New Graduate Nurse

Fresenius Medical Care•Madisonville, KY

About The Position

Functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team as a Registered Nurse Applicant under the direction or supervision of a Staff Registered Nurse, providing quality patient care in accordance with company policies, procedures, and training. Supports the company’s mission, values, quality initiatives, compliance requirements, and patient-satisfaction and process-improvement activities. Employees must obtain their nursing license and registration within the timeframe specified by state regulations or within 90 days of hire, whichever comes first. The role provides and coordinates hemodialysis care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including patient assessment, treatment implementation and monitoring, access care, medication administration, patient and family education, laboratory follow-up, and accurate clinical documentation. It also supports and monitors patient-care staff, helps maintain safe facility operations and equipment, participates in quality-improvement activities, and collaborates with physicians and other healthcare team members. The position involves direct patient care and may include heavy lifting, moving patients, prolonged standing, bending, and exposure to infectious materials.

Requirements

Graduated from an accredited nursing program within the past 12 months.
Obtain nursing license and registration within the timeframe defined by state regulations or within 90 days of hire, whichever occurs first.
Hold a current appropriate state Temporary Permit.
Meet the practice requirements in the state of employment.
Maintain any required credentials or certifications in active and valid status.
Ability to handle demanding situations, multitask, and remain flexible as needs change.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient-care physical demands, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and—with assistance—occasionally moving equipment up to 200 pounds and lifting chemical or water solutions up to 30 pounds as high as 5 feet.

Responsibilities

Direct and monitor patient-care staff, including Patient Care Technicians, LVN/LPNs, and Dialysis Assistants; delegate tasks, assess daily care needs, and develop assignments.
Participate in staff training, orientation, and required staff meetings.
Educate patients and families about ESRD, renal disease, vascular access, dialysis therapy, diet and fluid management, medications, laboratory values, treatment adequacy, transplant awareness, and treatment modalities.
Provide safe hemodialysis care; implement prescribed treatment plans and modeling, assess patient response, and make appropriate adjustments in accordance with physician direction and established procedures.
Initiate and complete nursing assessments and ongoing evaluations; participate in pre-evaluation, treatment initiation and monitoring, termination, access homeostasis, and post-treatment evaluation.
Identify and communicate patient issues, changes in adequacy, access-flow concerns, and abnormal or alert laboratory results to the appropriate team leader or physician.
Provide, supervise when applicable, and monitor hemodialysis access care; implement and document prescribed transfusions and patient responses, including notification of adverse reactions.
Review, transcribe, and enter physician laboratory orders; prepare requisitions, ensure proper specimen collection, handling, packaging, and delivery, and follow up on missing or insufficient specimens.
Maintain safe, efficient shift operations; serve as a resource for staff and collaborate with physicians and other healthcare team members to coordinate care.
Transcribe and enter physician orders, maintain patient information and drug lists, administer prescribed and PRN medications, document responses and controlled substances, and assist with transportation coordination when necessary.
Maintain emergency-procedure competency, initiate CPR and emergency measures when needed, verify emergency equipment, and support vaccination, immunization, and annual TB testing requirements.
Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary treatment area; operate dialysis equipment safely and ensure stations, machines, and chairs are clean and properly placed; address blood spills according to policy.
Ensure complete and accurate medical records, including treatment data, orders, laboratory results, vital signs, treatment parameters, patient status, and patient-care staff documentation.
Review daily hemodialysis treatment sheets and follow required opening and closing procedures.
Initiate, document, and complete monthly Continuous Quality Improvement activities and reports; complete nurses’ progress notes, patient care plans, long-term program requirements, and transplant-status reviews as applicable.
Complete initial and annual nursing history and physical assessments and annual standing-order reviews with physicians.
Maintain required credentials and certifications, notify a supervisor of credential-status changes, maintain regular and punctual attendance, and perform other assigned duties.