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UPMC Altoona is hiring a casual Licensed Practical Nurse for the Emergency Department! LPN experience is preferred but not required. If no LPN experience at time of hire, you may be asked for your availability for a full-time orientation.

Purpose:

Under direction of a registered nurse, provide routine patient care within the scope of the Practical Nurse Act of Pennsylvania.

Responsibilities:

+ Assure equipment malfunctions are reported to the appropriate department. Establish appropriate and effective communication strategies. Establish professional and respectful interpersonal relationships. Participate in health care conferences. Contribute to the universal unit activities including, but not limited to, responding to call lights and telephones, passing meal trays and transporting patients.

+ Assist the RN and interdisciplinary team in evaluating, planning, and implementing plans of care. Provide appropriate, direct patient care. Give injections, take vital signs, perform basic diagnostic tests, observe patients, dress wounds and administer medication. Comply with established medication use policies. Observe and record patient's symptoms, condition, and/or reactions to medications and treatments and report results to the RN in charge.

+ Suggest and support changes within the department. Assume responsibility for assignment and view problems as challenges. Demonstrate awareness of behavior on the efficient functioning of the department.

+ Maintain current CPR certification at Health Care Provider level. Constructively receive feedback and direction. Identify and communicate learning needs to the unit director. Take action to improve knowledge, skills and performance based on feedback or on self-identified developmental needs. Serve as a resource for staff and other disciplines. Serve as a preceptor for new staff members. Request assistance and reviews relevant policies and procedures prior to performing new or challenging skills. Request assistance to help in planning and prioritizing activities as needed. Participate in self-review as requested by unit director. Participate in project and committee work.

+ Communicate effectively with patients and families about hospital stay and home care concerns. Instruct and demonstrate care. Discuss any patient or family concerns with RN in charge so that issue can be appropriately addressed. Perform assigned work in a timely and productive manner. Strictly adhere to all policies and practices relative to patient care and hospital-related information. Comply with safety policies and procedures including standard precautions.

+ Completion of a Practical Nursing Program approved by the State Board of Nursing.

+ Excellent communication skills necessary to effectively interact with patients, family members, visitors and staff members.

+ Basic computer skills necessary to input patient care orders and medical record documentation.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

+ CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire

+ Must complete licensure examination within FOUR MONTHS of hire or within one year of graduation, whichever comes first. Though temporary permits are valid for one year from the date of graduation, not one year from issue of permit (or until the results of the examination are known at which time it becomes null and void), UPMC requires that GNs take the licensure examination within 4 months of their start date or they will be terminated or demoted from the GN position, at the discretion of the BU. LPNs who have graduated outside the state of PA on any date, or graduated in PA prior to August 25, 2012, and did not complete a PA state approved LPN IV course, the LPN will need to complete a 5-hour online module which is followed by a test and a 3-hour in person course which will be provided by the UPMC Altoona Education Department within 4-months of hire or transfer.

+ Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

+ Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) OR Temporary Practice Permit (TPP)

+ Act 33 with renewal

+ Act 34 with renewal

+ Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

*Current licensure either in the state where the facility is located or, if the facility is in a state covered by the multistate Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC) agreement, a multistate license issued by a participating NLC state. Hires and current employees working on an out-of-state NLC license who later change their residency to the state where the facility is also located will have 60 days upon changing their residency to apply for licensure within that state.

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran