LPN- South Albany Medical Center

ALBANY AREA PRIMARY HEALTH CARE, INC.

JOB DESCRIPTION

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

JOB SUMMARY

The LPN is responsible for assisting the physician and / or physician assistant with basic nursing care which includes performing nursing and laboratory procedures and testing, participating in patient and family teaching, communicating with others, and participating in decision making. Day to day supervision is provided by the Nurse Manager, Program Coordinator, Operations Manager, Practice Administrator, and / or Laboratory Director. Oversight of clinical competency, skills review, and nursing procedures is provided by the Director of Nursing.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides safe, accurate, and clinically competent direct care to patients and their families.

2. Monitors wait periods for patients in waiting room and either notifies front office staff or communicates to patients in waiting room so patient has option to wait, see another pro-vider, or reschedule as needed.

3. Recognizes and interprets the patient's symptoms or urgent problems and seeks appropri-ate assistance. Assists with remedial measures as ordered.

4. Obtains a thorough history and physical on all new patients by assisting patient in com-pleting the form, if needed.

5. Documents all nursing areas in the electronic medical record (EMR) appropriate to visit. Is specific as to reason for visit listing symptoms and complaints and / or patient concerns.

6. Assembles equipment and assists the provider with medical procedures and treatments including but not limited to ear irrigation, pelvic exams, minor surgeries, dressings, injec-tions, EKGs, etc. Prepares the patient and exam room for procedure, giving necessary and clear instructions to the patient.

7. Recognizes the patient's or their family's need for diagnosis or prevention education. Provides instruction or refers per provider order, thereby assisting patients to achieve basic health care goals.

8. Documents patient education in EMR and on encounter for reporting purposes.

9. Completes nursing medication procedures in EMR as to time, site, location, medication dosage and route for the provider.

10. Triages incoming calls from patients and deals with them appropriately as documented in EMR and / or communication with provider.

11. Demonstrates patient advocacy which assures patient's rights to privacy, safety, and con-fidentiality.

12. Understands HIPAA requirements and conducts clinical / business processes that ensures patient privacy as a priority.

13. Performs pediatric and / or adult immunizations per immunization schedule and provider direction. Documents all immunizations using the immunization module and nursing note in EMR. Updates pediatric GRITS system with immunizations given. Monitors inventory level of immunizations and requisitions per instructions.

14. Performs phlebotomy using skilled techniques following nursing policy and procedures regarding labeling, transport, accession into lab computer.

15. Performs waive testing procedures using skilled techniques following laboratory policy and procedures.

16. Reminds providers that current medications need to be reviewed for additional prescrip-tion refill as noted by documentation in EMR.

17. Gives a thorough and complete explanation of the Medicare Waiver of Liability form if anticipated service may not be covered under Medicare. All forms to be signed, dated, and reason for possible denial documented.

18. Responsible for maintaining, cleaning, sterilizing equipment, stocking examinations rooms ordering or listing supplies needed to be ordered, reporting malfunctioning equip-ment, refrigerator logs, collecting / disposing of hazardous waste on a daily basis.

19. Responsible for maintaining a variety of education materials in exam rooms and stock ar-ea per education committee recommendations.

20. Uses TIGER as a resource for patient scheduling and patient demographic data.

21. Makes referrals at providers' direction using computer / log to document referral. Provides timely feedback to provider if appointment is not kept.

22. Accurately documents all messages in EMR; sends messages to provider timely; makes sure patient has a return call regarding their request or concern.

23. Keeping with Georgia law, notifies patient of lab results within 14 days of provider re-ceiving the results. Patient will be notified through Televox Labcall system or contact by telephone and / or card notification. Notification will be documented in EMR.

24. Attends meetings as requested. Participates in in-service programs and skills fair.

25. Available to cover any clinic site as necessary.

26. Support AAPHC's goals for patient care by promoting walk-in patients being seen by the providers and identifying barriers to their supervisor.

27. Demonstrate age specific competencies that will be evaluated though direct observation and QI process (information from chart reviews, patient / peer / physician feedback, vari-ance reports, and other mechanisms as indicated.

28. Other duties as assigned.

PATIENT REDESIGN (applies to East Albany Medical Center)

Efficiently and appropriately uses computers, data books, and cordless phones.

QUALIFICATIONS

Graduate of an accredited school of practical nursing. Current Georgia license. Current certifi-cation in Basic Life Support (BLS). Knowledge of computers helpful. At least one year of nursing experience preferred.