Staff Licensed Practical Nurse

Any individual who receives an offer of employment or will receive a payroll check are required to submit to a drug and alcohol test as a condition of obtaining employment.
Mille Lacs Band Member/American Indian preference applies

SUMMARY:
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) performs a variety of patient care activities based on the needs of the individual patient, and assists with care planning and patient education. This position can work in a variety of settings including the district clinics, public health, substance disorder program, and senior housing. The LPN will work across departments as needed to ensure the delivery of high quality patient care.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Completion of an accredited practical nursing program required.
• Current unrestricted Minnesota license required.
• Must be certified in basic CPR/Narcan training when offered, must be willing to complete.
• Must have 12 hours of Co-Occurring Education when offered, Must be willing to complete within 6 months of employment
• Four Winds Licensed personnel must be free from chemical use problems for 2 years prior to their hiring.
• One to three (1-3) years of prior experience in the respective area of application required.
• Knowledge of and experience in performing simple lab tests; training is offered, must be willing to complete.
• Knowledge of practical application of infection control, exposure control and quality assurance practices.
• Experience with and understanding of Native American culture and demonstrates cultural sensitivity.
• Demonstrated understanding of HIPAA and ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills required.
• Ability to work cooperatively with others and take direction.
• Ability to keep detailed records and remain current in all documentation.
• Ability to work independently within scope of practice.
• Strong time management skills, task completion, and reliability.
• Must have current driver’s license.
• Must have reliable personal transportation and proof of current insurance coverage.
• Must be insurability under the Band’s Auto Insurance Policy.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
In clinic setting:
• Gather data on patient history/ vital signs and record appropriately.
• Prepare patient for clinical exam and notify clinician when patient is ready.
• Assist clinician with patient exam as appropriate.
• Prepare and administer injections and/or other treatments based on clinician orders.
• Draw/collect and at times analyze lab specimens as back up to lab personnel.
• Assist with dressing changes, cast revisions, etc. as directed.
• Instruct and advise patient or his/her significant others regarding home care, follow-through on clinician orders, diet management, referrals to other health care, medications, etc.
• Coordinate plan of care for necessary testing and/or treatment outside of the Clinic.
• Document all care delivered and patient/client response.
• Participate with the clinical team to developing and/or revising the patient/client plan of care.
• Support supply chain management through the checking of expiration dates on all medications and destroy as appropriate. Ensure all medical and durable supplies are re-ordered and managed.
• Comply with infection and exposure control program.
• Dispose of needles, contaminated instruments, and other sharps exposure in accordance with OSHA requirements.
• Assure all internal and external pharmaceuticals and sterile and non-sterile supplies are kept separated in refrigerator or other storage areas.
• Following each patient exam, clean examination room, equipment and instruments.
• Maintain nursing station according to standards.
• Assure proper care and storage of specimens.
• Actively participate in committees as assigned.
• Assist and support all quality assurance activities/ surveys.
• Maintain knowledge of policies, procedures, protocols and regulations governing the provision of nursing/medical services in a 638 Clinic. Advise others as needed.
• Out district clinics may have additional clinical operational duties which will be reviewed at time of orientation.
• Other duties as assigned.
In the Medication Assisted Treatment for substance disorder programs
· Coordinate the medical/therapeutic care of patients/clients with active substance use disorders.
· Provide patient/client advocacy and education to ensure patient/client understands and is actively participating in his/her care.
· Gather patient/client information inclusive of the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale.
· With standing orders and clinician direction initiate induction and management of medication assisted treatment.
· Follow State and Federal guidelines in providing care to opioid dependent patients in collaboration with licensed, prescribing physicians and pharmacy.
· Attend and participate in MAT and other meetings as directed. If absent, responsible for reading minutes of meetings and signing the documentation.
· In collaboration with the HHS team will manage MAT patient/client referrals.
In Laboratory:
• Be proficient with lab draws of all ages.
