New Graduate RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Walsenburg, CO

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 patient care in accordance with company policies, procedures, and training. Supports Fresenius Medical Care North America’s mission, vision, values, customer service philosophy, Quality Enhancement Program, and continuous quality improvement activities. Employees hired into this position must obtain their nursing license and registration within the timeframe set by state regulations or within 90 days of hire, whichever comes sooner. Provides and coordinates hemodialysis care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), supports and delegates work to patient-care staff, educates patients and families, and contributes to safe and effective facility operations. The role includes treatment monitoring, medication administration, laboratory coordination, medical-record documentation, quality-improvement activities, and maintaining dialysis equipment and a clean treatment environment. The position has no supervisory reporting responsibilities listed. The role involves direct patient care, including regularly lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent, prolonged standing and bending; and occasional assisted movement of machines and equipment weighing up to 200 pounds and lifting of chemical or water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds. The healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. An Ishihara color-blindness test is required as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.

Requirements

Graduated from an accredited nursing program within the past 12 months.
Obtain nursing license and registration within the timeline set by state regulations or within 90 days of hire, whichever occurs first.
Hold a current appropriate state Temporary Permit.
Meet the practice requirements of the state in which employed.
Maintain any credentials or certifications required for the position in active and valid status, including renewal before expiration.
Ability to handle demanding situations, multitask, and remain flexible as needs change.
Regular and punctual attendance.
Ability to meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; regularly lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; occasionally moving, with assistance, equipment weighing up to 200 pounds; and lifting chemical or water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to a height of 5 feet.
Take the Ishihara color-blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.

Responsibilities

Direct patient-care staff, including Patient Care Technicians, LVN/LPNs, and Dialysis Assistants, in delivering safe, effective chronic hemodialysis therapy in accordance with facility policies and applicable regulations.
Delegate tasks, assess daily patient-care needs, develop patient-care assignments, monitor staff techniques and adherence to procedures, and participate in staff training, orientation, and required meetings.
Educate patients and families about ESRD, renal disease, vascular access, dialysis therapy, diet and fluid management, medication compliance, laboratory values, adequacy measures, transplant and treatment modalities, and catheter reduction.
Provide safe and effective hemodialysis care, implement treatment prescriptions, assess patient responses, make appropriate adjustments to treatment plans, and communicate concerns to the Team Leader or physician.
Initiate and complete nursing assessments and ongoing evaluations; participate in pre-evaluation, treatment initiation and monitoring, termination, access homeostasis, and post-treatment evaluation.
Intervene appropriately when adequacy status changes or access-flow issues are identified; provide, supervise when applicable, and monitor hemodialysis access care.
Administer and monitor prescribed interdialytic transfusions, document patient responses, and notify the physician and blood supplier of adverse reactions as appropriate.
Review, transcribe, and enter physician orders and laboratory orders into the Medical Information System; prepare requisitions, ensure correct specimen handling and shipment, follow up on missed or insufficient specimens, and report abnormal or alert results to physicians.
Enforce company policies and applicable regulations; maintain safe, efficient, effective shift operations; serve as a resource to staff; and communicate with the Clinical Manager, physicians, and other healthcare team members.
Support patients with prescription refills and transportation coordination as needed; maintain the facility drug list and controlled-substance records; administer prescribed and PRN medications and document their use and effectiveness.
Maintain emergency-procedure competency, initiate CPR and emergency measures when needed, verify emergency equipment availability, and ensure appropriate vaccinations, immunizations, and annual tuberculosis testing.
Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary treatment area; safely operate dialysis-related equipment; ensure patient stations, machines, and chairs are clean and correctly positioned; and promptly address blood spills in accordance with policy.
Ensure accurate and complete patient documentation, including orders, laboratory results, vital signs, treatment parameters, patient status, treatment records, admissions, transfers, and discharges; verify Patient Care Technician documentation.
Review daily completion of hemodialysis treatment sheets and follow opening and closing procedures, including monitoring that staff and patients have safely left the premises.
Conduct and document monthly Continuous Quality Improvement activities and reports; complete monthly nurses’ progress notes; review transplant status; complete care plans for new or unstable patients; and complete due long-term programs.
Complete initial and annual nursing history and physical assessments and ensure annual standing-order reviews with physicians.
Maintain required credentials and certifications in active, valid status, promptly notify a supervisor of changes, maintain regular and punctual attendance, remain flexible in a demanding and changing environment, and perform other related duties as assigned.