Outpatient Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care•St. Louis, MO

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Registered Nurse functions as part of a hemodialysis health care team to provide quality daily patient care in accordance with Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) and Fresenius Medical Services (FMS) policies, procedures, and training. The role supports the organization’s mission, values, customer service philosophy, Quality Enhancement Program (QEP), and continuous quality improvement activities, while complying with patient-care, administrative, and compliance requirements. The nurse oversees and delivers safe, effective hemodialysis care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Responsibilities include assessing patient needs, developing and coordinating care assignments, directing and monitoring patient-care staff, implementing prescribed treatments, evaluating patient responses, documenting care, and communicating with physicians and other healthcare team members. The nurse also educates patients and families about renal disease, dialysis, vascular access, treatment adequacy, medications, diet, fluids, laboratory results, and available treatment modalities. The position includes clinical, operational, and quality responsibilities such as managing orders and laboratory processes, administering medications and transfusions, maintaining emergency readiness, ensuring equipment and treatment areas are safe and clean, completing patient records and care plans, and participating in ongoing quality-improvement activities. The nurse may provide coverage at area facilities as required by management. Work takes place in a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise. The role involves direct patient care, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and equipment, sometimes with assistance. Exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur. Reasonable accommodations may be considered for individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current appropriate state nursing licensure and must meet practice requirements in the state of employment.
Successfully complete a training course in the theory and practice of hemodialysis.
Successfully complete CPR certification.
Meet applicable state requirements.
Complete 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, assisting with ambulation, and heavy lifting or moving of patients and equipment, with assistance where applicable.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of medical-surgical nursing experience is preferred.
Hemodialysis experience is preferred.
ICU experience is preferred.
Icd-9 coding Training.
Nurses Technical Training.

Responsibilities

Direct Patient Care Technicians and delegate tasks to direct patient-care staff, including LVNs/LPNs, Patient Care Technicians, and Dialysis Assistants.
Assess daily patient-care needs and develop appropriate patient-care assignments.
Monitor staff techniques and compliance with facility policies and procedures; participate in staff training, new-staff orientation, and required meetings.
Provide, supervise as applicable, and monitor safe and effective hemodialysis care and access care for patients with ESRD.
Implement prescribed treatment plans, assess patient responses, make appropriate adjustments as indicated by the prescribing physician, and communicate concerns to the Team Leader or physician.
Conduct initial, annual, and ongoing nursing assessments and document patient-care needs and evaluations.
Educate patients and families about ESRD, renal disease, vascular access, dialysis therapy, adequacy measures, treatment compliance, diet, fluid, medications, laboratory values, transplant awareness, and treatment modalities.
Implement, monitor, and document prescribed interdialytic transfusions and report adverse reactions appropriately.
Review, transcribe, and enter physician orders into the Medical Information System; assist with prescription refills according to policy.
Coordinate laboratory requisitions, specimen collection and handling, follow-up on missed or insufficient specimens, delivery of results, and reporting of alert, panic, or abnormal results to physicians.
Maintain safe, efficient, and effective shift operations and act as a resource for staff.
Collaborate with physicians and other healthcare team members to interpret, adjust, and coordinate patient care.
Administer medications, including PRN medications, as prescribed or under approved algorithms; document assessments, effectiveness, and required controlled-substance records.
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 environment; ensure dialysis stations and equipment are clean and properly arranged, and address blood spills according to policy.
Ensure accurate and complete documentation of patient information, treatment data, physician orders, laboratory results, vital signs, and treatment parameters in the Medical Information System and medical record.
Verify Patient Care Technician documentation and ensure daily completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheets.
Implement patient admission, transfer, and discharge procedures and follow opening and closing procedures, including confirming staff and patients have safely left the premises.
Initiate, document, and complete ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities, including monthly reports.
Complete monthly nurses’ progress notes, patient care plans, long-term programs when due, nursing history and physical assessments, and annual standing-order reviews with physicians.
Review patient transplant status and take appropriate action according to established procedures.
Assist with coordination of patient transportation when necessary.
Provide coverage at area facilities as required by management and perform additional duties as assigned.