Licensed Practical Nurse

## Core Responsibilities (In Order of Importance)1. Clinical Nursing CareThe LPN operates under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) or authorized practitioner (Physician, Dentist, etc.).Complex Procedures: Administering oxygen, applying sterile dressings, inserting catheters, wound irrigation, and performing dialysis (if certified).Emergency Response: Performing CPR, administering first aid, and managing patient restraints during crises.Medication Administration: Giving controlled (narcotics) and non-controlled meds via oral, rectal, topical, or injectable routes (IM and Sub-Q only).2. Documentation and AccountabilityMedication Records: Maintaining strict counts and charts for all administered drugs.Observation: Monitoring and reporting reactions to meds, treatment progress, and behavioral changes.Reporting: Preparing unusual incident reports, seclusion/restraint logs, and maintaining the patient "Kardex" (summary).3. Direct Patient Care & ProgrammingVitals & Hygiene: Taking blood pressure/pulse and assisting with bathing, grooming, and daily living activities.Mobility: Repositioning patients to prevent sores and escorting them to recreational activities or medical appointments.Activity Implementation: Leading one-to-one or group interventions as defined in treatment plans.4. Leadership & AdministrationStaff Guidance: Providing work direction and training to lower-level staff like hospital aides and psychiatric attendants.Logistics: Ordering medical supplies, restocking medication carts, and performing clerical tasks like filing and answering phones.## Major Worker CharacteristicsCategoryRequirementsKnowledgePharmacology, HIPAA regulations, CPR/First-Aid, and hospital/institutional procedures.Technical SkillsProficiency with medical equipment (dialysis machines, respirators, oxygen) and personal computers.Physical/MentalDexterity for injections, physical strength to move/restrain patients, and the ability to recognize life-threatening conditions quickly.## Legal & Education RequirementsLicensure: Must hold a current LPN license from the Ohio Board of Nursing.Medication: Proof of completion of an approved course in medication administration is mandatory.Specialty: To perform dialysis, the LPN must possess Certification in IV Therapy per Ohio Revised Code 4723.17.Continuing Ed: Biennial (every two years) license renewal and maintained CPR certification.## Working ConditionsThis role is demanding and involves:Scheduling: Night and weekend shifts, rotating days off, and mandatory overtime.Environment: High exposure to bodily fluids, infectious diseases, and unpredictable patient behavior (specifically in mental health or developmental disability settings).