Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

Employment Duration: 6 months (w/ potential for extension)

Under the supervision of the Nurse Manager and guided by the procedures of Ambulatory Services, the Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) is responsible for providing nursing care to patients in the ambulatory setting. The LVN plays a critical role in the patient experience, including optimizing clinic flow, providing in and outreach to patients, and working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to create a patient-centered environment.

In collaboration with the Nurse Manager, Practice Manager, Administrative Director, and Providers, the LVN has clinical responsibility for developing and maintaining a high standard of patient care for patients of all specialties at San Mateo Primary and Specialty Care, including Primary Care, Adult and Pediatric Care, Women’s Health OB and GYN, Adult and Pediatric Cardiology, Gastrointestinal, Adult and Pediatric Endocrinology, Neurological and Neurosurgical Care, Hepatology, Pediatric Developmental, and Infectious Diseases.

The LVN is responsible for daily clinical operations and maintaining a safe environment for patients and staff. Nursing care is individualized to meet the patient’s physiological, psychosocial, cultural, and developmental level and needs. The LVN consistently projects a professional and courteous demeanor, helps establish and maintain the highest service standards for the practice, and complies with the Medical Center House and Telephone Standards.

The UCSF San Mateo Primary and Specialty Care Clinic is a clinical site that offers both Adult and Pediatric primary and multi-specialty services in one shared location. Sterile Processing and Radiology are also located on site and provide basic plain film services. The staff includes Patient Care/Practice Coordinators, Medical Assistants, Nurses (RNs and LVNs), Sonographers, and Allied Health Professionals.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify the needs and responses of patients to medical regimens and treatment through observation of symptoms, emotional state, and cultural and socio-economic settings and backgrounds.
• Recognize and report specific physical and emotional conditions, needs, and concerns of patients to appropriate members of the health care team.
• Alert providers to unusual patient observations to facilitate immediate attention, including chest pain and shortness of breath.
• Perform routine and clinical functions, including vital signs, height, and weight, and document data in APEX.
• Work cooperatively with the health care team to discuss patient alternatives to health care services and develop short- and long-range goals to meet patient needs and treatment plans.
• Plan for patient needs using knowledge of physical and emotional processes as well as cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Identify appropriate internal and external resources for patient care.
• Order and monitor clinical supplies and equipment for Urology, Orthopedic Surgery, Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, and Audiology.
• Create weekly nurse visit and procedure assignments and work with Administrative staff to adjust schedules for smooth clinic flow and patient experience.
• Ensure medication and procedure orders are entered accurately and in a timely manner.
• Identify procedures requiring informed consent and communicate to the clinic team and provider.
• Assist with add-on procedure coordination, including checking insurance authorization and ensuring staffing, supplies, and room availability.
• Provide individualized nursing care responsive to the growth and developmental needs of patients.
• Provide appropriate care based on the needs and age of each patient, including pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients.
• Set up exam rooms and perform the intake process while providing physical and emotional privacy.
• Prepare and instruct patients about specific diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and treatments.
• Assist with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and treatments as needed.
• Use appliances and equipment correctly and maintain safe practice.
• Evaluate and document patient responses to nursing care, including pre- and post-procedure care and treatments.
• Administer and document medications in the electronic medical record while maintaining current knowledge of pharmacology and competency in modes of administration.
• Respond appropriately in emergencies, including initiating and assisting with CPR, and maintain knowledge of code blue carts, emergency kits, medical emergencies, and emergency/disaster procedures.
• Comply with Ambulatory Services and Medical Center policies and procedures for infection control, safety, administrative, and clinical practice.
• Complete annual competency testing as specified by the individual practice.
• Assist patients with limited mobility in transfers from wheelchair to exam table, chair, or toilet, and transport patients safely.
• Order and sign per Ambulatory protocols.
• Document point-of-care test results.
• Enter and pend scripted orders from providers.
• Open telephone encounters and route appropriately.
• Open staff messages and respond appropriately.
• Build dot phrases to assist with templating of charting and messaging.
• Cross-cover nursing in-basket.
• Queue patient orders in advance of patient office visits.
• Organize activities based on patient needs while maintaining effective patient flow through the practice.
• Adjust clinical support activities to reflect changes in priorities during practice sessions.
