Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

DUTIES

Nursing Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates the Avery’s House mission, purpose, values, and beliefs in everyday language and contact with clients.

• Provides compassionate, trauma-informed, person-centered nursing care to adolescents.

• Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with clients while maintaining professional boundaries.

• Completes nursing assessments and ongoing health monitoring.

• Administers medications accurately and safely according to physician orders and facility policies.

• Monitors for medication effectiveness, adverse reactions, and side effects, documenting findings appropriately.

• Performs medication counts, medication reconciliation, inventory management, and controlled substance accountability.

• Transcribes physician orders accurately and promptly.

• Coordinates with prescribers, pharmacy, laboratory services, and other healthcare providers.

• Assists with admissions, discharges, medication reconciliation, and health screenings.

• Obtains vital signs, specimen collection, point-of-care testing, and other nursing procedures within the scope of practice.

• Responds appropriately to medical emergencies and behavioral crises.

• Provides health education to clients and caregivers regarding medications, diagnoses, wellness, and healthy living.

• Documents all nursing interventions, medication administration, observations, and client progress in the electronic medical record.

• Communicates significant changes in client condition to the Director of Nursing, provider, and treatment team.

• Attends and participates in company meetings.

• Participates in the nursing on-call rotation as assigned, providing after-hours guidance, triaging medical concerns, and collaborating with providers.

• Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, and/or changed at the discretion of management

Therapeutic Milieu Responsibilities:

• Supervising and engaging clients throughout the shift.

• Providing continuous support within the therapeutic milieu.

• Assisting with daily routines, schedules, transitions, and activities.

• Participating in groups, community meetings, and therapeutic programming as appropriate.

• Supporting clients with activities of daily living (ADLs) while promoting independence.

• Supporting clients during meals, hygiene routines, school activities, recreation, and community outings.

• Utilizing de-escalation, co-regulation, redirection, and crisis intervention techniques.

• Implementing individualized behavioral support plans under the direction of the clinical team.

• Maintaining awareness of client whereabouts and supervision requirements.

• Conducting routine safety and environmental checks.

• Transporting clients to medical appointments, community outings, or other approved activities as assigned.

• Assisting with room searches, contraband checks, belongings inventory, and safety procedures according to facility policy.

• Supporting clients during difficult emotional or behavioral situations while maintaining a calm, therapeutic presence.

• Collaborating closely with clinical assistants, therapists, case managers, providers, and leadership to ensure continuity of care.

Neurodivergent Client Support:

• Demonstrate understanding of autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing differences, developmental disabilities, and executive functioning challenges.

• Utilize neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed approaches when interacting with clients.

• Recognize sensory sensitivities and modify communication and environmental factors when appropriate.

• Support individualized coping strategies, visual supports, structured routines, and sensory regulation interventions.

• Promotes client dignity, autonomy, and strength-based care.

Team Responsibilities:

• Attend multidisciplinary meetings, trainings, and staff meetings.

• Maintain professional communication with families, guardians, providers, and team members.

• Demonstrates flexibility in assisting both nursing and direct care staff to meet client needs.

• Assists with orientation and mentoring of new staff as requested.

• Maintains required certifications and completes all mandatory education.

• Adheres to HIPAA, Joint Commission standards, licensing regulations, infection prevention protocols, and company policies.

• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Director of Nursing or leadership team.

KNOWLEDGE, QULIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS

• Knowledge of adolescent behavioral health and psychiatric nursing.

• Knowledge of psychotropic medications and medication management.

• Understanding trauma-informed and recovery-oriented care.

• Understanding neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders.

• Ability to maintain therapeutic boundaries while building rapport with adolescents.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to remain calm and professional during crisis situations.

• Ability to safely implement crisis prevention, de-escalation, and redirection without physical intervention.

• Ability to work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary treatment team.

• Strong organizational and documentation skills.

• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced residential environment.

• Basic computer proficiency and electronic medical record (EMR) experience.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE