Covenant Health

Licensed Practical Nurse - Psychiatric Services

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Covenant Health Overview:

Covenant Health is the region’s top-performing healthcare network with 10 hospitals, outpatient and specialty services, and Covenant Medical Group, our area’s fastest-growing physician practice division. Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area’s largest employer. Our more than 11,000 employees, volunteers, and 1,500 affiliated physicians are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than two million patients and families we serve every year. Covenant Health is the only healthcare system in East Tennessee to be named a Forbes “Best Employer” seven times.

Position Summary:

Provides quality patient care under the clinical direction and supervision of the Registered Nurse.

• Responsible for maintaining a safe and therapeutic patient environment as part of a patient care team.
• Demonstrates and maintains competence in therapeutic communication, supportive counseling, small group dynamics, patient education, and milieu management. Can provide support and limits for the patients, and can assist in carrying out the Treatment Plan for each patient, under the direction of an RN.
• Assists in the training, orientation, and teaching of new staff members as directed by the Nurse Manager or Nurse Supervisor.
• Performs medication administration duties, including accessing pharmacy.
• Implements physician orders accurately and with proper documentation.
• Solicits administrative or medical consultation to assure quality patient care.
• Under the supervision of an RN, accesses emergency medical care for patients, provides a report to the Emergency Room, assures that a report from the Emergency Room is provided before the return of the patient, and facilitates the receipt of records. Provides for patient stabilization.
• Initiates Nursing Admission Database and Interdisciplinary Care Plan under the supervision of an RN.
• Evaluates nursing actions and patient responses, documents in a timely, concise and legible manner each shift.
• Recognizes, responds and reports changes in patient conditions to RN.
• Demonstrates competence in performing critical skills to include appropriate delivery of care according to the age-specific needs of the population served.
• Facilitates discharge process and assures that all relevant information is comprehensive, accurate, and appropriately documented.
• May perform 24-hour chart reviews.
• May participate in the treatment team process by interacting with the multidisciplinary team of care providers.
• Applies Infection Control, Hospital Emergency, Hazardous Materials Management, and Patient/Proprietary Information Confidentiality policies.
• Advocates for the rights of the patients and is able to process patient complaints and concerns.
• Can perform ECG, VP, and Bedside Glucose Meter procedures.
• Understands and is familiar with all Hospital policies and procedures, especially those relevant to his/her respective program.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:

None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority.

Minimum Experience:         

Previous experience in the practice of psychiatric nursing is desired.

Licensure Requirement:      

Current license as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the State of Tennessee or Licensed Vocational Nurse.