Licensed Practical Nurse

Description

Utilizes the nursing process in an outpatient college health setting to assist students and other eligible clients in achieving optimum wellness, with primary responsibility for the daily operation of the immunization clinic.

Coordinates, administers, documents, and monitors immunizations in accordance with clinic protocols, public health standards, vaccine schedules, state requirements, university requirements, and applicable standing orders.

Maintains responsibility for immunization inventory, vaccine storage and handling, temperature monitoring, ordering, reconciliation, expiration, and lot number tracking, and appropriate documentation of vaccine use and waste.

Provides general nursing support and patient care within the University Health Center, including assisting with patient triage, intake, assessment, treatments, procedures, documentation, health education, and clinic flow for patients who may or may not require immunization services.

Assesses patient education needs and provides individualized teaching related to immunizations, vaccine-preventable diseases, communicable disease prevention, health promotion, wellness, and public health recommendations applicable to the college health setting.

Maintains the clinical environment in accordance with standards of safe practice, infection control, vaccine safety, and universal precautions.

Examples of Duties

Coordinates and provides nursing care in the immunization clinic to support student health, disease prevention, and public health compliance - 40%

• Reviews student immunization records for compliance with university, state, and public health requirements.
• Administers vaccines and other injectable medications within scope of practice, training, standing orders, and clinic protocols.
• Screens patients for vaccine eligibility, contraindications, precautions, allergies, prior reactions, and appropriate vaccine timing.
• Provides immunization services for routine, required, recommended, travel-related, and outbreak-related vaccination needs as applicable to the college health setting.
• Inputs and maintains vaccine information in the electronic health record, including vaccine type, lot number, expiration date, quantity administered, and remaining supply, to support accurate inventory tracking, usage monitoring, and vaccine reconciliation.
• Assists with tuberculosis screening, communicable disease prevention activities, international student screening, student compliance events, and other campus-based public health initiatives.
• Responds appropriately to adverse reactions and initiates emergency response procedures within scope of training.
• Collaborates with providers, nursing staff, public health agencies, and campus partners to support safe, effective, and compliant immunization services.

Provides general outpatient nursing care and clinical support to patients at the University Health Center, including those who do not require immunizations - 40%

• Initiates patient intake and assessment, including vital signs, chief complaint, allergies, medication history, immunization history when applicable, and other pertinent information.
• Assists providers and nursing staff with patient care, treatments, procedures, specimen collection, and clinic flow.
• Provides nursing support for triage, acute visits, wellness visits, medication administration, wound care, non-invasive treatments, and other outpatient services within scope of practice and training.
• Assists with gynecologic exams, laboratory specimen collection, minor procedures, and other clinic services as assigned.
• Documents patient assessments, treatments, medications administered, patient response, education provided, referrals, and follow-up instructions in the electronic health record.
• Provides patient education related to medications, treatments, follow-up care, prevention, wellness, self-care, and appropriate use of health care services.
• Supports urgent and routine patient needs in a confidential, supportive, and nonjudgmental manner.
• Assists with general clinic coverage during periods when immunization clinic volume is lower or when additional clinical support is needed.

Manages immunization inventory, documentation, patient education, public health reporting, and clinic safety standards - 20%

• Monitors vaccine expiration dates, storage conditions, refrigerator/freezer temperatures, vaccine usage, waste, returns, and discrepancies according to clinic policy and public health guidance.
• Ensures adequate immunization and patient care supplies are available, including syringes, needles, forms, emergency supplies, and patient education materials.
• Communicates vaccine ordering needs, supply concerns, waste, and discrepancies to the appropriate supervisor or budget authority.
• Educates patients on vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine benefits, expected side effects, warning signs of adverse reactions, follow-up dose schedules, communicable disease prevention, and wellness.
• Assists with required reporting to state and local health agencies related to communicable diseases, immunizations, and other public health initiatives as applicable.
• Participates in quality improvement activities related to immunization rates, documentation accuracy, vaccine safety, inventory control, patient care, and clinic workflow.
• Maintains patient care areas in accordance with standards of safe practice, infection control, vaccine safety, universal precautions, and biohazard waste disposal.
• Maintains vaccine inventory, including ordering, receiving, stocking, rotating, reconciling, and monitoring vaccine supply.

Typical Qualifications

Education:

• Graduate of approved Licensed Practical or Vocational Nursing program.

Experience:

• One year of nursing experience required.
• Outpatient clinic, college health, public health, immunization clinic, vaccine management, or ambulatory care experience preferred.
• Experience with vaccine administration, immunization documentation, inventory management, electronic medical records, general patient care, and public health reporting preferred.

Supplemental Information

Physical/Environmental Factors:

• Exposure to fumes and/or chemicals
• Exposure to infectious and communicable diseases.
• Ability to lift or support patients.