Licensed Practical Nurse I at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department – Tacoma, Washington

• Dispense oral Methadone and/or sublingual buprenorphine and administer injectable buprenorphine and/or naltrexone in accordance with DEA regulations and prescribed orders given, written and made a part of the client’s chart by a licensed physician or practitioner.
• Log and inventory all forms of medications for opioid use dispensed and administered in the clinic.
• Perform practical nursing assessments and health screenings to include vital signs as needed.
• Assist the RN, ARNP or MD with exams as needed.
• Provide instruction to patients regarding outlined course of treatment as directed by the physician or practitioner
• Perform phlebotomy blood draws and EKGs as needed.
• Administer PPD skins tests, screens and other Immunizations and vaccinations, as necessary.
• Accurately read PPD test results.
• Enter physician orders and medical notes into electronic health record as needed.
• Pre-pour every other week take home medication for Methadone patient.
• Scan/import medical paperwork into electronic health record and track time spent on this task.
• Accurate record keeping of methadone received from supplier and dispensed to patients to include: logging in new methadone stock and properly numbering/stacking bottles in safe; running/printing end-of-day reports, putting them in correct order, and signing them; immediately reporting any problems or discrepancies to RN Supervisor.
• Maintain a clean and orderly dispensary, re-stocking of supplies as needed and notifying RN Supervisor in a timely manner when supplies need to be re-ordered.
• Attend mandatory staff meetings and completing required trainings.
• Additional duties as assigned, includes emergency planning and response. The work you do might require you to participate in the Title XIX Medicaid Claiming Program.

Click here for a detailed Classification Specification.

• Knowledge of basic nursing principles and practices.
• Knowledge of fundamental concepts of health laws and regulations.
• Skill in providing oral presentations to groups.
• Ability to understand and interpret health laws and regulations.
• Ability to understand and follow complex oral and written directions.
• Ability to maintain records and reports of services provided.

Completion of an approved course of study in practical nursing.

Prior experience in a methadone clinic or mental health nursing setting preferred.

Required Certifications and Licensure
• Possession of a current State of Washington Practical Nurse's License.

Work Setting

• The potential for dealing with dissatisfied or angry customers exists, requiring skills in conflict resolution.
• Work is stressful due to the nature of the job, i.e. counseling, handling of biohazards, blood, etc.
• Exposure to hazardous materials, chemicals, or waste, which if not handled or disposed of appropriately, could cause significant repercussions to the safety and health of the public.
• Working with bodily fluids where exposure to disease and illness requires proper safety precautions.

Physical Demands

• Physical agility and stamina – work requires large portion of day standing and walking within the clinic.

Tools and Equipment

• Duties require the use of standard office furniture and equipment (e.g., desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, etc.)

Travel:

• Some travel is required, and is typically local or regional, to meet with clients, conduct business, or attend or provide training.

Emergencies:

When public health responds to an emergency you may be assigned duties that are outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time, including nights and weekends, with possible deployment to locations other than the department.

Click Here for more details on reasonable accommodations, safety, risk management and more.