Home Therapies RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Morristown, TN

About The Position

The Home Therapies RN CAP 1 is an entry-level designation in the Clinical Advancement Program (CAP). The registered professional nurse is accountable for providing and coordinating clinically competent care—including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation—for an assigned group of patients. The nurse assesses and manages patients’ responses to home dialysis training and treatment according to prescribed protocols and communicates patient-related issues to the physician as needed. As a member of the End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) health care team, the nurse participates in decision-making, teaching, leadership functions, and quality improvement activities that support patient outcomes and facility operations. Duties are performed in accordance with Fresenius Kidney Care policies, procedures, nursing practice standards, and applicable state and federal regulations. The nurse works under a Supervisor’s direction, with guidance from an Educator or Preceptor, or in collaboration with another Registered Nurse. The role includes patient and family education, coordination of dialysis treatment, medication administration, documentation, emergency response, training, laboratory procedures, and collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team. The nurse also helps identify and prepare patients and Home Partners for home dialysis and trains them in the safe operation and maintenance of equipment and supplies. CAP requirements must be completed to advance. The position involves direct patient care and may require heavy lifting, moving equipment and patients, prolonged standing, bending, and assisted movement of machines and equipment. The work takes place in a health care facility and may also occur in patient homes or other locations. The role may involve exposure to infectious materials, travel, and rotating on-call coverage, including night, weekend, and holiday coverage as program needs require.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current appropriate state licensure.
Current or successful completion of CPR BLS Certification.
Must meet the practice requirements in the state of employment.
Entry-level role for Registered Nurses with less than 2 years of Nephrology Nursing experience as a Registered Nurse.
Must complete CAP requirements to advance.
For assigned oversight of LPNs/LVNs, RNs, Patient Care Technicians, and Home Therapy Care Team Assistants as a Team Leader or designated Nurse in charge: complete all FKC education and training requirements for new employees, have at least 12 months of RN experience, and complete 3 months of RN experience in home peritoneal dialysis and/or hemodialysis.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting, moving equipment and patients, and assisting with ambulation; frequent prolonged standing and bending; occasionally moving machines and equipment up to 200 lbs. with assistance; and lifting chemical and water solutions up to 30 lbs. to a height of 5 feet.
May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.
May be required to travel to training sites, other facilities, or patient homes.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of 1 year of experience as a Registered Nurse (preferred).
Home dialysis therapy experience (preferred).

Responsibilities

Perform essential functions under the direction of the Supervisor, with guidance from an Educator or Preceptor, or in collaboration with another Registered Nurse.
Collect and analyze dialysis data for assigned patients, document it in the medical record, modify treatment plans as indicated, and notify the Supervisor or physician as needed.
Assess, collaborate on, and document patient and family learning needs, and provide initial and ongoing education.
Coordinate and provide safe and effective dialysis therapy in collaboration with the patient, Home Care Partner, and direct and ancillary patient care staff.
Administer prescribed medications or medications under approved algorithms, and document medical justification and effectiveness.
Initiate or assist with emergency response measures.
Serve as a resource for the health care team and participate in staff training and orientation of new staff as assigned.
Ensure correct laboratory collection, processing, and shipping procedures, and reschedule missed or insufficient collections.
Identify expected outcomes and document and update nursing assessments and plans of care in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team.
Ensure patients are aware of transplant and treatment modality options.
Assist in identifying, evaluating, selecting, and educating Home Dialysis candidates and Home Partners.
Assess barriers in a Home Dialysis candidate’s home environment and assess partner or family readiness and ability to perform treatments at home.
Train Home Dialysis patients and/or Home Partners in the safe and effective operation and maintenance of Home Dialysis equipment and treatment supplies through a formal training program.
Complete CAP requirements to advance.
Perform other duties assigned by the Supervisor.
Rotate coverage with other licensed home therapies staff as assigned.
Participate in the on-call rotation and provide coverage at night, on weekends, holidays, or as otherwise defined by program needs.
Travel to training sites, other facilities, or patient homes as required.