CLASSIFICATION:  LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE I

 

Class Code:  5755-16                                          Date Established:  07-01-65           

 

Occupational Code:  7-4-9                                 Date of Last Revision:  06-24-04

 

BASIC PURPOSE:  To provide paraprofessional nursing services for patients in a state institution with responsibility for administering treatment or medication and applying procedures to safeguard life and health.

 

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

·        Applies dressings and gives prescribed medication and nursing care.

 

·        Observes, records and reports signs and symptoms of patients condition to other nursing personnel or to a physician.

 

·        Applies nursing techniques required in the continued care and treatment of ill, injured or infirm patients.

 

·        Participates with physician in making rounds; admits, transfers and discharges patients as ordered by a physician.

 

 

·        Counsels patients regarding recovery progress and treatments ordered; checks eating habits and general welfare.

 

·        Keeps detailed records of all work and activities on ward or unit including ordering drugs, narcotics and other medical supplies as necessary.

 

·        Prepares for clinics and arranges patients for physicians examinations.

 

·        May participate in developing and maintaining health care plans for individual patients.

 

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DISTINGUISHING FACTORS:

 

Skill:  Requires skill in applying instructions to accomplish different job functions OR in operating machines for a variety of different purposes.

 

Knowledge:  Requires knowledge of business practices and procedures or technical training in a craft or trade, including working from detailed instructions, to apply knowledge in a variety of practical situations.

 

Impact:  Requires responsibility for contributing to immediate, ongoing agency objectives by facilitating the direct provision of services to the public or other state agencies.  Errors at this level result in inaccurate reports or invalid test results and require significant investment of time and resources to detect.

 

Supervision:  Requires partial supervision of other employees doing work which is related or similar to the supervisor, including assigning job duties, providing training, giving instructions and checking work.

 

Working Conditions:  Requires performing regular job functions in an environment which includes exposure to continuous physical elements or a number of disagreeable working conditions with frequent exposure to minor injuries or health hazards.

 

Physical Demands:  Requires medium work, including continuous strenuous activities such as frequent reaching, bending, or lifting as well as performing work activities which require fine manual dexterity or coordination in operating machines or equipment.

 

 

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE I

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Communication:  Requires summarizing data, preparing reports and making recommendations based on findings which contribute to solving problems and achieving work objectives.  This level also requires presenting information for use by administrative-level managers in making decisions.

 

Complexity:  Requires a combination of job functions to establish facts, to draw daily operational conclusions, or to solve practical problems.  This level also requires providing a variety of alternative solutions where only limited standardization exists.

 

Independent Action:  Requires objective assessment in analyzing and developing new work methods and procedures subject to periodic review and in making decisions according to established technical, professional or administrative standards.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Education:  Completion of a recognized school of practical nursing approved by the State Board of Nursing Education and Nurse Registration.

 

Experience:  No experience required other than that obtained through required training.

 

License/Certification:  Must possess a current license as a practical nurse or temporary permit issued by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing Education and Nurse Registration pending the results of the licensing examination.

 

RECOMMENDED WORK TRAITS:  Knowledge of practical nursing and of the materials used and the processes involved in ward and operating room housekeeping operations.  Some knowledge of common physical illnesses, their obvious symptoms and the appropriate medical terminology.  Ability to apply the more routine nursing techniques.  Ability to instruct subordinates, assign work schedules, prepare ward and patient reports and maintain records.  Ability to follow oral and written instructions.  Ability to maintain a therapeutic attitude toward and effective relationships with emotionally disturbed and physically ill patients.  Must be willing to maintain appearance appropriate to assigned duties and responsibilities as determined by the agency appointing authority.

 

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:  This class specification is descriptive of general duties and is not intended to list every specific function of this class title.

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