Apheresis Specialist-LPN

Ochsner Health•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

This job performs functions related to the collection of human blood and apheresis donors, component preparation, and hemotherapy. It performs quality control of solutions and equipment and is responsible for quality assessment audits, chart reviews, and QA reports. The role instructs students and new personnel, performs related administrative duties, maintains donor and patient confidentiality, and assumes team leader responsibilities overseeing fixed-site or mobile collection functions as needed. It oversees donor reaction care by staff, handles emergent reaction care, and ensures donor reaction documentation and follow-up are completed. The position provides skilled nursing care to donors and patients undergoing treatment, recognizes changes in their conditions, and performs procedures according to standard operating procedures (SOPs). It maintains regulatory compliance, completes quality control and preventive maintenance, explains procedures to customers, and adapts communication and care to the patient population. The role requires a current Louisiana LPN license, Basic Life Support certification, and five years of apheresis experience. The work is performed in a patient-care environment with routine exposure to blood, body fluids, tissue, potentially infectious specimens, and possible exposure to hazardous medications or waste. It requires medium physical work, prolonged standing, travel between facilities, and a flexible schedule that may include 24/7 availability, weekends, holidays, and on-call work.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of Practical Nursing.
Five years of apheresis experience.
Experience performing blood pressure, temperature, pulse, hemoglobin, and hematocrit determinations according to Standard Operating Procedures.
Current State of Louisiana LPN licensure.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
Computer skills and dexterity for data entry and retrieval of patient information.
Proficiency with Windows-style applications and keyboard use.
Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and professionally to people at varying levels throughout the patient care process.
Good judgment in performing duties and resolving conflicts.
Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology, geology, chemistry, mathematics, hematology, and blood banking.
Ability to exert 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, 10 to 25 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly.
Ability to stoop, bend, reach, grab, use manual dexterity, stand for prolonged periods, and travel throughout and between facilities.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, potentially including 24/7 availability, weekends, holidays, and on-call availability.

Responsibilities

Collect human blood and apheresis donations and perform component preparation and hemotherapy functions.
Perform quality control of solutions and equipment, quality assessment audits, chart reviews, and QA reports.
Instruct students and new personnel and perform related administrative duties.
Maintain donor and patient confidentiality.
Oversee fixed-site or mobile collection functions as needed and assume team leader responsibilities.
Oversee donor reaction care by staff, handle emergent reactions, and ensure reaction documentation and follow-up are completed.
Provide skilled nursing care to donors and patients undergoing treatment, recognize changes in their conditions, and perform procedures according to SOPs.
Complete assigned work within agreed time frames and organize tasks and documentation so work steps can be followed and traced.
Maintain adequate supplies and assist with equipment setup, breakdown, and maintenance.
Maintain awareness of applicable AABB, FDA, CAP, JCAHO, and OSHA standards and guidelines; accurately perform and document assigned quality control and preventive maintenance according to SOPs and schedules.
Explain procedures to customers and adapt care and communication to individual patient needs, privacy, permissions, and communication style.
Complete annual competency requirements and education assignments.
Remain knowledgeable about applicable laws, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements and ensure compliance.
Report known or suspected unethical conduct and patient, employee, privacy, or other compliance-related concerns.