Under supervision of the registered nurse, the Hospice LPN performs a variety of patient care activities in the home setting, or facility patient calls home.  Provides care appropriate to the age of the patients served.   Assists the registered nurse in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating outcomes of care.  Is accountable for own nursing actions and competencies.  Communicates effectively with others on the Interdisciplinary team.  Performs all duties in accordance with the State of Illinois Nurse Practice Act and established standards, policies, procedures and guidelines.   

Education:

• Graduate of a state approved school of practical (vocational) nursing and currently licensed in state in which practicing

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

• Current LPN licensure in the state of Illinois.
• Current CPR certification required.
• Must possess a valid IL driver’s license and must be deemed as an acceptable driver in accordance with the MHS fleet safety policy (five year MVR will be required).

Annual Credentialing:

• Attends all Joint Commission, OSHA and hospital/nurse manager specified mandatory in-services. Submits supporting documentation to the nurse manager in conjunction with the annual performance appraisal.
• Validates competencies and obtains credentials as identified in unit specific requirements

Experience:

• A minimum of two (2) years clinical experience is required

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must be able to position and/or transfer an average adult patient and possess gross coordination sufficient to perform other patient care duties as required. Must be able to perform difficult manipulative skills.
• Environmental working conditions include exposure to blood, bodily fluids and tissue, contagious diseases and/or radioactive or other potentially hazardous materials.
• Analytical Thinking: Developing a deeper understanding of a situation, issue or problem by breaking it down or tracing its implications step-by-step. It includes organizing the parts of a situation, issue or problem systematically; making systematic comparisons of different feature or aspects; setting priorities on a rational basis; and identifying time sequences, casual relationships, or if-then relationships.
• Collaboration: Ability to work cooperatively and inclusively with other individuals and/or teams not formally lead; working together as opposed to working separately or competitively.
• Communication: Ability to use written and spoken communication in formal and informal situations to convey meaning, build shared understanding, and productively move agendas forward.
• Community Collaboration: Ability to align one’s own and the organization’s priorities with the needs and values of the community, including its cultural and ethnocentric values, and to move health forward in line with population-based wellness needs and national health agenda.
• Intellectual Curiosity: Underlying curiosity and desire to know more about things, people, and issues, including the desire for knowledge and staying current with health, organizational, industry, and professional trends and developments. It includes pressing for more precise information; resolving discrepancies by asking a series of questions; and scanning for potential opportunities or information that may be of future use, as well as staying current and seeking best practices for adoption.
• Self-Awareness: Ability to have an accurate view of one’s own strengths and development needs, including the impact that one has on others; willingness to address development needs through reflective, self-directed learning, and by trying new approaches.
• Self-Confidence: Possesses a belief in one’s own capability to accomplish their work. This includes confidence in one’s ability as expressed in increasingly challenging circumstances, and confidence in one’s decisions or opinions.

1. Nursing Care

• Data Collection:
• Observes, records and reports objective and subjective patient data.
• Demonstrates ability to detect signs and symptoms of deviation from normal health status.
• Informs RN of abnormal or changing data and of patient/family responses to interventions.

• Planning:
• Assists the registered nurse in developing the nursing plan of care.
• Provides input as applicable.

• Intervention:
• Completely performs tasks/procedures as appropriately delegated.
• Uses equipment safely.
• Accurately administers medications by appropriately delegated routes.
• Utilizes appropriate infection control safety measures.
• Acts to prevent harm or injury to patient, self and others.
• Documents and communicates to RN nursing interventions and patient responses.
• Seeks supervision prior to initiating new or unfamiliar nursing activities and/or with a change in patient condition.

• Evaluation:
• Observes, records and reports patient responses to nursing interventions and other relevant data to the RN.
• Assists the registered nurse to evaluate and modify the plan of care.

• Patient/Family Education:
• Assists the registered nurse to identify, implement and evaluate appropriate teaching interventions.
• Reinforces teaching initiated by other members of the healthcare team.

• Communication:
• Informs RN of abnormal and/or changing data and patient/family response to interventions.
• Develops and maintains interviewing skills required for data collection.

• Medication administration:
• May administer PO, injectable, topical, rectal, sublingual medications.
• Wound Care

2. Quality and Safety

• Communicates and documents potential risk issues to appropriate personnel.
• Participates in continuous quality improvement.
• Complies with all safety policies.

3. Accountability

• Advocates for patients and families.
• Appropriately follows the chain of command.
• Adheres to the Memorial Health System Behavioral Standards.
• Identifies annual goals for own professional development.

5. Ensure fulfillment of mission and progress towards vision. Exhibit behaviors consistent with MH values, and ensure strategic plan is cascaded throughout the organization to achieve desired business outcomes.

6. Maintains professional growth and development through continuing education, seminars, workshops and professional affiliations.

7. Perform other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.