Inpatient Registered Nurse - RN - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care • Columbia, MD

3d

About The Position

The Inpatient Registered Nurse provides direct patient care in accordance with company policies and procedures, including compliance programs and contracted hospitals’ policies. The role serves hospitalized patients requiring renal replacement and apheresis services across modalities including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), ultrafiltration, and apheresis. The nurse partners with hospital staff to deliver quality care and a positive patient experience.

Under limited supervision, the nurse assesses patients, administers prescribed treatments, monitors treatment response, and makes appropriate adjustments to treatment plans as directed by a credentialed physician. The role collaborates with physicians, hospital personnel, and other members of the healthcare team to coordinate care and maintain continuity. It also provides supervision and direction to Patient Care Technicians and clerical staff, and education and direction to ICU staff for CRRT.

The position includes preparing and testing dialysis equipment, operating and troubleshooting related equipment, documenting treatment and patient response, maintaining clean and disinfected equipment and treatment areas, and participating in quality improvement activities, meetings, training, and orientation. The nurse may also be assigned to in-center patient care as needed. The role requires travel between assigned hospitals and facilities and to regional meetings or educational events, as well as participation in an on-call rotation covering days, nights, weekends, and holidays. Work involves direct patient care and potential exposure to infectious materials and contagious diseases. Heavy lifting and moving patients or equipment over 200 pounds with assistance may be required, as well as lifting chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to a height of five feet.

Requirements

• Current appropriate state licensure and compliance with practice requirements in the state of employment.
• One year of RN experience.
• At least six months of nephrology experience before independently providing dialysis and ultrafiltration services without another Dialysis RN present.
• At least six months of nephrology experience before independently providing apheresis services without another Apheresis RN present.
• Required nursing skills and 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 (Progressive Renal Education Preparation).
• BLS CPR recognition.
• Successful completion of Nurses Technical Training.
• Organizational and time-management skills and competency in 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.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation that includes nights, days, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to perform direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients and/or equipment over 200 pounds with assistance, and lifting chemical and water solutions up to 30 pounds as high as 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 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 patient care across hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, ultrafiltration, continuous renal replacement therapy, and apheresis modalities.
• Assess patients’ responses to treatment and make appropriate modifications to treatment plans as indicated by a credentialed physician.
• Communicate patient problems and concerns to the Inpatient Program Manager, credentialed physician, hospital primary nurse, and other relevant personnel.
• Deliver safe, effective, timely, and efficient care, and provide organized shift reports.
• Adjust patient schedules to address the needs of more critical patients based on laboratory results, physician orders, or patient assessment.
• Implement, administer, monitor, and document intradialytic transfusions, including notifying the physician and blood supplier about adverse reactions as appropriate.
• Collaborate with physicians and healthcare team members to interpret, adjust, and coordinate daily patient care plans.
• Communicate with FMS facility nursing staff and appropriate hospital personnel as needed.
• Accurately document treatment information in the patient record (ACES) and hospital record as needed.
• Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Prepare for dialysis treatments and perform required pre-treatment machine alarm testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System when applicable.
• Operate related equipment safely, perform minor troubleshooting, and use supplies efficiently to prevent waste.
• Conduct and document machine safety and alarm tests, equipment calibration, dialysate testing, functional testing, and internal and external disinfection of water and dialysis machines; follow documentation and notification standards.
• Complete and document ongoing participation in QAI activities and participate in scheduled staff meetings, training, and orientation.
• Provide supervision and direction to Patient Care Technicians (CCHTs) and clerical staff, and direction and education to ICU staff for CRRT.
• 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 according to Adverse Event Report requirements.
• Provide in-center patient care when assigned as needed.
• 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.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Potential performance-based bonuses for bonus-eligible positions, depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed