WIC LVN/Certifying Authority

About the position

The WIC LVN/Certifying Authority position involves performing nursing duties and clerical activities in a busy office environment. The role includes determining eligibility for potential participants, conducting screenings, providing nutritional counseling, and ensuring compliance with health policies. The employee will also participate in out-of-town clinics and may work occasional evenings and weekends, with a preference for bilingual (English/Spanish) communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Accurately document all time worked.
• Report directly to WIC Program Administrator.
• Provide WIC services in a professional and courteous manner.
• Smile, greet clients, explain procedures, and answer questions.
• Answer telephone calls, schedule and verify appointments, and file paperwork when necessary.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge of WIC program policies and procedures, including pertinent laws and regulations.
• Adhere to Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) policies and procedures.
• Adhere to Victoria County (County) policies and procedures.
• Adhere to Victoria WIC Program (Local) policies and procedures.
• Act as team leader of a team consisting of self and two clerks.
• Act as Clinic Supervisor when assigned.
• Solve problems with other team members.
• Maintain order and continuous flow of participants in WIC clinics.
• Approve rescheduling of appointments for participants.
• Screen income and residency to assess eligibility for applicants using WIC policies and procedures.
• Maintain knowledge of HHSC and WIC Immunization policies and procedures.
• Screen/review immunization records to determine immunization status.
• Request and document dietary recalls/history and perform diet recall assessment when necessary.
• Obtain, document, and graph anthropometric measurements and BMI following State policies and procedures.
• Perform hemoglobin procedures to obtain hemoglobin values and assess nutrition status.
• Obtain and document all pertinent medical history and medical conditions that apply to client.
• Counsel participants on nutrition and breastfeeding education.
• Assess and issue appropriate nutritional risk codes to qualify clients during certification.
• Select and issue appropriate WIC food packages and nutrition education codes.
• Ensure accuracy and completion of all participant charts.
• Aide other staff with weighing and measuring of participants when necessary.
• Follow referral program guidelines for high-risk clients for nutrition counseling.
• Refer to appropriate agencies/programs to benefit the participant.
• Comply with the provisions of current Texas Family Code, related Texas Administrative Code, and any local governmental Orders or Ordinances concerning the reporting of suspected child abuse.
• Conduct nutrition education and breastfeeding classes for program participants.
• Process a non-contract formula request following State and Local policies and procedures.
• Correspond with prescriptive authority for appropriate non-contract formula approvals.
• Balance scales and check hemoglobin photometers daily.
• Calibrate scales and hemoglobin photometers monthly.
• Participate in nutrition and breastfeeding education trainings to keep up to date of current advances.
• Complete HHSC-WIC Breastfeeding Training Classes- Lactation Principles and Advanced Lactation Management.
• Perform breast pump issuance, inventory control, retrieval, basic troubleshooting, assembly, use, and cleaning.
• Train clients on use of multi-user, single-user, and manual expression pumps.
• Assess and resolve short-term breastfeeding concerns and other special circumstances as deemed necessary when counseling clients.
• Convey and document employee and participant accidents and grievances to WIC Program Administrator or designee.
• Clarify any questions by clerical staff.
• Make recommendations for program improvement.
• Report any abuse of WIC property and violations of policy or codes encompassing WIC and/or Victoria County.
• Promote nutrition through participation in community activities such as health fairs and presentations for community agencies.
• Support and promote breastfeeding activities.
• Cross train to perform issuance of benefits.
• Translate for other CAs when counseling non-English speaking participants.
• Travel and work in other out-of-town WIC clinic sites as deemed necessary.
• Drive WIC vehicle to out-of-town clinic sites.
• Assist in loading and unloading clinic supplies into WIC van.
• Assist in setting up work area at out-of-town clinic sites.
• Assist with breakdown and cleaning of out-of-town clinic sites.
• Comply with VCPHD Immunization Policy and current Texas HHSC Immunization Guidelines as well as maintain current immunization record.
• Have no vested financial interest in WIC.
• Maintain absolute client confidentiality, and breach of such is grounds for immediate termination.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• One year of full-time paid employment as a practicing Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN).
• Valid Texas Driver's License.
• Current, unrestricted license as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) by the Texas Board of Nurse Examiners.

Nice-to-haves

• Bilingual communication (English/Spanish) is preferred.