Position Summary:
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) – Private Duty assists with the facilitation of an organized system of coordinated care by providing oversight to the physical, mental, emotional and social health for students as well as the school based community within designated Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). The LPN – Private Duty primarily serves on a one-to-one basis assigned to a student; however, may be assigned to a school health room as a substitute/support to the school based Registered Nurse (RN). The incumbent of this position serves in a pivotal role that bridges health care and education and is grounded by nursing standards of practice. Services provided by the LPN include community/public health, care coordination, skilled nursing services and quality improvement. The Maryland Nurse Practice Act dictates this must occur in a team relationship with a Registered Nurse (RN).
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Ensures student’s ability to attend school by being exclusively responsible for the student’s daily medical care; implements the nursing process in the assessment of students for personal care and support services, and the development and execution of care that addresses the needs of students;
- Utilizes nursing theory and evidence-based practices as the basis for decision-making in accordance with the Maryland Nurse Practice Act and School Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice;
- Reports to assigned students’ home, accompanies the student on the bus and remains with the student at all times during the school day, including lunch and any other school-sponsored activities; when not serving in this capacity, reports to an assigned school health room as a substitute/support to the school RN;
- Performs skilled nursing procedures (i.e., catheterizations, g-tube feedings, trach care, suctioning, etc.); administer and manages medications; treats students during emergent situations according to physician orders and PGCPS policies and procedures; implements students’ Emergency Care Plan (ECP) and updates the plan as needed;
- Ensures all medical equipment and supplies are stocked and fully functional prior to boarding transportation;
- Collaborates with the RN and/or Health Services leadership to apprise of any changes to the student’s medical condition, and may attend multidisciplinary school-based meetings to offer observations regarding student’s physical health that may affect educational progress;
- Provides professional nursing services for students including first aid for injuries and care of ill students; documents nursing assessment diagnosis and treatment; ensures timely documentation in the PGCPS electronic medical record platform;
- Maintains student confidentiality in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and documents accordingly in the PGCPS electronic medical record;
- Provides counseling and guidance and makes appropriate referrals for services needed to ensure the physical, mental and emotional well-being of all individuals in the school-based community; serves as a resource to facilitate learning positive health and wellness behaviors for students and the school community at large;
- Attends systemic and departmental professional development and in-service workshops; and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of nursing and child growth and development;
- Knowledge of laws, regulations, policies and procedures of the following agencies, including but not limited to, PGCPS, Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC);
- Knowledge of current Child Abuse and Neglect laws;
- Mastery of skilled nursing procedures (i.e., catheterizations, g-tube feedings, trach care, suctioning, administration of medication, etc.);
- Ability to implement students’ Emergency Care Plan (ECP) and update as needed;
- Proficient in the use of computers, electronic medical records, Google platform and the Microsoft Office suite;
- Ability to use critical thinking skills and nursing judgement;
- Ability to handle and maintain highly sensitive and confidential information;
- Ability to work effectively with individuals and groups from various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds;
- Ability to work with a population of students with disabilities, whether physical, mental, emotional and/or learning disabled;
- Ability to use appropriate written, verbal and electronic communication formats to present information;
- Ability to work within the scope of the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License; and
- Ability to work in a team relationship with a RN.
Education and/or Experience Requirements:
Graduation from an accredited Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) school with at least two (2) years of prior experience as an LPN working with g-tubes, trachs and trach care, vents and suctioning required.
Certification:
Current Maryland Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License, Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) certifications.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and see. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, lift, pull, push, grasp, climb and balance. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs. and/or 100 lbs. when operating a wheelchair lift and assisting a special-needs student.
Working Environment:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
Additional Information:
Driver’s license and a personal vehicle is required inasmuch as there will be a need to travel to sites throughout the school district.
While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent responds in emergency situations as a first responder to students, staff, and visitors in the school building including running/traveling across school grounds/building, up and down stairs, performing CPR and using a defibrillator.
