Licensed Vocational Nurse (Safety)
California State Personnel Board Specification
Schematic Code: TL80
Class Code: 8274
Established: 08/01/2000*
Revised: 07/10/2006*
Title Changed: --
Definition
Under clinical direction of a registered nurse or physician and under assigned administrative supervision at a State developmental center, State hospital/facility, or correctional facility, in a program providing care to forensic clients, patients, or inmates; provides a basic level of general nursing care to forensic clients, patients, or inmates with mental, emotional, or developmental disabilities, or visually impaired, medically ill, or infirm forensic clients, patients, or inmates; and does other related work.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This class is distinguished from the Licensed Vocational Nurse and the Licensed Vocational Nurse, Departments of Mental Health and Developmental Services, by the custody requirements imposed by the criminal nature of the forensic client, patient, or inmate population and the security features of the facility.
Typical Tasks
May perform nursing procedures as regulated by licensure and certification such as: administering medications by any route except intravenous and intrathecal; performing treatment and procedures including passage of nasogastric tubes, administration of enteral feedings, monitoring of blood glucose, urinary catheterization, and administration of enemas; maintaining infection control by using universal precautions; collecting and documenting in the interdisciplinary notes data such as vital signs, forensic client/patient/inmate behavior, forensic client/patient/inmate response to medications, nursing care, and treatment plan; documenting significant changes in forensic client's/patient's/inmate's behavior and health status in the interdisciplinary notes and reporting those significant changes to both a registered nurse or physician and the assigned supervisor; demonstrating competent and safe utilization of unit and hospital emergency care equipment and techniques; participating as part of the treatment team with other disciplines by contributing to the overall treatment program for the forensic client/patient/inmate; participating in forensic client/patient/inmate activities including unit routines and specific group activities, as outlined in nursing care plans/Individual Program Plans; using therapeutic nursing interventions and modalities to assist forensic client/patient/inmate in regaining and improving their physical adaptive skills and decreasing maladaptive behavior; assisting rehabilitation therapists in occupational, recreational, and industrial therapy programs for forensic clients/patients/inmates; motivating and assisting forensic clients/patients/inmates to develop self-reliance in activities of daily living; escorting forensic clients/patients/inmates to intramural or extramural medical, health, or other community services; demonstrating awareness of forensic client/patient/inmate rights and the potential for forensic client/patient/inmate abuse; promptly reporting any adverse behavior, forensic client/patient/inmate abuse, or suspected abuse by staff; and observing and intervening in instances of disruptive or assaultive behavior.
Assists staff in the counting, distribution, and accounting for all utensils to prevent their use as weapons; inspecting forensic clients', patients', or inmates' mail and living areas for hazardous contraband; inspecting facility to identify security breaches that could lead to forensic client, patient, or inmate escape; observing and intervening in forensic client, patient, or inmate behavior that may signal an impending escape attempt; and escorting forensic clients, patients, or inmates to other areas of the facility.
Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a valid, active license from the State of California to practice as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Fundamentals of nursing care, including medication administration; general nursing procedures and techniques involved in the forensic client/patient/inmate care; principles used in caring for individuals who are immobile; medical terminology; and general hospital/facility routine and equipment.
Ability to: Perform nursing procedures as regulated by licensure and certification; observe and document symptoms and behavior; maintain records and prepare reports; gain the interest, respect, and cooperation of forensic clients/patients/inmates; work effectively with forensic clients/patients/inmates and the interdisciplinary treatment team; function effectively in an emergency situation; and practice universal precautions.
Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to work at State developmental centers, State hospitals/facilities, or correctional facilities; demonstrated leadership ability; aptitude for working with forensic clients, patients, or inmates who are acutely ill, infirm, visually impaired, have an emotional disorder, or who are mentally or developmentally disordered offenders; and demonstrate emotional stability, patience, tact, and alertness.
Special Physical Characteristics
Incumbents must possess and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful and emergency situations encountered on the job without endangering their own health and well-being or that of their fellow employees, forensic clients, patients, inmates, or the public.
Drug Testing Requirement
Applicants for positions in this class are required to pass a drug- screening test. (The drug-screening test will be waived for employees who are currently in a designated "sensitive" class for which drug testing is required under State Personnel Board Rule 213.)
* Note: This was adopted as an SPB Staff Item.
