JOB SUMMARY
The Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse works with critically ill patients requiring the use of monitoring devices, measuring heart rates, breathing rates, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. The LPN/LVN monitors patients at bedside and provides medications and other support as needed, or remotely from a central location such as the nurses station.

Key Responsibilities
• Monitor patients requiring the use of monitoring devices.
• Measure heart rates, breathing rates, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.
• Provide medications and other support as needed at bedside.
• Remotely monitor patients from a central location.
• Demonstrate basic and advanced life support competencies.
• Perform dysrhythmia monitoring techniques, interpretation, and treatment.
• Calculate medication dosages and monitor patients for medication effects.
• Administer continuous medication infusions, including non-titrated vasoactive agents, anti-arrhythmic agents, platelet inhibitors, and/or insulin.
• Monitor patients using standardized procedures for pre-, intra-, and post-procedures (e.g., TEE, cardiac catheterization with PCI, cardioversion, bronchoscopy, EGD, PEG placement, chest tube insertion).
• Recognize symptoms and signs of cardiopulmonary emergencies and initiate standardized interventions to stabilize patients awaiting transfer to critical care.
• Perform hemodynamic monitoring, including equipment setup and troubleshooting, and monitor for signs and symptoms of patient instability.
• Interpret ABGs and communicate findings.
• Assess ventilated patients to ensure prescribed treatment delivery and proper patient response.
• Recognize indications for and manage patients requiring non-invasive oxygen delivery systems, including oral airways, BiPAP, and nasal CPAP.
• Assess and understand long-term mechanical ventilation and weaning.
• Assess, monitor, and manage patients requiring renal therapeutic interventions such as hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, continuous bladder irrigation, stents, and urostomies.
• Recognize indications for and complications of enteral and parenteral nutrition.
• Evaluate family's needs for increased involvement in care to aid in transition from hospital to home.
• Demonstrate advocacy, clinical judgment, caring practices, systems thinking, response to diversity, collaboration, and clinical inquiry.
• Educate patients and their families.

Schedule / Shift
Per Diem: Nights

Required Qualifications
• Licensed Practical Nurse/Licensed Vocational Nurse
• Basic and advanced life support competencies
• Dysrhythmia monitoring techniques, interpretation, and treatment
• Medication dosage calculation and patient monitoring for effects
• Continuous medication infusion administration (non-titrated vasoactive agents, anti-arrhythmic agents, platelet inhibitors and/or insulin)
• Patient monitoring using standardized procedures for pre-, intra-, and post-procedures
• Recognition of symptoms and signs of cardiopulmonary emergencies and initiation of standardized interventions
• Hemodynamic monitoring including equipment setup and troubleshooting
• Interpretation of ABGs and communication of findings
• Assessment of the ventilated patient for treatment delivery and response
• Recognition of indications for and management of patients requiring non-invasive 02 delivery systems
• Assessment and understanding of long term mechanical ventilation and weaning
• Assessment, monitoring, and management of patients requiring renal therapeutic interventions
• Recognition of indications for and complications of enteral and parenteral nutrition
• Evaluation of family needs for involvement in care transition
• Advocacy
• Clinical judgment
• Caring practices
• Systems thinking
• Response to diversity
• Collaboration
• Clinical inquiry
• Teacher/educator role for patients and families

Experience
• Experience working with critically ill patients requiring monitoring devices.
• Experience in medication administration and patient monitoring.

Skills
• Strong assessment skills.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency in dysrhythmia monitoring and interpretation.
• Ability to manage complex patient care needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with healthcare team members.

EMR / Systems
• Paper charting

Patient Population
• Critically ill patients.

Unit / Specialty
• LTAC (Long-Term Acute Care)

Floating / On-Call
• Floating expectations may apply.

Certifications
• BLS certification through the American Heart Association.
• Texas LPN or multi-state compact license.