LPN - New Graduate
Nantucket Cottage Hospital (NCH)

New Grad

Job Summary:

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in the physician practices participates in nursing care and services to patients, including assessment of health status, gathering, and interpreting information, providing health teaching, and performing specific nursing functions. Additionally, he/she collaborates with other health care providers to ensure quality and continuity of care. The LPN bears full responsibility for the care he/she provides. The LPN may delegate nursing activities within his/her scope of practice to administratively assigned staff, such as medical assistants.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Provides direct and indirect nursing care as part of a nursing care plan or a prescribed medical regime that has been incorporated into a nursing care plan.

• Assesses an individual's basic health status, records, and related health data.
• Participates in analyzing and interpreting an individual's basic health status and information.
• Documents own activities in a timely manner in the patient record.
• Provides health education to facilitate patient treatment plan.
• Actively empowers patient and family to effectively manage their health care and navigate the health care system.
• Respects and supports patient and family's cultural beliefs and values, individual needs, health goals and treatment preferences.

Participates in planning and implements nursing interventions and functions, including but not limited to:

• Administers medications ordered by a licensed prescriber.
• Administers immunizations, vaccinations and allergy injections ordered by a licensed prescriber.
• Conducts health screening activities.
• Changes wound dressings consistent with a nursing care plan.
• Performs respiratory treatments ordered by a licensed prescriber.
• Performs first aid.

Collaborates with all members of the health care team to ensure coordination of care as indicated.

• May act as patient flow manager.
• Actively engages in creating a healthy, respectful work environment.
• Participates in health activities in the community as indicated e.g., vaccination and screening clinics.

Participates in activities that ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective care.

• Identifies opportunities, and solutions, to ensure a safe, efficient, and cost-effective practice environment.
• Demonstrates compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Participates in quality and safety initiatives.
• Generates innovative ideas to improve care delivery and work flow in the practice environment.
• Precepts and mentors' new members of the team.
• Participates in departmental and organizational committees and initiatives.

Professional development

• Maintains and updates skills based on current nursing practice.
• Adheres to departmental requirements for required training.
• Identifies specific learning needs and goals and collaborates with nursing leadership in developing a plan to meet them.

Any and all other duties as indicated within scope of practice.

Specific Job Duties and Responsibilities

Responsible for handling calls from patients and/or patient representative who are seeking medical information and/or medical attention. Facilitates scheduling of appointments as the patient's condition requires, answer questions and provide health education to patients on the phone who have questions about their care.

Specific duties include:

• Participates in daily "morning huddle," proactively identifying clinical care, concerns, and needs for patient's/families scheduled for the day.

• Helps facilitate processing medication refills.

• Conducts patient call-backs/follow-up calls within a timely manner and documents the interaction within the EHR.

• Supports the office team with obtaining required medical records/consults/test results.

• Completes medical and treatment pre-authorizations in a timely manner.

• Helps make referral to outside institutions if clinical expertise is needed.

• Assists the providers and other office staff with scheduling patients for required medical appointments, utilizing EMR, and other available scheduling systems.

• Assists the provider as needed with EMR in-basket management.

• Administers immunizations within established practice guidelines.

• Completion of a pre-visit comprehensive assessment, intake, and history of new patients.

• Rooming patients and preparing the patient and room for the provider, to include the following:

o Gathering of all appropriate supplies.

o Opening the clinical record using the appropriate template.

o Review and documentation of all relevant clinical information in each patient's records, to include:

§ Chief complaint/reason for visit/nursing assessment.

§ Current and past medications (medication reconciliation).

§ Relevant patient, family, and social history (including smoking status).

§ Health Maintenance status/requirements.

§ Nursing care provided.

§ Vaccine status and administration.

§ Vital signs.

§ Fall screening for patients >65.

§ Review and document allergies.

§ Ensure patient's choice of pharmacy is noted.

§ Other screenings/information as required.

• Completion of screening and evaluation forms (PEDS, Post-Partum Screenings, etc).

• Review PROMS questionnaire.

• Confirm all appropriate patient consents for treatment/care (surgical procedures, Care in L&D, Sterilization, etc.) are obtained and provide education if necessary.

• Ensures all required insurance/forms are reviewed and signed by the patient (Medicare physical and medication/vaccine waivers).

• Comprehensive teaching and education of patients and/or their families utilizing current, standardized teaching tools and handouts.

• Assists the provider with treatments/screenings.

• (already stated above)Completion of all nurse visits, in a timely manner, to include:

o Providing and recording appropriate assessment and treatment data.

o Consults with provider, as required.

o Completion of coding within the EHR in accordance with documented industry standards and Partners Policy.

• Sends/responds to clinical messages in a timely manner.

• Assists other nurses as needed.

• Keep rooms adequately stocked.

• Assist patients in and out of wheelchairs and other assistance as needed.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Telephone Triage

o Responds to patient phone calls in a timely manner, collecting sufficient information related to the presenting problem and medical history.

o Furnishes medical advice within the scope of the practice.

o Sends Provider note within EHR with pertinent information if necessary.

o Facilitates the scheduling of appointments, based on necessity.

o Accurately documents the encounter with the patient in the EMR.

o Maintains work queue within the EMR.

o Follows up, as necessary.

Qualifications
Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for the Position

• Knowledge ofbasic nursing principles.
• Good computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office, electronic medical record systems, and medical office practice applications.
• Effective analytical skills.
• Demonstrated strong and effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
• Ability to tactfully communicate with both internal and external customers.
• Ability to use fingers and hands to operate all department-related equipment as described on the Department checklist. Additionally, must use telephone, calculator, fax, copier, scanner, and other related office equipment.
• Ability to frequently bend, using back and knees.
• Ability to stand and walk forty sit sixty of the time. Ability to frequently climb, bend, reach, stoop, squat, help lift objects from five to fifty pounds and move patients via wheelchair or stretcher. Ability to independently lift from five to twenty-five pounds.
• Ability to present themselves in a professional manner.
• Ability to develop a rapport with providers, clinical staff, patients, and families.
• Ability to work independently and cooperatively with managers, employees, vendors, contractors, and other agencies. Demonstrated ability to be flexible, highly organized and make independent decisions in response to operational issues within medical office environments. Knowledge of basic principles of practice/departmental management.

Credentials and Experience Required:

• Current licensure as a practical nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

• Previous experience in as LPN in ambulatory setting if not certified.

• Graduate of an approved practical nursing program

• BLS/CPR certification required within one week of hire. AHA & ARC accepted.

Special Requirements:

• Work hours will be determined by the Director of the practice and/or the Clinical Nurse Manager and needs of the practice and will include evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• Overtime as necessary to complete assigned work.

• Must be available to work in the case of a declared hospital emergency.

• May be required to attend meetings on or off the island.

EEO Statement
Nantucket Cottage Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives, and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

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