Licensed Vocational Nurse - Progressive Care Unit

Location: Fort Sam Houston - Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), San Antonio, TX

Operation Coverage: 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, including holidays.

Shift Lengths:

• • 8-hour shifts (with a 30-minute unpaid lunch/dinner break), or

  • 12-hour shifts (with a 30-minute unpaid lunch/dinner break).

  • No more than 12 hours may be scheduled in a 24-hour period

Benefits: Vest vacation, sick leave, holiday leave, Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Short Term Disability

Optional Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(K) matching with employee participation in 401(K) plan

• Perform the same clinical duties as military/civil service nurses of similar experience; may be designated for team lead responsibilities or clinical orientation.

• Insert IV catheters, perform phlebotomy and arterial blood draws (with required training).

• Obtain patient and family history; observe, assess, and record symptoms, reactions, and progress; assist physicians and RNs during treatments and exams; complete admissions/discharges.

• Assess patient/family knowledge, provide education, and document care in the medical record.

• Develop and manage nursing care plans; instruct patients/families on proper care and health maintenance.

• Administer medications within scope of practice (IV, oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, rectal, transdermal); monitor administration of blood products (cannot start transfusions).

• Perform direct patient care (range of motion, lifting, turning, transporting, positioning, hygiene care, changing linen/clothing, feeding patients).

• Manage care for patients with high infection risk or on life-support equipment.

• Ensure proper procedures with tissue/skin bank and blood bank.

• Provide professional oversight for CNAs/unlicensed personnel, and collaborate with other healthcare providers.

• Follow infection control protocols, respond to breaches, and participate in research/committees as needed.

• Participate in patient care conferences, nursing reports, and discharge planning.

• Demonstrate ability to manage interpersonal relationships, stay composed under stress, and act in emergencies (e.g., CPR, hemorrhage, trauma)

• The PCU LVN provides an advanced level of specialized comprehensive nursing for highly complex patients with real or
  potential life-threatening emergencies and involve labor intense nursing interventions. Plays an integral role in assisting the RN
  in observing the patient's changing conditions and participates in developing and updating in the electronic medical record the
  patient plan of care and nursing diagnoses, based on comprehensive assessments in accordance with recognized professional and
  institutional standards of practice and scopes of care. Observes and monitors: vital signs, symptoms of deterioration in condition,
  and assists the RN in the identification of normal and abnormal cardiac rhythms. Utilizing the early warning scoring system,
  takes emergent corrective action within his/her scope of practice. Initiates lifesaving measures, which include cardiopulmonary
  resuscitation and assisting the RN in performing arterial punctures and troubleshooting respiratory adjunctive therapy.
• Starts intravenous lines in accordance with institutional infection control standards. Works with non-titratable vasoactive drips
  and assist in management of non-titratable vasoactive drips (i.e.amiodarone, diltiazem) and other non-titratable continuous IV
  infusions (bumex, Lasix). LVNs are trained to assist in the management of ventilators and are validated through training and
  competencies to manage patients on long-term stable ventilators through tracheostomy. LVNs are trained to manage patients on
  continuous BIPAP/CPAP.
  
• Performs a vast array of direct patient care procedures to include but are not limited to: assist in the management of epidurals,
  range of motion exercises, lifting, turning, transporting and positioning patients, personal hygiene care, changing linen and
  clothing and feeding patients. Transports seriously ill patients for various diagnostic procedures.
  
• Administers and monitors the use of medications in accordance with Department of Nursing and unit level policies/guidelines.
  Assists in the administration of intravenous fluids Assist in the administration of anticonvulsants, insulin and thrombolytics and
  monitors patient condition per recommended guidelines; is familiar with correct dosages and potential side effects. Assists the
  RN with complex and potentially life-threatening procedures to include insertion of endotracheal intubation, invasive arterial
  and central venous catheters and chest tubes. Inserts intravenous catheters, performs phlebotomy and arterial blood draws.
  Monitors intake and output of fluids and notifies physician when caloric and fluid requirements have changed. Assesses patient
  vital signs, level of consciousness and other neurological and early interventions or escalation of care utilizing methods outlined
  in the PCU scope of service. Use emergency crash/code cart appropriately during patient emergencies. Maintains patency of
  patient airway to include suctioning patient nasopharyngeal airway, tracheostomy tube or endotracheal tube. After receiving
  PCU training, is able to manage chronic and stable mechanically ventilated patients.

Education: Graduation from a State Board of Nursing–approved LPN/LVN training program, or Completion of equivalent military training that permits sitting for the state licensure exam.

Licensure: Must hold a current, active, valid, and unrestricted LVN license from any U.S. state, D.C., or territory

Certifications: The LVN shall possess and maintain a current certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).

Experience: The LVN shall have at least one (1) year of full-time experience working as an LVN in an Adult Progressive Care
Unit (PCU) or equivalent and a minimum of two (2) years (full-time) in clinical nursing within the last four (4) years.
Complete BAMC Telemetry test within the first 30 days.

AKAHI ASSOCIATES LLC

AKAHI Associates is a premier provider of healthcare workers to various military treatment facilities across the United States. With a corporate office in Honolulu, Hawaii and recruiting office in San Antonio, Texas we specialize in providing skilled, trained and highly successful healthcare workers, including RNs, CRNAs, Physicians, LPN/LVN, Licensed Social Workers, and many more.

We have a strong focus on providing our government customers with quality and superior service.

Akahi Associates is an equal opportunity employer and Minorities, Females, Veterans, and Disabled persons are encouraged to apply. For further information, please click the link below to view the EEO Is The Law poster.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Only qualified individuals who are being considered will be contacted for an interview.