Acute Inpatient Apheresis Registered Nurse - RN - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Louisville, KY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Apheresis Registered Nurse spends 80% or more of their time providing direct patient care through apheresis treatments in accordance with company policies, compliance programs, and contracted hospitals’ policies and procedures. The role covers a range of therapeutic and donor procedures, including therapeutic plasma exchange, red blood cell exchange and depletion, platelet and white blood cell depletions, peripheral blood stem cell and white blood cell collections, photopheresis, low-density lipoprotein apheresis, and therapeutic phlebotomy. The nurse partners with hospitals or outpatient facilities to provide quality care and a positive patient experience. Under limited supervision, the nurse provides care in hospital or outpatient settings, prioritizes scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency treatments, initiates and monitors prescribed treatments, evaluates patient responses, documents care, and communicates concerns to physicians, managers, hospital personnel, and others as indicated. The position also involves equipment preparation and maintenance, supply and inventory management, patient and family education, staff support, and participation in quality and continuing education activities. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and other community locations, and may require travel outside the regional area to support treatment coverage. On-call rotation includes nights, days, weekends, and holidays. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting or moving patients or equipment weighing more than 200 pounds with mechanical assistance.

Requirements

Current appropriate state licensure and compliance with practice requirements in the state of employment.
At least one year of RN experience.
Successful completion of a competency training course in the theory and practice of therapeutic apheresis and related procedures.
BLS CPR recognition.
Strong assessment skills related to critically ill patients.
Organizational and time-management skills, and competency in completing continuing and ongoing apheresis education.
Leadership skills and the ability to direct and supervise others, such as technical and clerical staff.
Valid driver’s license.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including regularly lifting or moving patients or equipment weighing more than 200 pounds with mechanical assistance.
Ability to take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to participate in an on-call rotation covering nights, days, weekends, and holidays, and to travel between assigned facilities and community locations.

Nice To Haves

Certification in Apheresis Nursing is highly encouraged.
One year of experience in apheresis or ICU, CCU, or ED is preferred.
Peripheral vein cannulation abilities are preferred.
ACLS CPR recognition is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care and perform prescribed therapeutic and donor apheresis procedures and related extracorporeal therapies.
Perform scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency treatments, establish priorities of care, and initiate, monitor, and discontinue treatments and medications according to policy.
Assess patients before, during, and after treatment; evaluate responses, identify complications, adjust care as indicated by the appropriately credentialed physician, and notify appropriate personnel of concerns or adverse reactions.
Document treatment information and patient responses in the patient and hospital records, and report incidents, complaints, and problems according to applicable reporting requirements.
Provide organized shift reports and use clinical judgment to prioritize patient schedules based on acuity, laboratory results, physician orders, access, replacement products, and patient assessment.
Coordinate scheduling to ensure coverage of treatments and customer needs; travel between facilities and outside the regional area as necessary to provide coverage.
Maintain a safe environment by following infection control precautions and assisting with patient evacuation during emergencies, fires, or disasters.
Prepare, set up, operate, monitor, clean, disinfect, and discontinue apheresis machines and related equipment in accordance with procedures and policies.
Perform and document equipment alarm and safety testing, calibration, functional testing, maintenance checks, and internal and external disinfection; report equipment or supply problems to repair personnel.
Manage and document inventory and supplies efficiently and in accordance with company policy, manufacturer recommendations, and regulatory guidelines.
Complete required training and continuing education, maintain knowledge of therapeutic apheresis advancements, and participate in quality assurance and improvement activities.
Act as a resource for staff, participate in meetings and staff training or orientation, and communicate effectively with physicians, hospital staff, coworkers, patients, and families.
Identify opportunities for patient and family education and provide education specific to their needs.
Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with the Code of Business Conduct, company policies, and applicable laws and regulations.
Assist with projects assigned by the direct supervisor and perform other duties as assigned.