Licensed Practical Nurse - Pascua - Family Medicine

JOB PURPOSE: 

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) serves as part of the team providing quality healthcare to El Rio patients.  In this role, the LPN provides direct patient care, both clinical and non-clinical within the scope of practice for an LPN under the Arizona State Board of Nursing and policies and procedures set by El Rio Health.  An employee in this position routinely works with general supervision and review, and any work problems involving departures from scope of practice, standard policies, interpretations, or procedures are reviewed with the supervisor for resolution or direction

The primary goal of the El Rio Health LPN is to support El Rio’s Mission of providing comprehensive, quality health care that is affordable and accessible to all who may have healthcare needs, by successfully performing the primary essential functions. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Ability to perform and/or complete all clinical and non-clinical assigned duties, tasks, responsibilities, and assignments for a Licensed Practical Nurse  within reasonable time frames while meeting established rates of performance for the position; ensuring the highest standards of excellence and the lowest of error rates in your work performance.
• Maintains proficient skill levels that meet defined performance expectations for a Licensed Practical Nurse, as evidenced by successful completion of competency skills evaluations for this position on an annual basis.
• Maintains a clean, safe, and hygienic work environment in compliance with all Policies and Procedures to include, but not limited to work areas, work stations, examination rooms, hand washing, etc. as required for a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Maintains patient confidentiality by controlling the environment and information being disclosed to authorized individuals ensuring HIPAA and corporate compliance requirements at all times.
• Understands and complies with all organizational Code of Conduct standards, Policies and Procedures, Standing Orders, and Service Excellence requirements at all times with all patients, visitors, and employees.
• Ensures a work environment safe and free from hazards; immediately address or inform management of safety issues or hazards; adhere to Health and Safety Policies and Procedures; participate in all safety programs, which may include assignment to an emergency response team.
• Prior to the patient seeing a provider, the Licensed Practical Nurse will complete all of the steps and actions that are defined in the Patient Intake Process; this will include accurately documenting all of the information, patient responses to inquiries, and your actions into the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Assists, performs, or completes procedures, and/or activities, within the scope of practice appropriate for a Licensed Practical Nurse position while complying with all Nursing Policies and Procedures.
• Ability to anticipate, identify, and respond to the needs of the patient based upon the patient’s reason for the visit, including the coordination and availability of all outside medical records, as well as laboratory and radiology results.
• Completes all administrative and non-clerical activities which are received through NextGen and/or the Patient Portal in support of clinical operations, completing all required documentation on these activities.
• Demonstrates at all times a professional attitude and acceptable job performance for all clinical and non-clinical duties, tasks, responsibilities, and assignments for this position at any location or assignment that supports the operational needs of El Rio Community Health Center and as assigned by organizational leadership.
• Evaluates problems, situations, or issues presented to the employee (whether in a clinical or non-clinical environment) for priority needs, resolving the problem effectively and in a timely manner using critical-thinking and problem-solving skills appropriate to the position and authority for a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Accurately, and in a timely manner, complete all Provider Orders ensuring that the patient understands, and verbalizes their understanding of the discharge instructions.  Documentation of completed orders and actions taken by the Licensed Practical Nurse shall be entered into the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) and submitted for processing within the defined time period.
• Ensures that all communication with a patient is completed in a proactive, positive, and effective manner that promotes the patient’s compliance with scheduled appointments and/or treatments.  These communication efforts with the patient must be documented in an accurate and timely manner in the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR) in accordance with the Nursing Policies and Procedures.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and proficiency with the application of all compliance and reporting requirements respective to Joint Commission Accreditation standards for a Licensed Practical Nurse.
• Identifies and reports any safety hazard, or potential hazard, by directly notifying supervisory staff immediately and ensuring that El Rio facilities provide a safe and secure environment for all patients, visitors, and employees; adhere to Health and Safety Policies and Procedures; participate in all safety programs, which may include assignment to an emergency response team.
• Properly performs the labeling, rotating, and stocking of all medications, medical supplies, and equipment in compliance with the Nursing Policies and Procedures, maintaining proper and appropriate inventories for operational use.
• Communicates effectively through written, verbal, and interpersonal skills as applied when interacting with patients or visitors, employees, and internal/external clients or representatives, successfully conveying and exchanging information in a positive manner.
• As a team player demonstrate self-initiative by being aware of your work environment so that you can act to assist co-workers and others while maintaining and enhancing a respectful and positive attitude in the work environment.
• Serves at all times as a positive and effective role model to patients, co-workers, employees, and students.
• Participates in a learning environment by being willing to train and learn from other employees, gaining new skills and knowledge to enhance and improve the quality of service provided to employees, as well as all internal/external clients or representatives.
• Ensures the proper and accurate documentation and submission of coding relating to all point of care testing and nursing visits, including medications administered, teaching and counseling with patients, supplies used, and any other interventions provided to maximize the capture of revenue.
• Ensures and support the cost-effective use of materials, supplies, and equipment by limiting waste of all organizational supplies and resources.
• In accordance with policies and procedures ensure that documentation of hours worked is completed accurately, as well as signed-off/approved in a timely manner.
• Through structured learning, peer mentoring and ongoing training opportunities employees must be able to demonstrate an understanding, knowledge and computer mastery of all El Rio systems and programs.
• Employees must maintain their skill proficiency with El Rio operating systems and programs by adapting to changing requirements and successfully learning and demonstrating new skills in response to system and program improvements or upgrades.
• Employees are encouraged to participate in continuing education and organizational sponsored events and committees, understanding that these activities contribute to employee growth and to the improvement of operations within El Rio.  Employees participating in these activities must conform and meet the operational needs of El Rio as determined by management.

Minimum Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (G.E.D).

If applicable, equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered, and must be directly related to the functions and responsibilities of the job.

Required Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations:

• Current Licensed Practical Nurse license in good standing from Arizona State Board of Nursing

• Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care providers.
• Level I fingerprint clearance card: current valid and in good standing or have applied for it within seven working days after beginning employment.
• Employees in this position are required to have reliable transportation that can meet any operational reassignments of the organization during the workday.  If an employee is driving during work hours, the employee is required to possess a valid driver’s license and must comply with Arizona vehicle insurance requirements.

Preferred Education, Experience, Skills, Abilities:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) with the ability to speak, read and write in both languages.

El Rio Health is a diverse and inclusive organization. We are invested in helping you and your family Create Tomorrow.

 Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 El Rio Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age 40 and over, disability, genetic information, military status, ancestry, marital status, familial status, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

 El Rio Health requires all employees (except those 100% working remotely) to have a Level One Fingerprint Clearance card. A.R.S. 36.425.03. If the prospective employee does not possess this prior to hire, fingerprint application must be completed within 7 days post hire.

 All employees are strongly recommended to obtain COVID 19 and maintain vaccination status (i.e. as recommended by CDC and/or other public health agencies) to include an Influenza vaccination. Personnel who decline to receive COVID 19 and/or flu vaccination per most recent CDC recommendations will be recommended to wear a facemask while in an El Rio Health facility, including both clinical and non-clinical areas from November 1 to April 30 (subject to change depending on viral activity). Subject to exemptions and accommodations when required by law.

 All employees are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment and will be subject to post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal and State regulations for alcohol and controlled substance testing. Employees in positions holding responsibility for the safety and welfare of others will also be classified as safety sensitive.

 El Rio Health is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and abides by all applicable federal Drug-Free Workplace standards. El Rio Health is an equal opportunity employer.