including the patient to provide necessary information and facilitate the delivery of excellent patient care.
• Conduct hourly patient rounds in conjunction with other nursing staff; to enhance patient safety, satisfaction and quality of care. Report problems to registered nurse and/or appropriate team members and initiate corrective action when necessary.
• Identify patient problems and emergency situations and initiate emergency care and “life-saving” measures per BLS and other protocols and policies.
• Act as a resource for, assists and directs C.N.A. staff in ensuring safe, quality patient care is provided.
• Administer and document patient care, medications and treatments per physicians’ orders within the EMR in accordance with hospital policy.
• Work collaboratively with CMH Pharmacy and in compliance with all state and federal regulations in the handling, administration, storage and destruction of pharmaceuticals.
• Notify registered nurse and other personnel as necessary, of changes in patients’ conditions and take appropriate follow-up action.
• Assure housekeeping tasks are completed on unit in accordance with policy. Maintain clean patient rooms, restock as needed and change bed linen according to hospital practice.
• Perform electrocardiograms including proper electrode placement.
• Ensure documentation meets current standards and policies.
• Answer telephone/intercom professionally and communicate information to appropriate personnel.
• Communicate appropriately and clearly within the interdisciplinary team, including managers, supervisors, co-workers, and providers.
• Treat patients and families with respect and dignity, identifying and addressing psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and family.
• Interact professionally with providers, staff, patients and families.
• Promote the mission, vision and values of the organization.
• Maintain a good working relationship both within the department and within the organization.
• Interpret existing policies and procedures to C.N.A.’s, patients, families and physicians when necessary.
• Completes mandatory in-services, on-line modules, and competency based trainings routinely and annually.
• Follows all employee health procedures, incident reporting, and infection control requirements at all times, as appropriate to the position.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to handle difficult situations involving patients, physicians and others in a professional manner.
• Working knowledge of procedures and techniques involved in administering routine and special treatments to patients.
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the heart in relation to waves, complexes, time and voltage as shown through the conduction system and strip interpretation.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks or activities simultaneously, provide quality patient service, prioritize and use critical thinking.
• Demonstrate an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
• Effectively communicate with patients in a supportive and tactful manner.
• Identify and apply effective service recovery opportunities.
• Ability to remain calm in a busy or stressful situation.
• Represent the organization in a positive manner by maintaining a pleasant and helpful demeanor, and presenting a professional appearance toward all internal and external customers at all times.
• Support, and encourages strong morale within the team and maintain effective, professional relationships with others.
• Ability to be flexible and tolerant of a fast changing environment.
• Desire to learn new specialties, systems, and processes.
• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest trends and legal requirements.
• Participates in unit based committees or hospital based council and/or committees.

Education and Experience:

• Must possess a current, unencumbered, active license to practice as an LPN in the State of Maine.
• Telemetry Certification within the first year of hire.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required within 3 months of hire.
• Must be proficient with basic computer skills

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions:

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment.
• Exposure to blood and body fluids.
• Pushing and pulling heavy objects.
• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients.
• Position requires light to moderate work with 50 pounds maximum weight to lift and carry.
• Position requires reaching, bending, stooping, and handling objects with hands and/or fingers, talking and/or hearing, and seeing.