Job Title: Licensed Vocational nurse

Department: Correctional Care Unit

Reports To: Unit Health Administrator

Position Summary: Assists the professional nursing and physician staff in providing maximum patient care, assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patients. Under supervision gives direct and indirect patient care as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education: Graduate of an accredited school of Vocational nursing.

Current Vocational Nursing license, licensed by the State of Texas

1 year of vocational nursing preferred

Current CPR certification.

IV therapy and unit dose training preferred.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Skills:

A. Collects requisitions.

1. Sorts requisitions according to requested day and time of collections.

2. Organizes pick-up schedule to assure that all specimens are collected within specific time limits for ONCE, STATE, ASAP, etc. As defined in the Phlebotomy Procedure Manual.

B. Collects patient specimens of various types.

1. Verifies patient identification by comparing name on requisition with TDCJ-ID.

2. Collects specimens using proper technique according to the Phlebotomy Procedure Manual.

3. Labels specimen containers properly after collection with patient name, TDCJ-ID, moving assignment, date of birth, date and time of collection and initial them.

4. Disposes of used needles and other contaminated supplies in the approved manner.

5. Delivers specimens to the courier for transportation to the performing laboratory.

C. Keeps drawing room and collection trays clean and stocked with necessary supplies.

1. Secures all sharps as necessary.

2. Maintains cleanliness of all counter tops, storage, shelves, drawing chairs, and collections trays at all times.

3. Stocks all collection trays with supplies for use by the next shift.

4. Stocks drawing room storage cabinet with all necessary supplies on Monday of each week or more often if necessary.

D. Utilizing the nursing protocols as established for use in correctional facilities and completes basic physical and psychosocial assessment of patients and takes nursing histories to provide a basis for development of patient care plans under the direct supervision of a licensed professional.

1. Identifies teaching/learning/discharge needs at time of admission and throughout care.

2. Provides a basic assessment which accurately reflects overt physiological and psychosocial needs of patients and reports unusual findings to appropriate licensed personnel.

3. Uses input from patient, physician, and health care team members.

4. Provides care appropriate for the adolescent and geriatric patients served based on demonstrated knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.

5. Assesses and interprets data on the adolescents and geriatric patients status to identify patient requirements relative to their age-specific needs and provide care needed as stipulated in departmental policy.

E. Implements and monitors appropriate nursing care to meet patients needs and identifies expected outcome for planned nursing and identifies expected outcome for planned nursing intervention and insures vital information is passed on.

1. Administers medications according to policy ad as prescribed by physicians.

2. Knows actions, indications, contradiction, precautions, adverse reactions, dosage and route of administration on all drugs before administering record for accuracy on each shift and on an ongoing basis.

3. Gives exchange report to other health care personnel providing accurate and complete information in each patient at the change of shift, when transferring patient to another unit, at intervals during the shift.

4. Assesses patients at the beginning of shift for acuity of patient needs/problems and based on that assessment, establishes priority in which work activities are consistently completed by the end of the shift.

5. Perform basic nursing skills competently to include but not limited to : intake and output, vital signs, urine testing, specimens/cultures, dressing changes, personal hygiene for patient, skin care, glucose monitoring, airway/suctioning, basic oxygen administration, tube feedings, urinary catheterization, drains, enemas, and intravenous catheterization.

6. Recognize variances of vital signs and assessments that should be reported to the Registered Nurse, supervisor and the physicians in time appropriate to the variance.

7. Consistently checks for new patient orders throughout the shift and implement them in an appropriate time frame.

F. Participate in the healthcare educational needs in regard to patient care needs, disease prevention and health maintenance measures.

1. Assists the Registered nurse in the developing and implementing an individualized teaching and discharge plan at admission and throughout care.

2. Act as a liaison between patient, physician and other health disciplines.

G. Maintains accurate and timely records according to hospital policy and procedures.

1. Accurately documents, using SOAP charting, on each shift, the nursing patient care activities and the patient response to nursing interventions and delegated medical management.

2. Assists with maintain a patient care plan that is current and reflects individual needs and preferences of patients and others.

3. Transcribes and/or cosigns physicians orders completely and accurately to correctional unit policy and practice.

Other Significant Requirements:

1. Maintain HIPAA required and all other confidentiality while working with confidential matters on a daily basis.

2. Follows procedures for using precautions when involved in direct patient contact or when handling potentially infectious material.

3. Provides service directly to patients while maintaining positive patient relations atmosphere.

4. Follows safety guidelines and policies for the clinic

5. Other duties, as assigned by supervisor.

Interpersonal Skills:

1. Demonstrate experience functioning as a team player.

2. Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, which elicit positive and productive outcomes.

3. Demonstrate philosophy of caring and compassion for patients, fellow employees and community served by this organization while maintaining mental toughness.

4. Demonstrate commitment to continued self-improvement, honesty, integrity and character which reflects an atmosphere of professionalism in providing quality work.

Work Schedule: 8:00AM-5:00PM Monday-Friday

60 minutes for lunch