Job Information
Mainstream Living Inc Nurse- LPN or RN in Ames, Iowa
Currently hiring PRN nurses (all shifts) SUMMARY OF POSITION
Mainstream Living provides services designed to enhance opportunities, create success and fulfill dreams. The purpose of this position is to provide services and supports in community settings to persons with intellectual disabilities and brain injuries and individuals who have high medical needs. This position provides direct support to individuals in locations for members with high medical needs. All personnel are expected to promote a safe and welcoming, home-like environment that inspires hope and supports members with their individual goals and aspirations. This position is responsible for the oversight of members medical and health needs.
QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS
Education: Completion of the appropriate course work and testing to obtain and maintain licensure (RN/LPN) or certification (CMAs) in the State of Iowa and as required by other regulatory bodies.
Experience: Human Service Experience is preferred but not required.
Driving: This position requires possession of valid Driver’s License, legal driving privileges and ability in the State of Iowa and qualification with Mainstream Living’s underwriter as an insurable driver. Exception to this may be made for select shifts, e.g., overnight shifts.
Other Certification: n/a
Computer: Basic data entry skills required.
Post hire: Must demonstrate competencies to complete internal training, including training to pass medication.
General: All employees must work diligently to incorporate the spirit and intent of the Mainstream Living's mission, vision and values. This includes respectful communication to all others at all times. Employees must be able to establish a rapport and develop positive relationships with others while conducting self in line with the Mainstream Living's Code of Ethics. Employees must also: demonstrate consistent professional conduct and establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with others; take accountability for own work while demonstrating a willingness to accept responsibility and offer constructive recommendations; demonstrate dependability and flexibility when shift times or duties of the day change; apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; and ensure that the best interest of the members are a top priority at all times.
Employees in this position are expected to prioritize the health and safety of the members through ongoing assessment of members, role modeling and communicating appropriate medical related functions and tasks, monitoring to ensure medical procedures are completed and perform skills related to the scope of practice for the license (RN/LPN/CMAs).
It is expected that employees in this position will possess and maintain current knowledge on medication and health related areas, including but not limited to:
a. Medication purpose and interaction
b. Appropriate administration of medication
c. Medical terminology and Units of Measure
d. Health-related equipment
e. Appropriate positioning and repositioning
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position is considered an essential health care worker position and in the event of an emergency may be required to work one-on-one with members to ensure their safety.
Direct Service Duties :
Assist in identifying members’ skills, needs, and interests.
Incorporate members’ service plan into daily routine by providing support, supervision and encouragement according to their established supports and individualized goals.
Facilitate and conduct activities in the community for members’ leisure, medical and other needs.
Identify, monitor, educate and correct physical or environmental barriers and hazards in members’ environment.
Monitor and address member well being and health needs.
Respectfully communicate with members and their family, guardians, Case Managers, and other stakeholders
Respectfully and accurately communicate and receive information with member medical support team, including but not limited to doctors, specialists, pharmacies, medical supply, etc.
Honor members’ rights, including but not limited to choice, privacy and confidentiality.
Complete member service documentation in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner required to meet billing and productivity requirements.
Maintain a clean environment by facilitating and completing tasks required to maintain a clean and safe living environment, including deep cleaning, home upkeep, and light maintenance tasks.
Meet member nutritional needs as outlined in member supervision plan, including facilitating or completion of following menu, food portion and meal preparation.
Possess and enact medical assessment of member physical health, including but not limited to:
Identifying changes in member health status.
Identifying cause-effect relationships impacting health and well-being
Establish rapport with members based on their communication preferences and abilities
Interpret and manage a variety of member expressions (anger, fear, discomfort)
Perform functions of physical examination and or those related to therapeutic intervention, e.g., tube feedings, vitals, physical therapy, etc.
Be attentive to and proactively attend to all member health related needs, including but not limited to:
All incidents that have possibility of injury and/or may require monitoring for injury.
Change in condition, behavior, overall appearance, skin breakdown, etc.
Ordering and maintaining medication
Ordering and maintaining medical supplies
Accompanying members to appointments
Professional and Timely Communication
Keep supervisor informed of observations, suggestions and actions related to non-routine issues, assessments, changes, incidents, etc.
Will communicate with medical providers in a professional manner, e.g., reporting observations and changes thoroughly and objectively, receipt and documentation of medical recommendations, and implementation of changes.
Communicate with coworkers to educate on observations, areas to be monitored and desired outcomes.
Communicate with guardians and family members in an empathetic and factual manner.
Adherence to Policies and Procedures :
All employees will adhere to Mainstream Living's policies and procedures including but not limited to:
Personnel Policies and Policy manuals.
Attend and work shifts as scheduled. Adhere to Mainstream Living's Attendance Policies for time off, on-call and attendance to training/staff meetings.
Follow medication and medical policy and procedures to include: administration, record keeping, identification of medication, purpose, therapeutic intent and adverse reactions, and self-administration of medication.
Follow documentation procedures to include accurate, honest and timely completion.
Follow health and safety practices per Mainstream Living's policies including participation in emergency procedures, drills, proper infection control, accident/injury prevention, etc.
Follow vehicle policies for safe operation of Mainstream Living's vehicles and safe transport of members/others if in driving position.
Keep supervisor informed of critical and non-routine events. Communication is constructive, effective, and timely.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable employees with a disability to perform the essential functions .
Physical Demands: While performing this job, employees must be able to meet the physical demands required to complete essential functions of this position and meet member needs in their home environment. Employees will be required to lift 15-25 pounds on a frequent basis. Depending on member needs and in some work locations, employees may be required to assist with ambulation, lifting and transferring of members, generally with the use of adaptive equipment such as gait belts, walkers, wheelchairs, mechanical lifts, etc. Thus, there may be times the employee must lift up to 50lbs and rarely up to 100lbs if working in sites with members requiring ambulation assistance.
OSHA CLASSIFICATION
This position is considered a Classification I in regard to jobs in which required tasks routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids, tissues or potential spills or splashes. Additionally, there is possible exposure to cleaning chemicals. Use of appropriate measures is required for every health care provider.