Acute Inpatient Apheresis Registered Nurse - RN - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Louisville, KY

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, FMCNA 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, LDL apheresis, and therapeutic phlebotomy. The nurse works 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, performs scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency apheresis and other extracorporeal therapies, and prioritizes care according to patient needs. Responsibilities include initiating, monitoring, and discontinuing treatments and medications; assessing patients before, during, and after treatment; responding to complications; documenting care; and communicating with physicians, hospital personnel, managers, patients, and families. The role also includes preparing and maintaining equipment and supplies, performing safety and alarm tests, assisting with inventory control, completing training and quality activities, and supporting other staff. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations, plus participation in an on-call rotation that includes days, nights, weekends, and holidays. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Direct patient care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients or equipment weighing more than 200 pounds with mechanical assistance. The employee must take the Ishihara color blindness test; failing it does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered. No supervisory responsibility is specified.

Requirements

Current appropriate state licensure and ability to meet 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 patient assessment skills related to critically ill patients.
Organizational and time-management skills and competency in completing continuing and ongoing apheresis education.
Leadership skills and ability to direct and supervise others, such as technical and clerical staff.
Valid driver's license.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and locations within the community.
Ability to participate in an on-call rotation that includes nights, days, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting and moving patients or equipment over 200 pounds with mechanical assistance.
Must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care for assigned patients in hospital or outpatient settings across apheresis and other extracorporeal treatment modalities.
Perform scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency apheresis treatments and other extracorporeal therapies, establishing priority of care.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue prescribed treatments and medications according to established policies and procedures.
Assess patients before, during, and after treatment; monitor responses, identify complications, and make adjustments to treatment plans as indicated by an appropriately credentialed physician.
Communicate problems, concerns, adverse reactions, and unusual incidents to the appropriate managers, physicians, hospital personnel, and blood suppliers.
Implement physician orders and document treatment information and patient responses in the patient and hospital records as needed.
Provide organized shift reports and use patient schedules to prioritize critical care needs and ensure adequate treatment coverage.
Travel between assigned facilities and other locations as necessary to provide treatment coverage.
Maintain a safe environment by following infection-control precautions and assisting with patient evacuation during emergencies, fire, or disaster.
Prepare for apheresis treatments and collections; set up, monitor, and discontinue apheresis equipment, blood warmers, and related equipment.
Perform required equipment safety and alarm testing, calibration, functional testing, disinfection, and maintenance documentation.
Clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Manage and maintain supplies and inventory according to company, department, manufacturer, and regulatory requirements; report equipment or supply problems.
Complete ongoing quality assessment and improvement activities, mandatory continuing education, staff training, and orientation as assigned.
Act as a resource for other staff and communicate effectively with physicians, supervisors, hospital staff, coworkers, patients, and families.
Identify and use opportunities to educate patients and families according to their needs.
Comply with the Code of Business Conduct, applicable company policies, and local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
Assist with projects assigned by the direct supervisor and perform other duties as assigned.