Nursing

Description

Jobs in this family perform nursing services that affect patient care and are accountable for the health maintenance/restoration, health promotion, disease prevention, and the quality of care delivered.

Typical functions

The functions within this job family will vary by level, but may include the following:

  • Administer medications and other prescribed treatments.
  • Take vital signs.
  • Assist with care plan activities.
  • Observe and record patient conditions.
  • Review medical records/charts.
  • Plan, develop, evaluate, and/or monitor nursing and/or public health programs, services, and contracts.

Positions allocated to this series may perform the duties described, or specialize in areas of public health, infection control, quality assurance, employee health, billing compliance, facility surveying, or other specialty. The work assigned to positions in this series ranges from administering medications and taking vital signs to directing a total nursing program.

Licensed Practical Nurse

This is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) position accountable for administering medication and other prescribed treatments; taking vital signs; assisting with care plan activities; observing and reporting patient conditions and behaviors; and participating in rehabilitation, ambulation, and transfers. LPN’s oversee the work of nursing assistants; communicate with doctors, patients, and families; and educate patients on care. May transport clients to offsite appointments and apply restraints when necessary.

 

Knowledge, skills & abilities

Knowledge of current nursing theory, practices, and techniques. Skill in applying practical nursing principles in the care of persons with physical or mental illness, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, and/or the geriatric population. Ability to work assigned schedule which may include a variety of shifts, weekends, holidays, and/or required overtime.

Typical qualifications

Licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Pay grade
N1

Senior Licensed Practical Nurse

This is an advanced LPN position accountable for administering medication and other prescribed treatments; taking vital signs; assisting with care plan activities; observing and reporting patient conditions and behaviors; and participating in rehabilitation, ambulation, and transfers. May supervise and delegate work to lower-level LPN’s, nursing assistants, and other patient care staff. Communicates with doctors, patients, and families, and educates patients on care.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous level: Knowledge of the general principles of supervision and unit operations. Ability to function in situations requiring a high level of practical nursing skill.

Typical qualifications

Licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse and 2 or more years of experience.

Pay grade
N2

Registered Nurse

This is a professional registered nurse (RN) position accountable for serving as a member of the medical treatment team. RN’s are accountable for reviewing medical records, observing the provision of medical care provided to patients by facility staff, coordinating assessments from other disciplines, incident reporting and investigation, and discharge planning in a hospital setting.  Incumbents oversee and review the work and documentation of LPNs, nurse assistants, and other technical personnel. RN’s may provide public health services to members of a community such as assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation, and/or case management; or may oversee other RN’s on a shift.  Some positions may specialize in quality improvement activities such as analyzing data and trends of specific health indicators to recommend measures for improvement.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous levels: Knowledge of current professional nursing theory, practices, and standards. Ability to administer detailed therapeutic prescriptions under general professional supervision. Ability to supervise, evaluate, and instruct professional and paraprofessional nursing staff.

Typical qualifications

Licensure as a Registered Nurse and 0-3 years of experience as a registered nurse.

(A recent graduate of an accredited nursing program may practice as a graduate nurse until results of first licensure examination are received or until 90 days after graduation, whichever occurs first.)

Pay grade
N3

Registered Nurse Specialist/ Supervisor

This is an advanced specialized and/or supervisory registered nurse position.  Supervisors are accountable for directing nursing services, which includes oversight/review of work and documentation of subordinate and/or specialist personnel. Supervises, plans, and schedules the delivery of nursing services to several units and wards in a hospital setting. Assumes responsibility for carrying out several nursing programs in a public health setting.

For specialist positions at this level: Directly involved in the development and implementation of one or more highly specialized nursing programs, such as infection control, quality control, employee health, billing compliance, health facility surveying, or other specialty.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous levels:  Knowledge of a specialized area of professional nursing including related theory, practices, and standards. Ability to conduct nursing assessments, develop nursing diagnoses, and formulate short and long-term objectives and treatment plans.  Ability to administer detailed therapeutic prescriptions and nursing interventions. Ability to implement and coordinate a specialized facility-wide or geographical regional nursing program, and serve as a consultant for the area of expertise.

Typical qualifications

Licensure as a Registered Nurse and 2-4 years of experience as a registered nurse.

Pay grade
N4

Nurse Manager

This is a managerial nurse position accountable for directing nursing services, which includes oversight/review of work and documentation of subordinate and/or specialist personnel. Accountable for directing subordinates in coordinating care for patients and administering nursing programs or overseeing educational requirements and disciplinary actions for nurses licensed by the State. Directs nursing services and oversees other health services in a public health program.  The Nurse Manager is a highly functional member of a multidisciplinary team providing direct care in a hospital setting or directs nursing and health services in a public health program.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous levels: Knowledge of management principles and techniques as applied to nursing administration. Ability to maintain clinical and administrative records and prepare related reports.

Typical qualifications

Licensure as a Registered Nurse, 3-5 years of experience as a registered nurse, and 2-4 years of supervisory registered nurse experience.

Pay grade
N5

Director of Nursing

This is a top-level administrative nurse position accountable for coordinating and managing the establishment of major plans, task assignments, and allocation of staffing to support and ensure conformance with specified objectives and policies. Directs the total nursing program for a large hospital or institution, typically as a Director of Nursing or Chief Nursing Officer, or may direct nursing services for a state agency or division, or direct a statewide public health nursing program. Develops vision and strategic direction; designs and executes plans of action for patient care processes, organizational culture, and nursing operations. 

Knowledge, skills & abilities

In addition to those identified in the previous levels: Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate facility-wide, division-wide, or agency nursing services.

Typical qualifications

Licensure as a Registered Nurse, 3-5 (or more) years of experience as a Registered Nurse, and 2-4 years of experience as a nurse manager.

Pay grade
N6