Licensed Practical Nurse

Description

PURPOSE

The procedure room Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is responsible for prepping the patient and assisting the physician to ensure that every procedure being performed is well documented and performed with accuracy.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND JOB ACTIVITIES

Morning Arrival Responsibilities

Review schedule for the day

Stock shelves with needed supplies

Draw up the necessary injectable medications as needed

Verify that all needed probes are ready and sterile as needed

Responsible for Studying Patient Records before Procedures

Verify that the patient is scheduled for the correct procedure

Study the most recent note ensuring the accuracy of the procedure that is scheduled

Verify the laterality and levels of the procedure

Verify anticoagulation status

Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients' charts

Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients' conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action

Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, or respiration

Provide basic patient care or treatments, such as taking temperatures or blood pressures, dressing wounds, treating bedsores, giving enemas or douches, rubbing with alcohol, massaging, or performing catheterizations

Work as part of a healthcare team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care, and implement interventions

Prepare patients for examinations, tests, or treatments and explain procedures

Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles

Sterilize equipment and supplies, using germicides, sterilizer, or autoclave

Responsible for Preparing the Patient before the Procedure

Verbal verification the site and laterality of the procedure to be performed with the patient

Assist in properly positioning the patient on the procedure table

Assist with applying blood pressure cuff and pulse / ox sensor as needed

Assist with prepping the skin prior to procedure as needed

Explain and obtain procedure consent

Review the pre-op checklist

Verify anticoagulation status

Start IVs for sedation cases

Log all vitals before and after the procedure

Log pain scores

Assist in transporting patients

Responsible for Preparing the Physician for the Procedure as needed

Open the appropriate sterile tray

Add to the tray any necessary components

Open and prepare the necessary needles

Lay out gloves, drapes, etc. for the physician to easily access

Responsibilities During the Procedure

• Monitor vital signs
• Provide patient comfort as needed
• Alert to any needs the physician may have

Safety and Sanitation Requirements

• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when in contact with the patient, bodily fluids or hazardous materials
• Wear lead when radiological equipment in use
• Clean and sanitize any spills immediately
• Maintain a safe environment for the employees and patients at all times
• Sterilize probes after each use
• Initiate lifesaving measures, such as CPR, in emergency situations as observed

Technical Skills

• Watch gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly
• Control operations of equipment or systems
• Analyze needs and product requirements to create a design
• Conduct tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance
• Generate or adapt to equipment and technology to serve user need
• Develop and maintain personal and professional skills
• Attend all mandatory staff meetings per year unless excused as evidenced by documentation
• Attend mandatory in-services and a minimum of two pertinent in-services per year as documented
• Actively participate in performance improvement activities as observed or documented
• Establish realistic professional goals as evidenced by the annual performance evaluation
• Actively keep abreast of departmental and organizational activities
• Demonstrate flexibility in response to unexpected change in workload or situations as observed
• Serves on committees and/or participates in changes of policy and procedures that affect the operation of services as documented
• Assist in the orientation of new personnel as directed
• Support the mission and goals of the company as observed
• Address all emails within 24 hours as documented
• Perform other duties as required
• Demonstrate safe and cost-effective practice
• Consistently adhere to OSHA bloodborne pathogen guidelines; apply universal precautions per company standards as observe
• Consistently utilize proper body mechanics as observed
• Accurately complete incident reports within the shift of occurrence and immediately communicates critical incidents to the appropriate person per the organizational chart
• Consistently allocate resources to reduce waste and minimize costs as observed
• Consistently complete assigned duties within stated shifts in a timely manner as observed and documented

Qualifications

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Knowledge of common safety hazards and precautions to establish a safe work environment
• Must be able to act calmly and effectively in busy, stressful or emergency situations
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone and in writing
• Require adherence to all policies and procedures, including standards for safety, attendance, punctuality and personal appearance