Staff Nurse LPN

Vision for Person Directed Living

Person Directed Living (PDL) shapes and informs the ways we care for and serve the Sisters of the Holy Cross in their living communities and for one another as a team.  Team members will create an environment that is life-giving, respectful, safe and clinically appropriate for Sisters honoring the Sisters’ dignity and personhood; respectful and collaborative with each other as teammates. 

PDL is intentionally integrated into both clinical care that the Sisters receive as well as assisting their engagement in daily living and the life of their local community.  Team members will develop relationships with the Sisters and among themselves so they may deeply know and support everyone in the community.  Robust, respectful communication (verbal and non-verbal) is the PDL standard. 

As their ability dictates, Sisters are encouraged and supported in making individual choices about their daily routines and communal life through creative and thoughtful engagement by team members.  PDL demands a delicate balance between the Sisters’ abilities and the team’s mandate for safety and dignity, calling upon each team member to assist Sisters with innovative solutions, and bringing joy and hope to every member of the community, Sisters and team members alike. 

Main Function:

Works within their scope of practice in the primary responsibility and accountability of providing, assisting and delegating in the provision of quality comprehensive nursing care to the Sisters.  Assists in creating a collaborative care environment in cooperation with Nurse Coordinators, Community Coordinators and Care Partners. Takes an active role to provide clinical training in-the-moment.

Qualities/Characteristics:

1. Understands, embraces, and appreciates the concept of Person Directed Living in building personal relationships with the Sisters along with the other members of the interdisciplinary team.
2. Takes a creative and innovative approach to problem-solving.  Is a continuous learner.
3. Expresses encouragement and optimism.  Builds self-esteem in others.
4. Self-aware – knowledgeable of one’s values, personality, needs, habits, emotions, strengths and weaknesses. Open to feedback.  Cares deeply about the people they serve, both Sisters and other team members.  Is personally flexible and adaptable in responding and meeting the needs of the Sisters and working in service with other team members.

1. Treats others as partners, encouraging their input and trusting them to carry out their responsibilities.

1. Responds to needs when they are present, i.e, provides direct care to Sisters in answering call lights, transferring, listening, etc. to assist not only the Sisters, but fellow interdisciplinary team members.

Communication and Relationship Skills

1. Demonstrates understanding of the effects of the aging process (including cognitive, vision and hearing changes) when speaking with the Sisters. Removes distractions; lowers tone of voice; makes eye contact with the Sister; speaks slowly and calmly; uses gestures when appropriate.
2. Demonstrates effective listening skills. Listens to feelings, not just the words; maintains eye contact; attends to body language, voice and pitch, facial expressions.
3. Encourages social interactions between Sisters and between self and Sisters. Initiates conversation between self and Sisters and between Sisters; uses prompts such as photos and mementos to encourage conversation.

1. Demonstrates skills in navigating and de-escalating conflict.
2. Speaks calmly and gently; does not confront, contradict or correct; listens and responds to the feelings.; distracts appropriately; knows when to ask for assistance.
3. Shares concerns, insights, new behaviors, problems, changes or any other items of concern or importance to the appropriate team members immediately as they arise.  
4. Communicates with Sisters, colleagues, Superior, supervisor, volunteers and guests in a friendly, respectful, and professional manner.
5. Accepts supervision openly and is accountable to enact that supervision.
6. Ensures confidentiality in all Sister-related issues.
7. Communicates complicated medical issues in understandable terms.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Assesses and plans individual care plans for each Sister.
2. Participates in teaching all team members and Sisters, i.e., skills building, medication information, explaining diagnoses, appropriate care and treatment for specific diagnoses, etc.
3. Prepares and administers medications and treatments as prescribed by physicians and Nurse Practitioner.  Understands action and side effects of medication.

1. Participates in nursing diagnosis and therapeutic assessments of Sisters’ conditions by accurately observing, reporting and recording to proper source.
2. Initiates appropriate measures in emergency situations.
3. As a primary floor evacuation coordinator, initiates appropriate measures in an emergency situation.   Directs movement of all Sisters and staff present. Ensures and provides safety training for Nurses, Care Partners and Sisters.
4. Gives oral and written reports of pertinent information to oncoming interdisciplinary team.
5. Makes daily rounds.
6. Records symptoms and progress in 24-hour report and documents in charts.  
7. Reports pertinent information to appropriate party as per protocol.
8. Adheres to all nursing policies and procedures.
9. Adheres to Resident Services policies and procedures.
10. Understands and complies with HR policies and procedures developed by Sisters of the Holy Cross.
11. Responsible for safety and welfare of the Sisters through proper implementation of nursing procedures.  Routinely observes the care given by staff and makes suggestions accordingly.

1. Follows Universal Precautions and Infection Control guidelines.
2. Works closely and collaboratively with Care Partners, providing mentoring in clinical areas when needed.
3. Assists team members as needs arise, and readily assists in all activities of the unit.
4. Demonstrates flexibility in recognizing and participating in 24 hour staffing if need occurs.
5. Reports abuse or suspected abuse.
6. Accurately informs the on-call management team member (DON, ADON, NP) of acute changes in residents’ condition, staffing problems, and any other emergency situations.

Other Duties

1. Attends at least 60% of staff meetings.  
2. Participates regularly in required PDL training and in-service trainings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education

       Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing (ADN, diploma, BSN).  Current State of Indiana LPN license required or licensed in another state having requested endorsement in Indiana.

Experience

One (1) year patient care experience recommended; Geriatric Nursing experience is desirable.

Responsibility

       Provided appropriate authority and accountability to achieve the scope of their tasks.  

Problem-Solving

       Will require critical thinking skills.   Problems require analytical, evaluative and constructive thought.  May entail consultation with peer group, management or religious superiors.

Personal Interaction

Required communication with Sisters, physicians and other staff members.   Motivating and influencing others with respect.

Work Environment

       Environment conducive to fulfillment of job responsibilities.

Equipment Utilization

       Occasionally involves IV systems and other life monitoring devices.

Physical Demands

       While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to speak clearly and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, 

            crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, lifting, stooping, and grasping all day.   The 

            employee must frequently lift and/or move items over 20 pounds and occasionally exert 

            up to 50 pounds.

Hazards and Fatigue

       Exposure to hazards and fatigue are present intermittently.  Exposed to bodily fluids and infectious wastes.

Planning and Organizing

       Anticipates daily work-flow.  Rearranges schedule due to emergencies.  Arranges and coordinates immediate work in relation to available resources and staff.

Directing and Instructing

       Instructs and advises resident assistants.

Budgeting

       Not required.

Scope of Supervision

       Not required.