Job Description

Posting number: 27-11012

Department: Juvenile Probation

Job classification: LICENSED VOCATIONAL NURSE

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Medical

Summary

The Travis County Juvenile Probation Department seeks a Licensed Vocational Nurse to provide care to youth in a secure juvenile justice setting. As part of a multidisciplinary health care team, this position helps address the medical needs of adolescents in the department’s care.

Under clinical and administrative supervision, evaluates total health care needs of patients and develops plans to meet those needs. Provides or arranges for medical treatment for patients. May provide clinical supervision to Certified Nursing Assistants.

The primary schedule for this position is 2:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. weekdays.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the second in a series of five nursing-related job classifications within the Medical job family. This classification practices under the supervision of a Physician, Registered Nurse, or other similarly licensed supervisory health care practitioner and performs direct patient care functions within the scope of the vocational nurse licensure. Incumbents perform nursing duties of moderate complexity that require a moderate degree of initiative and independent judgment. This classification is distinguished from the Registered Nurse I and Registered Nurse II in that incumbents have not graduated from an accredited Registered Nursing program or do not coordinate the medical treatment of patients. This classification may require work in secure facilities. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Examples of duties

• Responds to patients medical needs. Provides and/or arranges for treatment according to protocol and/or direction from authorized medical staff.
• Consults with clinical and administrative staff about patient health care issues.
• Responds to and assesses certain categories of emergent patient illnesses and injuries.
• Provides direct health care to patients, including wound care, medication administration, monitoring of vital signs, and laboratory procedures.
• Assists other medical staff, as required.
• Practices safety, environmental and/or infection control methods.
• Documents patient's condition and maintains patient medical files and records in computer. Performs other administrative duties.
• Inventories medications on a daily basis.
• Assists in dental, STD and other clinic settings.
• May answer medical questions from staff, patient's relatives and others as appropriate.
• May process patients into the facility by screening and evaluating their medical and mental histories.
• May assist patients with activities of daily living, including bathing and feeding.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited Licensed Vocational Nursing program AND one (1) year of Licensed Vocational Nursing experience.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Current license to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse in the State of Texas.

Current Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Standard nursing and other healthcare practices.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology related to nursing and healthcare.
• Federal, State, Local and County nursing and other healthcare laws and requirements.
• Treatment of a variety of diseases and injuries.
• Proper dosages and expected results of medication.
• Proper infection control techniques, mental health procedures and protocols.
• Principles and procedures of medical documentation and record keeping.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations and a variety of software packages.
• Knowledge of and adherence to HIPAA and other federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Administering daily patient care, including use of stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer and other medical instruments.
• Administering Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid.
• Performing medical tests and recording results accurately.
• Assisting mental health patients.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Work efficiently both independently and as part of a medical team.
• Recognize and identify health symptoms.
• Exercise sound judgment and react quickly in emergency situations.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks.
• Understand and precisely follow both verbal and written instructions and communicate in a concise and effective manner.
• Work in a secure environment.
• Track use of medications and inventory procedures.
• Chronicle medical histories and enter data into computer.
• Work effectively and courteously under high pressure circumstances.
• Deal effectively with mentally disturbed, hostile and aggressive individuals.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical and other County employees and officials, and the general public.

Supplemental information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 35-100 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to contact with communicable diseases, radiation, hazardous waste, human fecal matter and foul odors.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 2:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Works some holidays, Works all nights

Location: 2515 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Department: Juvenile Probation

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

Drug Test, Alcohol Test, Psychological Exam

For updates or questions on this position, contact:

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.