The Licensed Vocational Nurse coordinates and provides nursing care for residents and provides supervision and guidance to clinical staff members. The LVN’s scope of work may be modified by state specific rules under the Nurse Practice Act. As a supervisor, the LVN has the authority, in the interest of the employer, to hire, transfer, suspend, lay-off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline other employees, or the responsibility to direct them or to adjust their grievances, or effectively recommend such action, the exercise of which is not merely routine or clerical in nature, and are therefore expected to exercise that authority through the use of independent judgement in carrying out such duties.
In addition to the essential functions outlined herein, this position is considered to be a direct resident care role and therefore the incumbent shall meet and fulfill all applicable requirements as outlined in California Code of Regulation Title 22: Social Security, Division 5: Health FAcilities, as well as the Health and Safety Code for the State of California.
Essential Functions:
Clinical
– Documents the resident’s condition and identifies the resident’s nursing needs.
– Accurately and promptly implements physicians’ orders.
– Administers medications and performs treatments for assigned residents and documents that treatment, as required by LifeHOUSE, and local, state and federal rules and regulations.
– Assists physicians with special tests and procedures within the scope of state specified Nurse Practice Act.
– Ensures that supplies are utilized economically and that equipment is clean and maintained in a safe manner.
– Reports and records pertinent observations and reactions regarding residents.
– Assists with or institutes emergency measures for sudden adverse developments in residents.
Supervision:
As a supervisor, the LVN has the authority, in the interest of the employer, to hire, transfer, suspend, lay-off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline other employees, or responsibly direct them, or to adjust their grievances, or effectively to recommend such action,, the exercise of which is not merely routine or clerical in nature, and are therefore expected to exercise that authority through the use of independent judgment in carrying out such duties in the interest of the community.
– Supports the philosophy, mission, commitment, vision, and values of LifeHOUSE.
– Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned junior staff members and CNAs.
– Assists in the orientation of newly assigned personnel as well as supervises and instructs other nursing personnel as assigned.
– Assigns nursing care to team members in accordance with the resident’s needs and the person’s capabilities and qualifications.
– Evaluates data and compares various courses of action when assigning team members.
– Conducts or participates in performance evaluations of CNAs under supervision.
– Assumes the responsibility for ensuring appropriate staffing levels. Immediately notifies the Director of Nursing Services and/or the Executive Director of inappropriate staffing levels and assists with resolution.
– Supervises nursing unit/assignment, which includes assignment work flows and directing the nursing staff, to the extent permitted by the Nurse Practicing Act.
– Meets with assigned unit personnel throughout the shift to assist in identifying and correcting problem areas, and/or the improvement of services. Provides shift report to applicable unit personnel at the beginning and end of the work shift to ensure completion of assignments and continuity of care.
– Coordinates nursing care of residents when scheduled for therapy or procedures by other departments.
– Interviews applicants and recommends hires.
– Assures that nursing personnel follow established nursing procedures and LifeHOUSE policies.
– Assists in standardizing the methods in which work will be accomplished.
– Assumes the responsibility of correcting, coaching, and counseling underperforming personnel.
– Participates in counseling, disciplinary action, and termination of staff, to the extent permitted by the Nurse Practice Act.
– Initiates the investigation of accidents and unusual occurrences and makes the necessary written report to the Director of Nursing Services.
– Investigates complaints and grievances and makes necessary oral/written reports to the Director of Nursing Services.
– Keeps the Director of Nursing Services informed about the status of residents, staff, and related matters.
– Promotes interpersonal relationships and develops staff morale.
– Assumes the authority, responsibility, and oversight of directing services on the assigned unit/shift.
– Assumes the accountability for the performance of tasks by CNAs under supervision.
– The LVN “assigns” through “the act of designating an employee to a place (such as a location, department, or wing), appointing an employee to a time (such as a shift or overtime), or giving significant overall duties, i.e. tasks, to an employee.” Merely choosing the order in which an employee will perform discrete tasks within those assignments is not indicative of exercising authority to ‘assign.”
– The LVN has the “responsibility to direct” as the supervisor, which includes being accountable for the performance of the tasks performed by direct reports, such that some adverse consequence may befall the supervising LVN if the tasks performed by the employee are not performed properly.
– The LVN exercises “independent judgment,” and will at a minimum, “act, or effectively recommend action, free of the control of others and form an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing data.” Judgment will not be deemed independent where it is dictated or controlled by a detailed set of verbal or written instructions, such set forth in company policies or rules.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
– Demonstrated competence of nursing skills within the applicable Nurse Practice Act and associated expectations for quality care delivery.
– Skilled in directing and motivating the workforce, including building, leading, and managing the team.
– Ability to work cooperatively as a member of a team.
– Ability to communicate effectively with residents and their family members, and at all levels of the organization.
– Ability to react decisively and quickly in emergency situations.
– Knowledge of training techniques for clinical staff.
– Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Disclaimer:
This description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work for this position. Job duties may be modified over time based on business and clinical needs.