• Maintain open communication and facilitate continuity of care for patients and/or families with members of the health care team through phone contact, verbal interaction, and written reports.
• Utilize APEX information to document patient care.
• Maintain accurate, legible, current, and properly signed records and documentation, including patient complaints, nursing observations, interventions and care plans, nursing actions and teaching, and patient responses.
• Obtain records and convey information clearly and concisely.
• Demonstrate courtesy, common sense, and follow-through in telephone communications and maintain UCSF Medical Center Telephone Standards.
• Answer APEX messages within 24 business hours.
• Assist with clinical forms completion.
• Foster and maintain positive public relations with patients, families, visitors, and staff.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills, proper telephone techniques and etiquette, sensitivity to cultural differences, and a positive and supportive manner.
• Participate in identifying the educational needs of patients.
• Provide patients with necessary information to make informed decisions, utilizing available resources and making referrals appropriately.
• Inform patients and families about services available at UCSF Medical Center and in the community.
• Utilize and maintain updated educational resources.
• Provide and reinforce patient health teaching using language that patients and families can understand.
• Teach clean intermittent catheterizing patients how to maintain catheter supplies and proper catheterizing technique.
• Assist the RN in obtaining supplies for SPT placement and independently perform Foley catheter insertion.
• Verify patient and family understanding through return demonstration, verbal, physical, or written methods.
• Participate in review and/or revision of educational materials.
• Participate in Performance Improvement activities that impact improvements in the Department, including clinical team flow and overall performance levels.
• Make recommendations regarding Performance Improvement topics or problems and assist in data collection.
• Report and follow up on issues affecting the environment and safety.
• Maximize resources by seeking assistance from appropriate support, effectively using supplies, making suggestions for improved approaches, and assisting in cost-effective practices.
• Attend classes, conferences, workshops, and staff meetings applicable to practice needs and share information from programs attended.
• Attend and participate in staff meetings and clinical team meetings.
• Comply with work-related policies, including license renewal, annual PPD, CPR certification, use of benefit time, and dress code including identification policy.
• Contribute to the orientation and learning experiences of other members of the health care team.
• Comply with departmental scheduling guidelines, including starting work at scheduled times and completing work in a timely manner.
• Serve as a Super-User for Soiled Instrument Handling, Rigid Scopes, and Flexible Scopes.
• Demonstrate service excellence by following the Everyday PRIDE Guide and UCSF Medical Center standards and expectations for communication and behavior.
• Demonstrate professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence in interactions with patients, visitors, faculty, staff, and students.
• Follow standards related to personal appearance, acknowledging and greeting patients and families, introductions using AIDET, managing up, service recovery, managing delays and expectations, phone standards, electronic communication, teamwork, and cultural sensitivity and competency.
• Exhibit tact and professionalism in difficult situations according to PRIDE Values and Practices.
• Adhere to privacy, confidentiality, and security policies and procedures related to Protected Health Information (PHI) and other sensitive and personal information.
• Adhere to safety and infection control policies and procedures.
• Assume accountability for improving quality metrics associated with the department/unit and meeting organizational and departmental targets.
• Keep working areas neat, orderly, and clutter-free, including hallways.
• Adhere to cleaning processes and put items back where they belong.
• Remove and report broken equipment and furniture.
• Pick up and dispose of litter found throughout the facility.
• Post flyers and posters only in designated areas.
• Know where the Environment of Care Manual is kept in the department and correct or report unsafe conditions to the appropriate departments.
• Protect the physical environment and equipment from damage and theft.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

N/A

Required Qualifications

• Flexibility to orient and work at all UCSF Medical Center locations.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of recent LVN experience in an ambulatory outpatient clinic setting.
• Current licensure as a Vocational Nurse in the State of California.
• Current American Heart Association CPR Certification.
• Strong clinical procedure skills, including phlebotomy and injections.
• Experience working with pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients.
• Basic computer skills, including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and implementing new workflows.
• Experience providing staff education.
• Experience in a procedural area.
• Experience in ambulatory care.
• Related experience working with Primary Care, Adult and Pediatric Care, Women’s Health OB and GYN, Adult and Pediatric Cardiology, Gastrointestinal, Neurological and Neurosurgical Care, and related specialties.
• Familiarity with Electronic Medical Record systems.
• Experience working in an academic health system.