Licensed Practical Nurse

BASIC FUNCTION:

Under the direction of a registered nurse and/or physician, provides general nursing care for Kent State University students; assists in gathering information for patient assessments, schedules appointments, and assists physicians with examinations when requested. Reports to Nurse Manager or Registered Nurse (RN).

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES/ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Assists in gathering information for patient assessments (e.g., obtains and documents patient health history, records vital signs and symptoms, notes changes, makes observations and reports information to physician and/or Registered Nurse).

Performs selected nursing procedures ordered by physician or Registered Nurse (e.g., administers medication in oral, rectal, or intramuscular and subcutaneous injection form; applies and changes sterile dressings; collects specimens for laboratory testing; assists in providing emergency care (e.g., administers first aid); assists Registered Nurses in triage area.

Documents/charts patient treatment, medications administered, vital signs, nursing care, etc.

Schedules appointments for physicians; responds to inquiries from patients (e.g., provides basic health care information); assists physician with office examination (e.g., sets up instruments, records vital signs, etc.).

Transports patients; orders supplies; attends to patient personal hygiene needs; cleans patient rooms; maintains patient records.

Supervises classified employees, oversees Nursing Assistants and Medical Assistants, and manages schedules.

Recommends formal personnel actions (e.g., hiring, discipline) and conducts performance evaluations of classified employees.

Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Graduation from an accredited school of practical nursing.

License/Certification:

Current license as a practical nurse in Ohio to include pharmacology certification issued by the Ohio Board of Nursing or National Association of Practical Nurses Education Services (NAPNES) certification or Ohio Organization of Practical Nurses Education Services (OOPNES) certification. Current certification in CPR or must successfully complete training course and be certified during employee's probationary period.

Preferred Qualifications:

IV insertion skills preferred.

Knowledge Of:

Practical nursing procedures and safety practices
Pharmacology
First aid

Skill In:

Use of hypodermics
Operation of medical equipment (e.g., EKG machine, nebulizer, spirometer, etc.)
Interpersonal communication to effectively interact with University personnel and public in person and over the telephone (e.g., to schedule and exchange information from other areas related to health services, to answer questions from the public)
Written technical/medical communication (e.g., to compose meaningful, concise and accurate reports on patient treatment)

Ability To:

Recognize unusual or threatening conditions and take appropriate emergency action
Demonstrate physical dexterity and lift 50 pounds
Understand practical field of study (e.g., biology, anatomy, chemistry, etc.)
Understand manuals and verbal instructions associated with practical nursing
Operate a computer for data entry/retrieval
Learn and operate the Electronic Health Record System (EHR) proficiently

Assessments:

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements:

Health care environment; exposed to chemical substances and infectious materials; requires moderate physical effort to move patients and extended periods of walking and standing; may work varied hours and shifts to include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Value Statement