Float PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Sevierville, TN

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organization policies, procedures, and training and applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. Sets up and operates hemodialysis machines and helps maintain a safe, clean working environment. Supports the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), patient satisfaction, and process improvement activities. Provides direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments. Duties include welcoming patients, checking their wellbeing and vascular access, obtaining weights and vital signs, cannulating access and administering heparin when delegated or permitted, setting up and initiating prescribed treatments, monitoring patients and equipment, responding to treatment issues as directed, discontinuing treatments, and documenting care. Reports significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment records, preparing patient charts and requisitions, cleaning and disinfecting equipment and treatment areas, supporting infection-control practices, and assisting with staff and patient education. In the Transitional Care Unit, the position follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and assists with equipment setup, supplies, and inventory. The work involves desk and computer tasks as well as direct patient interaction. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. Physical duties include frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting patients with lifting and ambulation, and lifting solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally. Assistance or devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on successful completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient lifting and ambulation, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist with patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate and under applicable supervision.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including initial patient identification and vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks; monitor responses to therapy and report changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Evaluate and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, document interventions, and record patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatments according to procedures, assess patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures; intervene as appropriate, document, and report unusual findings.
Record accurate and timely treatment parameters and patient information on treatment sheets and in clinical applications; complete applicable progress notes.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with the appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm tests, including Pressure Holding Tests (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under direction as permitted by state law.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, and liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduled multidisciplinary visits.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions to the patient's chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.