FUNCTION OF WORK:
To provide professional nursing care to groups of patients in a variety of patient situations.

LEVEL OF WORK:
Full performance.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
General from a Registered Nurse of a higher level.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:
Functional over nurses of lower level and paraprofessional personnel.

LOCATION OF WORK:
Health Care Facilities; Statewide.

JOB DISTINCTIONS:
Differs from Registered Nurse 1 by the presence of full performance level duties and the absence of close supervision.

Differs from Registered Nurse 3 by absence of advanced performance level duties and the responsibility for serving as leadworker.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Performs, without assistance, professional nurse duties, i.e., I.V. meds., parenteral nutrition, central line therapy, administration of blood and blood components.

Develops and implements nursing care plans.

Participates in patient and family health teaching and discharge planning.

Participates in ongoing education and training for paraprofessional staff.

May perform functional supervisory duties, give and receive change of shift report, assign assistants and Practical Nurses to work areas and to specific patients.

Intervenes in emergency situations as needed.

Makes nursing assessments, identifies problems and selects appropriate nursing interventions.
May counsel with patients in a formal therapy setting or on an
informal basis and may maintain own patient case load.

Provides nursing service and supportive counseling to stable caseloads, i.e. aftercare groups, medication maintenance groups, etc.

Acquires and develops skills related to community mental health nursing, e.g., initial interview and assessment of patient, development of treatment plans with other professional staff.

Conducts medication treatment maintenance and resocialization groups.

Performs all nursing duties required of professional nurse of a lower level.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Possession of a valid Louisiana license or temporary permit to practice professional nursing plus one year of professional nursing experience.

SUBSTITUTIONS:
A baccalaureate degree in nursing may be substituted for the one year of experience.