Licensed Practical Nurse

Job Description: The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) will assist in the physical health care of the clients including the admission process, physical health care during the stay, medication management, and the administration of the Medication Administration Record (MAR).  The LPN will assist in providing knowledge and training in all areas of behavioral health care including, but not limited to, First Aid, CPR, Medication Management, Vitals and Physical Health Care.                                                                     

Roles and Responsibilities

Nursing:

• The LPN may assist in the evaluation and monitoring of social/medically monitored detoxification clients to ensure their safety.
•  The LPN will ensure the MAR is accurate, complete, and verified as per the policies.  This information must be completed in the EHR system and communicated to the appropriate personnel.  Verification, safety, securement, and accountability are critical to this process.  The transcription of medication order must be verified and entered into the EHR system or applicable method.  
• The LPN will provide physical health care services as appropriate to ensure the safety of the clients and the facility.  This includes, but is not limited to, evaluation of injuries, illnesses, and/or any other relevant physical health.      The LPN will determine, through observations and/or consultation, if the client needs to seek further physical/behavioral care services.  This includes assisting the STR when there is a medical emergency at the facility.
• The LPN is responsible for the destruction of applicable medication as appropriate and to ensure all personnel are following the policies and procedures.

The LPN will assist the Recovery Specialists with various tasks, including but not limited to, completing intakes for new client admissions, discharge instructions, client searches, performing drug screens, observing medication self-administration, and other tasks as needed or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Competencies): To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Competencies) requirements are listed below:

• The LPN must have strong critical thinking skills, understand the importance of unintended consequences, and evaluate decisions based upon the best long-term outcome of the situation. The nurse must demonstrate adaptability, discrete and ethical behavior, and have teambuilding skills including relationship building. 
• The LPN must be able to be influential and understand the importance of empathic listening.  The LPN must have the ability to build relationships and have adaptive communication.
• The LPN must be knowledgeable and competent in physical health care including diagnosis and treatment of injuries and illnesses that may arise in residential facilities.  This includes the ability to observe clients and assist in making treatment recommendations.   
• The LPN must have basic knowledge of behavioral health including, but not limited to, different diagnosis and treatment methods to assist in the overall client care, as well as 12-step recovery principles and how it relates. 
• The LPN must possess mental and emotional stability to assist the clients.   This includes the ability to think critically and have emotional intelligence.  The LPN must have a strong mental foundation to be proactive in difficult situations that arise from a residential and be able to use a non-judgmental approach to assist in their treatment plan.   
• The LPN must be able to develop relationships with boundaries to be influential.  This includes relationships with staff so they can develop trust while providing a positive culture within the facility and/or other facilities.  The Nurse should have self-awareness/reflection and demonstrate professional social skills. 
• The LPN must have excellent documentation skills that ensure the applicable personnel who administer medication can perform their essential job functions.  They must effectively communicate to third parties the clients’ condition(s) including, but not limited to, their physical conditions, diagnosis, vitals, and observations.