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Vocational Nurse

UCI Series Concepts

Class Specifications - H.15
Senior Vocational Nurse - 8916
Vocational Nurse - 8917
Per Diem Vocational Nurse - 8918

November, 1980

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SERIES CONCEPT

Vocational Nurses perform a wide variety of patient care activities 
under the direction of appropriate registered nursing personnel.  They 
perform assigned nursing procedures for the safety, comfort and 
well-being of patients such as observing, recording and reporting to the 
appropriate Registered Nurse the physical and mental condition of the 
patients and changes in condition, e.g., cyanosis and state of 
consciousness.  Nursing procedures include administering drugs, observing 
and recording reactions; performing prescribed procedures such as 
enemas, douches, irrigations, hot and cold applications and changing 
dressings; assisting physicians with examinations and treatments, 
participating in team conferences, bathing and feeding patients, making 
beds, helping patients into and out of bed and assisting them in 
ambulatory activities; and taking of patients' temperature, blood 
pressure, pulse and respiration, and recording results on patients' 
charts.  Incumbents collect specimens such as sputum and urine in 
containers, label, and send them to the laboratory for analysis; carry 
out aseptic techniques; care for prostheses and/or self-help devices; 
perform tracheostomy and ostomy care; administer oxygen and initiate 
resuscitative measures; and perform suctioning and gastric feeding 
procedures.

Incumbents may administer intermuscular or oral medications only on 
written orders; may hang and monitor I.V.'s according to policy; may 
maintain accurate and complete records of nursing care; and perform 
other related duties as required.

                         CLASS CONCEPTS

Senior Vocational Nurse

Under general supervision, incumbents perform on a regular basis the 
full range of duties outlined in the series concept, working 
cooperatively with all members of the nursing team.  The incumbents may 
in addition be assigned to special units such as ICU'S, outpatient 
clinics, or operating rooms, or may be assigned to difficult cases 
requiring a thorough background of experience and education and 
exercising of some independent judgment.

Vocational Nurse

Under supervision, incumbents perform the majority of duties as outlined 
in the series concept.

Per Diem Vocational Nurse

Incumbents are employed for a temporary period of time to provide 
private care for an individual patient or to supplement the regular 
vocational nursing staff in emergency situations.  When so employed, 
incumbents perform the majority of duties as outlined in the series 
concept.

                       MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Incumbents for positions included in the Vocational Nurse series are 
expected to have a license issued by the State of California Board of 
Vocational Nurse Examiners; and possess the skills, knowledges, and 
abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties 
assigned to the position.

Note: Specific qualification requirements are defined for positions by 
      the appropriate user departments.

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