Bargaining Unit: Local 856 - LVN/Aides Unit

The Contra Costa County Health Services Department is accepting applications from Licensed Vocational Nurses who are interested in performing technical nursing duties.

In an inpatient setting, under the supervision of registered professional nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses perform a wide range of patient care activities including general bedside nursing and patient hygiene, safety and comfort. They perform catheterizations, enemas, nasogastric tube insertions and irrigations; take and record vital signs and chart observations. They care for tracheotomy, jejunostomy, colostomy, and chest tubes. Licensed Vocational Nurses sign out and are responsible for controlled drugs, including narcotics, and under direction, prepare and administer medication subcutaneously, intramuscularly or orally. In some assignments, they may also adjust the flow rates of intravenous solutions containing no medications.

In an ambulatory care setting, Licensed Vocational Nurses perform general nursing care under the direction of a registered Nurse or a provider. They prepare and administer medications including immunizations subcutaneously, intramuscularly, orally or topically; sign out and are responsible for controlled drugs including narcotics. They are responsible for applying dressing, compresses and soaks; taking and recording vital signs; documenting patient observations and nursing activities in patient records; and performing discharge duties

The eligible list established from this recruitment may remain in effect for six months.

Typical Tasks

• Gives general direct nursing care under direction of a Registered Nurse and/or provider
• Maintains patient personal hygiene, safety and comfort
• Performs catheterizations and enemas
• Under direction, prepares and administers medication subcutaneously, intramuscularly, topically or orally
• Signs out and is responsible for controlled drugs including narcotics
• Under direction gives colostomy care, including irrigations
• Applies dressings, compresses and soaks
• Under direction performs nasogastric tube insertions and irrigations
• Following training, participates on Code Blue and Behavioral Response Teams as required
• Takes and records temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration
• Assists in administering the nursing process to patients, including data/information gathering and implementing individual patient care plans as directed by a Registered Nurse and/or provider
• Obtains specimens
• Performs, reports, and documents patient observations and nursing activities in patient/hospital records
• Under direction cares for tracheotomy, jejustomy and chest tubes
• Performs routine care and cleaning of hospital equipment
• Performs routine nursing duties including making beds and lifting, moving, bathing and feeding patients
• May assist and participate in occupational, physical and respiratory therapy programs
• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Assists the Registered Nurse in identifying patient family learning needs and implements appropriate measures
• After special training functions as a Monitor Nurse in the Telemetry Unit
• Participates in orientation and on-the-job training of assigned personnel
• May perform clerical duties on units and in clinics
• Provide and promote excellence in customer services for both internal and external customers
• Upon assignment and after obtaining special training and State certification, may perform specialized nursing tasks such as starting and/or superimposing intravenous solutions and adjusting flow rates and blood withdrawal in accordance with LVN scope of practice and Hospital Policy.

Minimum Qualifications

License Required: Candidates must possess and maintain throughout the duration of employment: current, valid and unrestricted license as a Licensed Vocational Nurse issued by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Experience: No experience required.

Certification: Candidates must possess and maintain throughout the duration of employment: current, valid Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or CPR by the American Red Cross.

Special Requirements: As a condition of hiring, all positions:

(a) Must successfully pass a pharmacology test administered by the County.

(b) When assigned to Detention Facilities, must possess and maintain a Sheriff's Department clearance.