Licensed Practical Nurse

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) has a career opportunity as a Licensed Practical Nurse at the Montana Veteran’s Home.

The Montana Veterans' Home (MVH) located in Columbia Falls is a Medicare/Medicaid and Veterans' Administration certified facility with 105 intermediate/skilled-care beds and 12 domiciliary beds. The nursing facility includes a 15-bed Dementia Care unit. MVH has been providing services to Veterans since 1896. The Montana Veterans' Home is located next to the Flathead River just minutes away from Glacier National Park. A large pavilion, walking paths and protected courtyards provide ample opportunities for outdoor access. The facility offers individual and group activities, spiritual services, support group services and social services. The skilled and rehabilitative services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and dietitian services.

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) provide nursing care to residents. Responsibilities include performing nursing assessments, treatments/procedures, administering medications, coordinating care, maintaining records, and providing nursing support to physicians. Work schedules vary by availability and may include shift differential pay.

Find out more by visiting work4dphhs.com.

Why Join DPHHS

Our mission at DPHHS is to serve Montanans in their communities to improve and protect the health, safety, and well-being, and to empower independence. By joining our department, you will have the opportunity to perform meaningful work in public service to our state and its residents.

The State of Montana's comprehensive benefits package includes healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid vacation (15 days per year), sick leave (12 days per year), and holidays (11 per year), work/life balance, and eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. In addition, DPHHS is the largest state agency with a wide range of advancement opportunities whether you are joining the workforce or have several years of experience.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):

A.  Perform Nursing Assessments

• Completes routine (weekly/monthly) nursing assessments (admission care plan, skin, bowel, AIMS, behavior, ADL) on residents to determine health status deficits by utilizing standard nursing assessment forms and experienced judgment.
• Examines/assesses residents in emergencies to determine the extent of injuries by using experienced nursing judgement and completing incident/accident forms.
•           Test residents for TB annually to prevent the spread of infection by administering the PPD test and recording results.

B.  Perform Nursing Treatments/Procedures

•     Performs emergency/first aid treatment to injured residents to stabilize the resident and prevent further injury by exercising experienced nursing judgment and following current standard of care procedure and universal precautions.
•           Performs routine treatments to residents to improve healing and prevent deterioration to the resident by administering enteral tube feedings, changing dressings, applying ointments, using experienced judgment, following current standard of care procedures and universal precautions.
•            Draws blood from residents as ordered by a physician to provide a specimen for laboratory evaluation by using syringes, vials, tourniquets and following universal precautions.
•           Performs minor laboratory tests (urine, stool, specific gravity, glucose) to ascertain the resident’s health status by using nursing judgment and following facility policy.
•          Administers oxygen and breathing treatments to improve oxygen concentration in the blood, improve breathing by use of breathing apparatus following nursing procedures and facility policy.
•           Administers heat treatments to reduce resident pain by assessing the need and following facility policy and procedure utilizing experienced judgement.
•           Removes sutures/staples in postoperative residents to promote healing by utilizing experienced judgment and nursing training.

C.  Administers Medications

• Administers medications to residents as ordered by the physician to maintain the health status of the resident by following nursing protocols and facility policy.
•      Monitors medication effects to detect both negative and positive responses by assessing the resident after medication administration and recording the effects in the medical record.
•           Identifies possible drug allergies and interactions to prevent harmful effects to the resident by withholding medications when appropriate and reporting harmful effects to the physician.
•      Procures medications when ordered by the physician outside of normal pharmacy hours to reduce symptoms and treat acute conditions by following facility policy.
•      Implements standing physician orders to provide treatment to the resident at the discretion and judgment of the nurse.
•     Maintains an accurate count of controlled medications to ensure proper usage by counting narcotics from shift to shift and signing for use following facility policy and procedure
•      Administers IV therapy to treat medical conditions by interpreting orders, using IV equipment inserting IV catheters, hanging solutions, and monitoring results (administering IV therapy must be within LPN guidelines).

D.  Coordinates Care

•      Oversees care provided by resident care aides during shift to ensure residents receive the care as directed by the care plan by observing care provided to the resident, assisting with care as a teaching tool, and reporting significant care deficiencies to the nurse supervisor.
•           Directs resident care aides to provide care to residents routinely and in emergent instances to ensure quality care is provided to the resident by communicating orally and in writing changes in care plan or physician orders.

E.  Maintains Records

•           Obtains and records resident vital signs to maintain an accurate record to assess trends and determine health condition by use of thermometers, scales, blood pressure devices, standard forms and using nursing training and experience.
•           Notes subjective resident complaints and objective observations of the resident’s condition to provide documentation of potential problem areas by writing accurate summaries in the medical record using nursing judgment and training.
•           Provides a complete shift-to-shift report covering all significant nursing problems and interventions to maintain continuity of care by providing an oral report at shift exchange.
•          Transcribes physician verbal, written, and phone orders in initiate medical interventions by following nursing practices, utilizing standard forms, and facility policy.
•           Provides verbal and written resident information to Minimum Data Set nurses to complete mandatory federal resident assessments by answering questions and directing the MDS nurse to appropriate documentation.
•            Maintains confidentiality of medical information to meet Federal and State standards by understanding Federal HIPAA guidelines and following facility policies.

F.   Provides Nursing Support to Physicians

•           Notifies physicians of potential medical problems to solicit physician orders and/or transport residents to a higher level of care by assessing residents and reporting information to the physician in a concise professional manner and be prepared to answer physician questions concerning medical problems.
•           Assists physicians in routine rounds to ensure efficient use of physician time by answering questions, preparing the resident for examination and assisting the physician with the examination.

G.  Other Duties

•            Assists resident, family and friends concerning the death and dying process to provide information that may make the transition better and more dignified for those concerned by answering questions and providing information about the process.
•           Prepares deceased residents for the mortician to ensure the dignity of the deceased resident and to ensure appropriate infection control by following nursing protocols, facility policy, and universal precautions.
•           Reports policy/procedure infractions of personnel immediately to preserve quality care for residents and a safe work environment for staff by following the chain of command.
•           Maintains familiarity with Policy and Procedure Manual, the Safety Manual and Infection Control Manual, Nursing policies, and physician standing orders in order to provide quality care and a safe environment for the residents and staff by reviewing policies and standing orders.