Licensed Practical Nurse, Stroke, Day, Part-Time

Job Requirements

LPN Part-Time 7a-7p(2 days/week); every 3rd weekend requirement

Position Summary

The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides safe, compassionate, patient-centered nursing care to individuals recovering from stroke and other neurological conditions in an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Working collaboratively with Registered Nurses (RNs), rehabilitation physicians, therapists, and other interdisciplinary team members, the LPN supports individualized plans of care that promote functional recovery, maximize patient independence, prevent complications, and facilitate successful transitions to the next level of care.

The LPN contributes to the delivery of high-quality rehabilitation nursing services through direct patient care, medication administration, clinical monitoring, patient and family education, and timely communication of changes in patient condition.

All nursing responsibilities are performed within the LPN's authorized scope of practice under the Maryland Nurse Practice Act, applicable regulations, organizational policies, and appropriate RN or authorized practitioner direction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Direct Patient Care and Clinical Monitoring
• Provide direct nursing care to patients recovering from ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and associated neurological impairments.
• Collect and document focused patient assessment data, including vital signs, pain levels, neurological observations, skin integrity, mobility, elimination, and other relevant clinical findings.
• Monitor patients for changes in neurological status, cognition, behavior, swallowing-related concerns, and functional abilities.
• Promptly communicate abnormal findings or changes in patient condition to the RN and appropriate healthcare providers.
• Implement established nursing interventions consistent with individualized care plans.
• Assist patients with activities of daily living while encouraging maximum independence and participation in rehabilitation activities.
• Provide care for patients with bowel and bladder dysfunction, including implementation of established bladder and bowel management programs.
• Medication Administration and Treatment
• Administer medications and perform authorized treatments in accordance with Maryland LPN scope of practice, provider orders, and organizational policies.
• Monitor and report patient responses to medications, including therapeutic effects, adverse reactions, and potential complications.
• Perform authorized wound care, dressing changes, blood glucose monitoring, specimen collection, and other prescribed nursing procedures.
• Support medication reconciliation processes by identifying and communicating discrepancies to the RN or authorized provider.
• Follow medication safety practices, including barcode medication administration, appropriate documentation, and established high-alert medication safeguards.
• Escalate medication concerns or treatment issues that may delay patient care or discharge.
• Stroke Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery
• Reinforce individualized rehabilitation goals established by the interdisciplinary team.
• Encourage patient participation in prescribed mobility, self-care, and therapeutic activities within established safety parameters.
• Reinforce transfer, positioning, and mobility recommendations established by Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.
• Implement prescribed aspiration precautions, swallowing-related safety measures, and dietary recommendations established by the appropriate clinical disciplines.
• Assist with established strategies for managing cognitive, communication, behavioral, and perceptual deficits associated with stroke.
• Promote patient independence while recognizing the need for appropriate supervision and assistance.
• Communicate barriers to rehabilitation participation, including pain, fatigue, altered cognition, behavioral concerns, or changes in functional status.
• Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
• Consistently implement individualized fall prevention interventions and established patient safety protocols.
• Utilize appropriate safety equipment, including bed and chair alarms, mobility aids, and other approved interventions.
• Identify and report environmental, clinical, or behavioral factors that increase patient safety risks.
• Participate in safety huddles, post-fall evaluations within the LPN role, and unit-based quality improvement initiatives.
• Follow established infection prevention, skin integrity, pressure injury prevention, and safe patient handling practices.
• Participate in organizational initiatives supporting Zero Harm, patient experience, and quality outcomes.
• Recognize and promptly report potential clinical deterioration or other urgent patient safety concerns.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Communication
• Collaborate with RNs, physicians, advanced practice providers, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, case management, and other members of the rehabilitation team.
• Participate in bedside shift reporting, daily safety huddles, and interdisciplinary communication as appropriate.
• Communicate patient observations, care needs, and barriers to progress to the RN and relevant team members.
• Reinforce established nursing and rehabilitation plans of care.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation in the electronic health record.
• Promote effective communication with patients and families, including individuals experiencing aphasia, cognitive impairments, or other communication challenges.
• Patient and Family Education and Discharge Readiness
• Reinforce education initiated by the RN and interdisciplinary team regarding medications, stroke risk-factor management, safety precautions, and rehabilitation goals.
• Support patients and caregivers in understanding established care routines, medication schedules, mobility precautions, and follow-up instructions.
• Identify patient and caregiver learning needs and communicate them to the RN.
• Reinforce discharge instructions and assess patient or caregiver understanding of previously established education.
• Assist with discharge preparation by communicating outstanding care needs, medication concerns, equipment needs, or barriers to a safe transition.
• Support a patient-centered discharge experience that promotes confidence, preparedness, and continuity of care.
• Professional Practice and Accountability
• Practice within the legal and professional boundaries established for Licensed Practical Nurses in Maryland.
• Work collaboratively with the RN, who retains responsibility for comprehensive nursing assessment, nursing diagnosis, and overall nursing care planning.
• Demonstrate accountability for assigned nursing responsibilities and timely escalation of concerns.
• Maintain current clinical competencies, required certifications, and organizational education requirements.
• Adhere to professional standards, patient confidentiality requirements, and organizational policies.
• Participate in professional development, unit-based education, performance improvement, and shared accountability initiatives.
• Contribute to a respectful, supportive, and collaborative team environment.

Work Experience

Education

• Graduation from an approved Practical Nursing program.

Licensure

• Current, active Licensed Practical Nurse license issued by the Maryland Board of Nursing, or other authorization to practice practical nursing in Maryland.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through an organization accepted by UMROI.

Experience

• Previous experience in inpatient rehabilitation, medical-surgical nursing, long-term care, or neurological nursing preferred.
• New graduate LPNs may be considered based on organizational requirements, orientation resources, and demonstrated competency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience caring for patients with stroke, neurological impairments, or complex rehabilitation needs.
• Familiarity with electronic health records, preferably Epic.
• Knowledge of fall prevention, safe patient handling, skin integrity, and medication safety practices.
• Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of practical nursing principles and the Maryland LPN scope of practice.
• Ability to recognize and promptly report changes in patient condition.
• Strong medication administration and clinical documentation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients experiencing cognitive, speech, or functional limitations.
• Understanding of rehabilitation principles and the importance of promoting patient independence.
• Ability to prioritize assigned patient care activities in a dynamic inpatient environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills, sound clinical judgment within the LPN role, and commitment to teamwork.
• Commitment to patient safety, service excellence, and continuous quality improvement.

Physical and Working Requirements

• Ability to perform essential nursing functions in an inpatient rehabilitation environment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reposition patients, and assist with patient mobility using approved safe patient handling practices and equipment.
• Ability to respond appropriately to urgent patient care needs.
• Ability to work assigned shifts, weekends, and holidays based on departmental staffing needs.