Acute Inpatient Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Jackson, MS

About The Position

The Inpatient Registered Nurse provides direct patient care in accordance with company policies and procedures, FMCNA compliance programs, and the policies and procedures of contracted hospitals. The role supports inpatient renal replacement and apheresis services and may involve hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, apheresis, and ultrafiltration. The RN partners with hospital teams to deliver quality care and a positive patient experience. The nurse provides and coordinates care for assigned patients, assesses their responses to treatment, and adjusts care plans as directed by appropriately credentialed physicians. The role includes communicating with physicians, hospital staff, patients’ primary nurses, and company personnel; supervising and educating Patient Care Technicians and clerical staff; and providing ICU staff direction and education for CRRT. The RN also prepares, operates, tests, cleans, and disinfects dialysis and related equipment; documents care in patient and hospital records; participates in quality activities, meetings, and training; and may provide in-center patient care as needed. This position requires travel between assigned hospitals and facilities and to regional meetings or educational events. It includes an on-call rotation covering days, nights, weekends, and holidays, and may involve exposure to infectious materials and contagious diseases. Direct patient care regularly involves moving patients or equipment weighing more than 200 pounds with assistance, and lifting chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to heights of up to five feet. Employees must take the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

Current appropriate state licensure and compliance with practice requirements in the state of employment.
At least one year of RN experience and required nursing skills.
At least six months of nephrology experience before working independently without another Dialysis RN to provide dialysis and ultrafiltration services.
At least six months of nephrology experience before working independently without another Apheresis RN to provide apheresis services.
Demonstrated strong assessment skills related to critically ill patients.
Successful completion of a training course in the theory and practice of care of the ESRD patient, identified as Progressive Renal Education Preparation.
BLS CPR recognition.
Successful completion of Nurses Technical Training.
Organizational and time-management skills and commitment to continuing renal/nephrology education.
Leadership skills and ability to direct and supervise others, including PCTs, CCHTs, and clerical staff.
Ability to travel between assigned hospitals and facilities and to regional meetings or educational events.
Availability for an on-call rotation that includes days, nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving moving patients or equipment weighing more than 200 pounds with assistance, and lifting chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to heights of up to five feet.
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 Nephrology Nursing, Apheresis Nursing, or both is highly encouraged.
ICU experience is preferred but not required.
ACLS CPR recognition is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Provide direct inpatient patient care across hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, ultrafiltration, continuous renal replacement therapy, and apheresis modalities, as assigned and prescribed.
Assess patients’ responses to treatment and make appropriate adjustments to treatment plans as directed by an appropriately credentialed physician.
Communicate patient problems or concerns to the Inpatient Program Manager, physicians, hospital primary nurses, and other appropriate personnel.
Deliver safe, effective, timely, and efficient care.
Provide organized shift reports and adjust patient schedules to address the needs of more critical patients based on laboratory results, physician orders, or patient assessments.
Implement, administer, monitor, and document prescribed intradialytic transfusions, including notifying the physician and blood supplier of adverse reactions.
Collaborate with physicians and other healthcare team members to coordinate and ensure continuity of daily patient care.
Provide supervision and direction to Patient Care Technicians and clerical staff, and provide ICU staff with direction and education regarding CRRT.
Initiate and communicate with FMS facility nursing staff and appropriate hospital personnel as needed.
Accurately document treatment information in the ACES patient record and hospital record as needed.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct required pre-treatment machine alarm tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System when applicable.
Operate related equipment safely, perform minor troubleshooting, and use supplies efficiently to prevent waste.
Conduct and document dialysis and apheresis machine safety and alarm tests, equipment calibration, dialysate testing, functional testing, and internal and external disinfection of water and dialysis machines; follow FMS documentation and notification standards.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to inpatient renal services policies and procedures.
Complete and document ongoing participation in QAI activities.
Participate in scheduled staff meetings and assigned staff training and orientation.
Serve as a subject matter expert to hospital staff regarding dialysis-related patient and equipment complications.
Report new or unusual incidents, information, complaints, or problems to the inpatient manager and other parties as required by Adverse Event Report requirements.
Provide in-center patient care when assigned as needed.
Review and comply with the Code of Business Conduct, company policies and procedures, and applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
Assist with projects assigned by the direct supervisor and perform other duties as assigned.