Licensed Vocational Nurse (Sacramento)

POSITION TITLE: Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

REPORTS TO (TITLE): Director of Nursing

Pay Range: $31.00-$36.50

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) provides individualized skill-based technical patient care. Patient care will be based on the plan of care established by the Registered Nurse and treatment team. The LVN will work as a team member to meet team goals and objectives focused on the patient's mental health recovery. The LVN will primarily be responsible for medication administration to patients as prescribed by the psychiatric provider. Medication education will include individualized one on one and group delivery systems discussing the rational for the medication, medication dose, side effects of the medications and any potential medication related educational materials. Flexibility and efficiency under multiple demands and ability to adjusts priorities as circumstances require to meet nursing/staffing needs of the department/unit.

Teamwork is key in the role of the LVN with co-workers, physicians, patients/families, visitors, and the public. The LVN will maintain a high degree of accuracy and precision on a consistent basis in the performance procedures and treat all patients and colleagues with dignity and respect. The LVN will maintain patient confidentiality. May have access to or be required to distribute drugs, needles or syringes from storage locations, (such as large stock supplies, automated dispensing units and other carts) to/within patient care areas or treatment carts as defined by hospital policy/procedure.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Treatment Planning: Participate in treatment planning: (a) helps identify patients' problems, needs, and strengths; (b) suggests modifications to treatment plan based on observations of patients' behavior; (c) provides input into discharge planning.
• Patient Care: Participate in implementing patients' treatment plans by: (a) monitoring patients' progress; (b) communicating information regarding patients' behavior to other members of treatment team; c) maintains communication with patient, family members, and referral sources in patients' interest; (d) co-facilitates didactic, educational, and community groups within the context of the adolescent treatment program; (e) encourages and facilitates patients' participation in therapeutic activities; (f) supervises patients to ensure their safety and their involvement in treatment; (g) provide input during shift report.
• Patient Assessment, Medication and Nutrition: Administers patient medications prescribed by physician. Under supervision of RN complete nursing assessments and update treatment plans. Assists Dietary Staff in identifying patients on special diets and assuring patients' compliance with dietary orders. Carry out general nursing care assistance, appropriate to Adult Addictive Disease patients, as assigned and supervised by charge nurse.
• Patient Attendant: Accompany and transport patients as assigned. Orient new patients to unit, program, and milieu. Assists patients in carrying out activities of daily living, when congruent with the patients' treatment plan and needs, age, and developmental level. Maintains a safe, orderly, and therapeutic physical environment for patients. Participates in maintaining the therapeutic milieu on the unit including, but not limited to, facilitation of community meetings.
• Patient Records: Maintain patient, program, department, and related documentation. Carry out clerical and administrative assignment to support patient care and department and organization operations.
• Training Activities: Complete orientation and competency assessments as required for position. Participate in activities enhancing professional growth and development.
• Other Duties: Upholds the Organization's ethics and customer service standards. Performs related duties, as requested.

Requirements:
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education/Licensure

• High school, GED, or equivalent required.
• Current California State license as a Vocational Nurse.
• Current CPR certification (or obtained within 30 days of hire).
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification (or obtained within 30 days of hire).

Knowledge and Experience:

• High school level reading and writing skills, legible handwriting
• Familiarity with medical and psychological terminology and human behavior principles preferred
• Basic knowledge of procedures for detoxification assessment and treatment procedures
• Familiarity with the disease concept of addiction treatment; knowledge of 12-step treatment and of cognitive aspects of addictive disease treatments
• Ability to identify signs of withdrawal from major classes of abused substances and apply this in providing patient care. In the absence of these skills upon hire, must demonstrate ability to learn these concepts and develop these skills within reasonable time frame via organization's orientation and training program.

Skills and Abilities:

• Maintains confidentiality of patients at all times
• Sensitivity to and willingness to interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds
• Skills in teaching or assisting with activities of daily living helpful
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to work with people with a variety of background and educational levels
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good judgment, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, expanding environment

Physical Requirements:

Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner; must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation and foot traffic; ability to handle interruptions often and be able to move from one task to another; must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinions.

Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips. Ability to express and exchange ideas verbally and convey details and verbal instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly. Hearing to perceive the nature of sound with no less than 40 dB loss @ Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction; ability to perceive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound. Perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers.

Individual must be able to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally and to be able to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Work requires a minimum standard of visual acuity with or without correction that will enable people in the row to complete administrative and clerical tasks and visually observe patients on the unit and in therapeutic activities. While worker may possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside.

Benefits:
Eligible employees receive holiday premium pay, health, dental & vision insurance, 401(k), healthcare & dependent care spending accounts, generous paid time off, life insurance, company-paid short and long-term disability coverage. Whether you are in intern looking to earn licensing hours, a health care worker looking for PRN work or a professional looking for a career, the opportunities are abundant at Sacramento Behavioral Healthcare Hospital.