Licensed Vocational Nurse

Position Summary:

Under direct supervision of a Registered Nurse or provider performs routine patient care, excluding administration of IV medications, as directed by San Ysidro Health policies and procedures in a medical office or clinic setting.

Essential Functions of The Job:

• Upholds San Ysidro Health’s Policies and Procedures, Core Values and competencies and applicable state, federal and local laws.
• Performs routine patient care functions as prescribed by licensed health care providers following established clinical protocols and policies and procedures within defined scope of education, training and responsibilities.
• Performs data collection focusing on physiologic, psychosocial, cultural, spiritual and cognitive status; also nutrition, pain, patient/family education, family involvement and patient advocacy.
• Completes chart preparation and management for scheduled patients.
• Delegates appropriately and coordinates duties/activities of health care team members.
• Follows SYH process for communicating patient test results and follow-up.
• Interviews patients, measures vital signs, and other pertinent information as required by specific clinic.
• Implements patient education techniques such as: health coaching and teach back to support self-management. Identifies patient/family learning needs and acts to meet them.
• Documents pertinent patient information, nursing procedures and patient responses in EHR, following established SYH guidelines and maintaining patient confidentiality.
• Prepares treatment rooms and patients for examination.
• Applies principles of aseptic technique and infection control as directed by the Infection Control policy and procedures.
• Performs point of care testing, including but not limited to urine tests, pregnancy tests, A1C, and others as directed.
• Assists the physician with therapeutic and diagnostic patient care functions which may require sterile technique, wound care, urine catheter insertion/removal, wound care, inhalation treatments, removal or application of dressings, EKG, visual testing, and audiometric testing.
• May hold clamps or retractors, sponge vascular areas, and pass instruments as specifically directed by the physician.
• Handles clinic use medication inventories and orders and replenishes medical supplies, medications, and materials throughout the day as needed. Maintains clinic inventory logs.
• Prepares and administers medications, excluding IV medications, as directed by physician order and in accordance to SYH policy and procedure.
• Participates and responds, when assigned to clinical emergency codes.
• Autoclave: oversight of process to ensure the cleaning, processing, sterilizing and checking of instruments is in compliance to meet audit and infection control requirements.
• Immunization coordination: oversight of clinic’s daily routine workflow, excursion reporting process and emergency vaccine management plan.
• Utilizes effective communication methods and skills, following lines of authority as appropriate.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and applies safety principles as identified by San Ysidro Health.
• Demonstrates knowledge of legal issues, including patient confidentiality and risk management in all aspects of patient care and unit functioning.
• Ensures the clinical area is audit prepared by completing monthly Quality Assurance packet and addressing deficiencies.
• Participates in unit and department Performance and Quality Improvement activities.
• Provides assistance with nursing schedule and demonstrates flexibility in the resolution of staffing issues; demonstrates flexibility when floating to other units upon requests.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Customer Service/ Patient-Centered Care:

• Practices customer service standards as defined by SYH and specified clinic.
• Anticipates the customer's needs, takes proactive steps to meet those needs, by listening and taking responsibility within scope to ensure issues are resolved.
• Promptly responds to alarms and patient requests.
• Facilitates the customer's ability to utilize resources.
• Assures a clean, orderly, and functional work environment.

Team Commitment:

• Effective team member who is adaptable, cooperative, and willing to assist others.
• Works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Manages difficult or conflict situations constructively and seeks appropriate assistance.
• Takes accountability for own actions.
• Actively participates in departmental professional development activities.
• Adheres to Attendance Policy.

Job Requirements

Experience Preferred:

• A (minimum) of 1 year of experience as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

Education Required:

• High School Diploma/GED
• Graduate of an accredited Licensed Vocational Nursing program.

Certifications Required:

• Current license to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in California.
• Current BLS for Healthcare Provider CPR or CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certification (American Heart Association)

Verbal and Written Skills Required to Perform the Job:

• Ability to read, write and comprehend English
• Ability to read, write and comprehend medical information and terminology.

• Ability to effectively present information, both verbal and written.
• Good interpersonal skills.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements: 

• Continuous standing/walking/twisting.
• Occasionally lifts pushes and/or transfers patients.
• Exposed to unpleasant elements (accidents, injuries and illness).
• May be required to work evenings and/or weekends.
• Reliable transportation necessary for traveling to assist with providing coverage as needed throughout all SYH clinic locations.

Universal Requirements:

Pre-employment requirements include I-9, physical, positive background and reference check results, complete application, new hire orientation, pre-employment PPDs. Compliance with all mandated vaccinations and all boosters is a term and condition of employment.