Job Title
Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Patient Related
- Assist other health care members in providing patient specific education regarding adequacy measures.
- Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
- Evaluate and perform vascular access cannulation.
- Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders.
- Monitor patients' response to dialysis therapy.
- Obtain vital signs and prepare for treatment.
- Discontinue dialysis treatment and evaluate patient.
- Obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
- Perform and record pre and post dialysis evaluation, weight, and vital signs.
- Calculate and program dialysis machine settings.
- Ensure safety alarms are enabled.
- Document vital signs and treatment parameters.
- Report significant changes in patient condition.
- Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks.
- Evaluate patients' vascular access and report unusual findings.
- Obtain prescribed laboratory testing.
- Clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectant.
- Prepare, organize, and utilize supplies efficiently.
- Monitor patients performing self-care.
Staff Related
- Participate in recruitment and orientation of new clinical staff.
- Assist with clinical orientation and training of all appropriate staff.
- Deliver competency evaluations and audits.
- Collaborate with Clinical Manager and Education Coordinator.
- Provide developmental support to clinical and facility staff.
Education/Communication
- Partner with RN and IDT staff on facility water system integrity.
- Educate personnel on environmental integrity and safety.
- Ensure communication between clinical staff and management.
- Participate in creative educational programs for PCT staff.
- Collaborate in scheduling and implementation of training programs.
- Monitor processes in the delivery of patient care.
- Ensure compliance with organization business policies.
Record Keeping
- Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
- Enter treatment data accurately and timely.
- Review treatment sheets for completeness.
- Prepare initial patient chart for admission.
- Prepare and print lab requisitions.
- Collect, label, and store lab samples.
- Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate courier.
Infection Control
- Assist with facility QAI infection control audits.
- Monitor staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
- Reinforce new hire employee adherence to infection control policies.
- Support ongoing staff and patient engagement on infection control.
- Reinforce patient and staff adherence to infection control policies.
- Participate in education response to internal and external facility surveys.
- Reinforce infection control education of patients and families.
Transitional Care Unit
- Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis.
- Reinforce education and care related matters for new patients.
- Liaison with FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience.
- Assist in assuring patient understanding of home dialysis products.
- Set and perform treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit.
- Assist with coordination of transition to patient's modality choice.
- Assist with supply ordering and inventory for TCU.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
- Day to day work includes desk and personal computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians.
- The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community.
- The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels.
- The position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.
- The employee may occasionally be required to push and/or pull equipment, exerting up to 15 pounds of force.
- The employee may be required to lift and to lower solutions on a frequent basis of up to 30 lbs., and on an occasional lift basis up to 40 lbs., as high as 5 feet.
Education and Licenses
- High School diploma or G.E.D. required. Bachelor's degree preferred.
- Must have a valid PCT national certification or state specific certification.
- All appropriate state licensure, education, and training required.
- Demonstrated commitment to organization culture, values, and customer service standards.
- Attendance and active participation in all applicable preceptor training programs.
- Attends Fresenius and publicly offered skill-based training as assigned.
Experience and Required Skills
- At least five years of patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.
- Continued employment is dependent on successful completion of the organization dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Acknowledgement
I acknowledge that I have read and accepted this job description. I understand what is expected of me in this position, and I am able to perform the essential functions as outlined with or without reasonable accommodation. Furthermore, I understand that the duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. If I have any questions about duties and responsibilities not specified in this job description that I am asked to perform, I should discuss them with my immediate supervisor or my Human Resources representative.
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Addendum
Home Therapies Program (Not Home Assist)
This list pertains to tasks performed in the Home Therapies program under the direct supervision of the Home Therapies registered nurse (HT RN) and in compliance with state laws.
- May assist HT RN on Home Visit as directed.
- Reinforces PD/HHD patient education under supervision of HT Registered Nurse.
- Schedules and contacts patients regarding appointments.
- Weigh patient and obtain vital signs.
- Collect patient's treatment records and review for completion.
- Cleaning and prepping treatment room; preparing charts prior to clinic visit.
- Preparing lab tubes and requisitions & assisting with lab draw days both pre and post draw.
- Clerical duties as assigned.
- Set-up of the home hemodialysis machine and PD Cycler.
- Assist with exit site care when directed by HT RN.
- Warm dialysate solution when directed by the HT RN.
- Obtain home hemodialysis water and dialysate samples and process for testing.
- Creates and sends patient reminders.
- Prepare initial patient chart for admission.
- Maintains logs as directed and applicable.
- Support patient registration and use of connected health.
- Provide patient home support.
Inventory of Home Program
- Maintains par levels of home department supplies.
- Files home patient packing slips/invoices.
Inventory for Patients
- Assists patient with supply management and contacting customer service.
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