• Competent in handling of lab specimens, running analyzers, and performing waived kit tests. Competency done annually.
• Ability to troubleshoot analyzer errors.
• Ensure supplies are consistently on hand and knows when to order additional supplies.
• Must be proficient with RPMS lab package technology.
• Must be knowledge with lab reference ranges, and when to notify providers in person of any lab results that are critical or questionable.
• Ability to see areas for improvement within the lab area to improve patient care.
• Perform monthly proficiency testing as sent by the American Proficiency Institute.
• Train other staff in basic lab information: handling of specimens, order of drawing blood tubes, how to draw blood, and troubleshooting difficult draws.
• Assist outlying clinics with running specimens that they are unable to do and ensure results are given to provider at that clinic.
• Appropriately prepare specimens for transport to Quest.
• Provide reportable disease form to nurse when a positive reportable disease is resulted to ensure this is reported to the state.
• Assist Director of Clinical Informatics with improving lab menus and reporting tests that are not working appropriately within the system to improve ordering/resulting efficiency of labs.
• Track increases of infectious diseases that are trending in lab, such as increasing strep or influenza rates.
• Collect pre-employment and post-accident UAs for HR, and ensure documentation is filled out appropriately and copies sent to HR.
• Check reference lab monitor daily, and report any discrepancies to IT/Director of Clinical Informatics.
• Report any lab errors, labs not crossing, issues with RPMS lab package to Tier 1 Support to assist in resolving the issue to prevent delays in patient care.
• Check Link Processor Status daily and report any discrepancies to IT/Director of Clinical Informatics.
In Public Health and Senior Living:
• Monitor and record vital signs, medications, smoking status, and other pertinent information.
• Instruct and advise client or his/her significant others regarding home care, follow-through on medical orders, diet management, referrals to other health care, medications, etc.
• Document all services provided and client response.
• Comply with HIPAA, infection control, all policies and procedures as well as Band Statutes.
• Actively participates in assigned committees, public health and community activities.
• Advise others of relevant client, community, and staff concerns as needed.
• Maintains the Public Health Department’s medical supplies at adequate levels for anticipated needs.
• Other duties as assigned.
At Four Winds Lodge:
• Reports directly to the RN Supervisor.
• Monitor and record vital signs, medications, smoking status, and other pertinent information in Procentive and/or other documentation forms.
• Instruct and advise client regarding care, follow-through on medical orders, referrals to other health care, medications, etc.
• Document all services provided using the appropriate documentation method.
• Comply with HIPAA, data privacy act, infection control, MLB policies, HHS policies, and Behavioral Health policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in assigned committees and community activities.
• Assist, as directed, with all HHS/Four Winds Lodge activities.
• Maintain knowledge of policies, procedures, protocols, and regulations governing the provision of nursing services in the HHS/Four Winds Lodge Department.
• Advise others of relevant client and staff concerns as needed.
• Maintains the Four Winds Lodge Department’s medical supplies at adequate levels for anticipated needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Work exposes incumbent to biohazard, chemical hazard, and other hazards. Proper protective procedures and equipment must be utilized to minimize the associated risks.
• Work exposes incumbent to hazardous chemicals.
• Work is performed indoors in a controlled climate area.
• Work requires use of protective devices such as masks, goggles, or gloves.
• Nature of work is such that the incumbent experiences infrequent periods of moderate to high stress levels while dealing with patients/clients/family and others.
• Hours are typically 8-5 in clinic setting, but possibly with some extra hours. May involve some evening or weekend working and occasionally an 'on call' system covering emergency situations.
• Four Winds Lodge is a 24/7 facility. Hours vary with the possibility of extra hours or forced overtime. Shifts are 7am-3:30pm, 3pm-11:30pm, 11pm-7:30am along with weekend and holiday schedule
• For those working in public health can be exposed to driving in varied weather conditions.
• Local travel may be required.