Schedule
Full Time: Monday- Friday 6am-2pm, rotating Saturday 7am-2pm
Summary
The Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is responsible for the safe and accurate preparation, dispensing, administration, inventory, and documentation of medications for clients in the Opioid Treatment Program (OTP). The LPN performs all dispensing functions within the scope of LPN licensure and in compliance with THRIVE policies and procedures, authorized prescriber orders, OASAS requirements, applicable state and federal regulations, HIPAA, and 42 CFR Part 2.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Prepare, dispense, and administer methadone, buprenorphine products, Vivitrol, and other authorized medications in accordance with valid prescriber orders, THRIVE procedures, and applicable state and federal regulations.
- Verify each client’s identity, medication, dose, route, timing, and take-home authorization before dispensing or administration.
- Review the medication order and required documentation before dosing; clarify discrepancies with authorized nursing or medical staff before proceeding.
- Observe clients at the time of dosing for signs of intoxication, impairment, withdrawal, adverse reaction, or other conditions that may affect safe medication administration, and follow established hold and notification procedures.
- Accurately record every medication dispensed or administered in the electronic health record and all required medication logs.
- Complete daily inventory counts and reconciliation of methadone, buprenorphine products, and other controlled medications in accordance with all applicable requirements.
- Participate in the required monthly inventory review with the medical provider and assist with medication audits and inspections.
- Securely store, handle, prepare, dispense, administer, waste, inventory, and document all prescription and over-the-counter medications in accordance with THRIVE procedures and controlled-substance requirements.
- Prepare authorized take-home doses, labels, lists, and supporting documentation in accordance with approved schedules and program procedures.
- Maintain current backup take-home lists and labels to support manual dispensing during power outages or electronic health record downtime.
- Report medication discrepancies, dosing errors, documentation errors, spills, waste, loss, or suspected diversion immediately in accordance with THRIVE reporting procedures.
- Coordinate with authorized nursing and medical staff regarding new or changed medication orders, dose holds, missed doses, guest dosing, take-home status, and other dispensing-related concerns.
- Notify the medical provider when medication supplies need to be reordered, including when the RN Supervisor or other RN staff are unavailable.
- Respond to medication-related calls from clients, pharmacies, and authorized providers, and document the communication and action taken.
- Maintain complete and accurate medication records in accordance with THRIVE policy, OASAS requirements, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and other applicable laws and regulations.
- Maintain the dispensing area and nursing station in a clean, organized, secure, and operational condition, with required equipment and supplies available.
- Follow medication safety, infection-control, diversion-prevention, and emergency procedures during all dispensing activities.
- Provide emergency first aid and initiate the appropriate emergency response when an urgent medical issue occurs during medication dispensing.
- Maintain practice within the LPN scope of practice and complete required supervision, meetings, and training related to medication dispensing and OTP operations.
- Perform other medication-dispensing duties consistent with licensure, regulatory requirements, and program operations.
