Licensed Vocational Nurse

Primary Accountability

The Licensed Vocational Nurse is responsible for supporting efficient patient flow while performing various aspects of the back office patient visit.

Description of Primary Responsibilities

1. Responsible for supporting and monitoring patient flow in the back office.
   1. Scrubs appointments in advance to ensure necessary information is available for patient visit.
   2. Assists in the effective distribution of patients, including walk-ins using clinical assessment skills 
   3. Keeps patients informed of wait times and ensures patients are properly flowed in system.
   4. Schedules patient appointments.
   5. Follows-up on “no-show” appointments and ensures messages and requests are responded to accordingly.
2. Responsible for performing various aspects of patient visit.
   1. Serves as a leader within the clinical support team in providing guidance and mentoring with clinical skills.
   2. Assesses and monitors patient’s conditions based on signs and symptoms and notifies provider for disposition.
   3. Educates and counsels patients concerning their disease, treatment, and prevention of disease.
   4. Reviews health record with the patient and updates clinical information such as current medication, medical, and surgical histories.
   5. Obtains vital signs and patient data.
   6. Initiates the follow-up of specialty care referrals and services per policy. 
   7. Supports dispensary-related functions, including requests for prescription refills, logging of medications, and pharmacy/patient phone calls. 
   8. Completes necessary clinical forms required for patient visit such as patient assistance programs, PM-160’s, and Staying Healthy Assessment forms. 
   9. Maintains continuous communication within the patient care team.
   10. Administers medications by hypodermic injection.
3. Responsible for performing important medical tests and procedures on patients. 
   1. Starts and manages intravenous fluids, catheter placements and removals, applies splints, cast removals, suture/staple removals, eye irrigations, pregnancy tests and other medical procedures in support of patient care and under the clinical supervision of a Medical Provider.
   2. Verifies medications, injections, and immunizations on behalf of the ordering provider before they are administered.
   3. Prepares and administers Tuberculin skin tests based on standing orders and interprets skin test readings.
   4. Prepares and administers immunizations based on standing orders.
   5. Documents all appropriate patient care activity within the health record, including verification and administration of medications, injections, and immunizations. 
   6. Prepares necessary instruments, room set up, and obtains consent for required procedures.
   7. Performs CLIA waived screenings and proper documentation in system.
   8. Performs standing orders and clinical indicators such as immunizations and foot screenings.
   9. Performs specimen collection, preparation, and labeling. 
   10. Performs veni-puncture procedures.
4. Responsible for obtaining medical record releases, and ensuring the processing of medical record requests.
   1. Scans relevant documents into the electronic health record system.
   2. Performs documentation in the patient’s electronic health record according to policy and training.
5. Responsible for preparing and stocking exam rooms/lab and monitoring adequate supplies in stock.
6. Responsible for discarding of Biohazard waste and sharps.
7. Responsible for weekly testing and weekly/monthly cleaning of sterilization equipment and the sterilization of medical equipment.
8. If functioning within the PACE program:
   1. Assessment: Collects patient data and completes required forms with appropriate responses according to unit standards.
      1. Identifies patient’s overt problems/needs and sets priorities.
      2. Identifies problems requiring further referral and follow-up.
      3. Observe and record the latest diagnostic results.
   2. Planning Care: Makes referrals to interdisciplinary support services and follows patient care plan developed by RN.
   3. Implementing/Managing Care: Care provided conforms to accepted practice standards. Provides correct treatments/procedures and other care according to patient care standards.
      1. Demonstrates understanding of age-related characteristics and needs of patients served.
      2. Explains nursing procedures in appropriate forms.
      3. Provides discharge teaching.
      4. Identifies emergencies and takes appropriate action.
      5. Understands and demonstrates respect for patient rights and identifies mechanisms for managing ethical issues in patient care.
      6. Provides clinical support to the provider during partic