Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - $10,000 Hiring Incentive

Summary of DutiesResponsible for contributing to the nursing assessment, patient admissions, participating in the development and modification of the plan of care, participating in the implementation of the plan of care, and contributing to the evaluation of the responses of patients to nursing interventions. Under the direction and supervision of a Registered Nurse, administers nursing care to patients regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, and handicap.Essential Job FunctionsContributes to nursing assessment by collecting, reporting, and recording objective and subjective dataObserves and reports changes in condition of patients and signs and symptoms of deviations from normal health statusParticipates in the development and modification of the Nursing Care Plan by providing data. Uses data collected to plan and prioritize workDocuments the involvement of patient/family/significant other in the medical recordContributes to the identification of appropriate nursing interventions to maintain comfort, support human functions and responsesAssists with discharge planningPerforms assigned nursing procedures for the comfort and well being of patientsAssists patients with ambulationAssists physicians and nurses with special proceduresAssists with prescribed exercises, turning, massages, backrubs, and repositioning of patientsMonitors and records vital signs, neurological and neurovascular checks, identifies and reports abnormalitiesPerforms 12 lead EKG. Applies electrodes to patients requiring cardiac monitoring and documents appropriatelyInterprets cardiac rhythm correctly to include: sinus rhythm, bradycardia, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular flutter, and ventricular fibrillationPrepares patient for meals and assists or feeds patients as needed. Verifies placement of feeding tubes and administers tube feedingsMonitors oxygen therapy for safety and effectivenessAssists with nursing care procedures such as endotracheal or nasopharyngeal suctioning, intubation, extubation, and peritoneal dialysis as appropriateCares for elimination needs including enemas, irrigations, ostomy care, and urinary catheterizationsCollects and properly labels various types of specimens. Delivers appropriately if necessaryMonitors and records patient's fluid balance (intake and output)Assists with I.V. therapy on hospital policy and Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) Scope of Practice guidelines. Performs venipunctures. Discontinues I.V. and Heparin lock at peripheral sites. Performs site care and I.V. tubing changes. Maintains nasogastric (NG) tubes per hospital policy and ABN guidelines. Properly labels and hangs peripheral I.V. fluids. Labels all I.V. tubingAdministers medications in accordance with policies and legal limitations. Documents according to policy and procedure. Observes patients for reactions to drugs and reports as neededApplies various treatments, dressings, or corrective devices as orderedAssures all restraint orders are properly written and renewed prior to expiration. Assists other staff with identifying alternatives to restraint use and assists with reducing/eliminating restraint useMonitors and records blood glucose accurately via glucometerTranscribes physicians' orders onto MAR Kardex. Implements order following review and verification by Registered NurseDocuments nursing interventions and responses to care (patient progress, medications, treatments, signs and symptoms, intake and output, vital signs, serial blood sugars, ventilator parameters, and other pertinent observations)Explains nursing interventions and provides appropriate education (medication, procedures, diagnosis related, equipment, safety, etc.) to patient and/or responsible person, according to their predetermined level of comprehension, and documents on appropriate recordsPerforms phlebotomy and collects laboratory specimens according to established standardsMonitors patient's skin integrity, reports abnormal findings, and assists with follow-up orders and wound careAssesses the patient for pain using a 1-10 pain rating scale or other rating method and intervenes promptly and appropriately for any identified painPerforms other duties as assignedEducationMust be currently licensed as an LPN by the State of Alabama.Experience