Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Acute Pulmonary
Wellstar Health Systems

Facility: Kennestone Hospital

Job description

Green 4 South Tower Acute Pulmonary Care is primarily a pulmonary, medical- surgical unit with 27 available medical monitor telemetry beds.

The unit provides services for adolescent, adult and geriatric patients 24 hours a day throughout the year. The most commonly treated diagnoses, but

not limited to includes Pneumonia, COPD with acute exacerbation, Asthma, Plural Effusion, Pulmonary Embolism, Acute Respiratory failure, Hypoxia,

Pneumothorax, Pulmonary fibrosis, CHF, Hemoptysis, Lung Cancer, Diabetes, etc. The Average Daily Census: 25.83 / Direct HPPD based on ADC is: 8.41.

Full-time Nights 7p-7a

Overview
The Licensed Practical Nurse is a proactive member of an interdisciplinary team of licensed and unlicensed care givers who ensure that patients, families, and significant others receive individualized high quality, safe patient care. They practice in a clinical environment that is administered by Nurse Managers and other leaders and functions under the direction of the registered nurse through the WellStar Shared Leadership Model. The framework for practice is steered by the WellStar Professional Practice Model: shared leadership, teamwork, exemplary practice, creative innovations, and professional development. LPN competencies are derived from this model and supported by the WellStar Core Competencies.

It is expected that all Licensed Practical Nurses are licensed, knowledgeable and uphold the practice of nursing as outlined by the Georgia Professional Nurse Practice Act and implements the Scope of Practice and Code of Ethics Standards put forth by the Georgia Board of Nursing and the American Nurses Association. As a member of the patient services team, it is expected that the individual upholds the voice of the patient, system policies and procedures while supporting service excellence goals.

It is expected that the Licensed Practical Nurse will not perform functions for which they are not prepared by education and experience for which supervision is not provided.

Responsibilities
Core Responsibilites and Essential Functions

• Exemplary practice
  * Participates in data collection for patient assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of the delivery of health care services and other specialized task when appropriately educated under the supervision of the Registered Nurse.
  * Provides relationship-based patient centered care in collaboration with the registered nurse that is consistent with population specific characteristics (e.g., age, gender, disease, etc..) in a manner that adapts service delivery to reflect an understanding of cultural diversity
  * Always partners with the patient and significant others (as appropriate) using such appropriate method for setting and purpose (e.g., bedside shift report; interdisciplinary rounds) keeping the patient and significant others updated and participating with the registered nurse in making the patient's goals the focus of the plan of care.
  * Practices using current clinical practice standards under the supervision of the RN.
  * Performs comfort and safety measures including patient assistance with activities of daily living
  * Administers treatments and medications by various routes
• Teamwork
  * Participates in the delivery and documentation of safe quality patient care under the supervision of the registered nurse promoting the professional care delivery model. This includes but is not limited to diverse and inclusive interdisciplinary communication methods (interdisciplinary rounds, case review, etc..), completion of timely documentation and promotion of a respectful, inclusive clinical environment.
  * Demonstrates teamwork and collaboration by practicing in a manner that is fiscally responsible and promotes the recruitment and retention of all healthcare team members.
  * Informs registered nurse of changes in patient's condition as appropriate.
• Creative innovations
  * Promotes Evidence based practice, nursing research and performance improvement in nursing. Participates in activities such as value analysis as part of the decision-making process in evaluating patient care products.
  * Participates in data collection, poses relevant clinical questions to advanced evidence-based practice. Consults appropriate experts and uses appropriate resources and evidence to address practice questions.
  * Participates in the application of new practice changes under the supervision of the registered nurse when called upon or through self-initiation in collaboration with care managers and other members of the health care team to achieve best practice outcomes (i.e., decrease in re-admission rates; avoidable days; adverse events; etc)
• Professional Development
  * Completes all initial and ongoing professional competency assessment, required mandatory education, and population specific education.
  * Serves as a preceptor and/or or mentor for other licensed practical nurses.
  
• Shared Leadership
  * Upholds all health care system/organizational policies and procedures and clinical competencies put forth by this job description and professional association including legal, regulatory and accreditation requirements and standards ensuring by way of example, such goals as TJC Patient Safety Goals and WellStar Health Systems' safety absolutes
  * Participates and supports performance improvement inclusive of all stakeholders, research and research utilization to promote safe, quality patient care including initiating and participating in such activities as well as, promoting an inter/intra-disciplinary process and actively supports/participates in shared leadership at all levels in the system.
  
• Required for All Jobs
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• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.
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• Qualifications
  Required Minimum Education
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• Graduate of an accredited/approved school of practical/vocational nursing Required
• Required Minimum Experience
  
  Required Minimum Skills
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• Ability to read, write and speak English language, optimize the use of technology to support clinical care and holds basic computer skills;
• Strong interpersonal, collaborative skills along with customer service skills required;
• Ability to function in a fast paced environment and respond to emergencies in using a decisive, composed and respectful manner;
• Possess excellent time management skills;
• practices nursing using evidence and analytical skills along with possessing strong critical thinking skills.
• Compliance with the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Professional Nurses is required
• Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)
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• Basic Life Support Required
• BLS - Instructor Required
• BLS - Provisional Required
• Lic Practical Nurse Required
• Additional Licenses and Certifications