New Graduate Nurse

Fresenius Medical Care•Morehead, 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, to provide quality daily patient care in accordance with company policies, procedures, and training. Supports the company's mission, vision, values, customer service philosophy, Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities. Employees must obtain their nursing license and registration within the timeframe specified by state regulations or within 90 days of hire, whichever occurs sooner. The role provides and coordinates care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), including hemodialysis treatment, patient and family education, medication administration, laboratory-related activities, and accurate medical documentation. It also supports staff direction and training, safe facility operations, dialysis equipment competency, emergency readiness, and ongoing quality improvement. The position requires regular, punctual attendance and flexibility in a challenging environment with changing needs. Other related duties may be assigned. The position involves direct patient care, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. With assistance, the employee may occasionally move machines or equipment weighing up to 200 pounds and lift chemical or water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds as high as five feet. The work environment is a temperature-controlled healthcare facility with moderate noise and possible exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials. An Ishihara color blindness test is a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered. The position has no supervisory reporting responsibilities specified.

Requirements

Graduated from an accredited nursing program within the past 12 months.
Obtain nursing license and registration within the timeframe set by state regulations or within 90 days of hire, whichever occurs first.
Current appropriate state Temporary Permit.
Meet practice requirements in the state of employment.
Maintain required credentials and certifications in active and valid status.
Ability to handle demanding situations, multitask, and remain flexible as needs change.
Ability to meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation; with assistance, occasionally move equipment weighing up to 200 pounds and lift solutions weighing up to 30 pounds as high as five feet.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not automatically preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.

Responsibilities

Direct and monitor Patient Care Technicians and other direct patient care staff in the safe, effective delivery of chronic hemodialysis therapy; delegate tasks and develop patient care assignments.
Participate in staff training, new-staff orientation, and required staff meetings.
Educate patients and families about ESRD, renal disease, vascular access, dialysis therapy, diet and fluid management, medication compliance, adequacy measures, transplantation, treatment modalities, laboratory values, and treatment schedules.
Deliver hemodialysis care, implement prescribed treatment parameters, assess patient response, adjust care as indicated, and communicate concerns or changes to the Team Leader or physician.
Conduct initial and annual nursing assessments and ongoing evaluations; participate in pre-evaluation, treatment initiation and monitoring, termination, access homeostasis, and post-evaluation.
Respond to changes in patient adequacy status and troubleshoot access-flow issues; provide, supervise where applicable, and monitor hemodialysis access care.
Implement and monitor prescribed interdialytic transfusions and document patient responses, reporting adverse reactions appropriately.
Review and enter physician laboratory orders, prepare requisitions, ensure correct specimen collection and handling, follow up on missing or insufficient specimens, route results, and report abnormal or critical results to physicians.
Enforce company policies and applicable state and federal regulations; maintain safe, efficient shift operations and serve as a resource to staff.
Collaborate with physicians and healthcare team members to coordinate patient care; assist with prescription refills and patient transportation as needed.
Maintain accurate, timely patient records, physician orders, treatment data, laboratory results, and staff documentation in the Medical Information System; verify Patient Care Technician documentation.
Maintain the facility drug list and appropriate controlled-substance records; administer prescribed and PRN medications, document administration and effectiveness, and provide medical justification when indicated.
Maintain competency in emergency procedures, initiate CPR and emergency measures when needed, and verify availability of emergency equipment.
Ensure appropriate vaccinations, immunizations, and annual tuberculosis testing.
Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary treatment area; ensure dialysis machines, chairs, and patient stations are clean and appropriately placed; address blood spills according to policy.
Complete daily treatment-sheet reviews, monthly CQI activities and reports, nurses' progress notes, patient record checks, transplant-status reviews, patient care plans, and long-term programs as required.
Complete annual nursing history and physical assessments and annual standing-order reviews with physicians.
Maintain required credentials and certifications in active, valid status and promptly notify a supervisor of any change in credential status.
Maintain regular and punctual attendance and perform other related duties as assigned.