Outpatient Registered Nurse- RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Lockhart, TX

About The Position

The Outpatient Registered Nurse (RN) CAP 2 provides and coordinates clinically competent care for an assigned group of patients, including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The role may be an entry-level designation in the Clinical Advancement Program for qualifying new employees or attained through advancement from RN CAP 1. As a member of the End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) health care team, the RN participates in clinical decision-making, patient and family education, leadership, and quality improvement activities to support patient outcomes and facility operations. Duties are performed in accordance with Fresenius Kidney Care policies and procedures, nursing practice standards, and state and federal regulations. The RN performs essential functions under the direction of a Supervisor, with guidance from a Clinical Educator or Preceptor, or in collaboration with other Registered Nurses. The position provides direct patient care, including hemodialysis treatment coordination, patient assessment and education, medication administration, emergency response, care planning, laboratory procedures, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team. The RN may also mentor employees, serve as a Preceptor, and oversee patient care staff as a Team Leader or designated Nurse in Charge after meeting the stated training and experience conditions. The work takes place in a health care facility and involves direct patient care, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and regular heavy lifting and patient movement. The employee may occasionally move machines and equipment with assistance and may need to travel to training sites or other facilities. Exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials is possible.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current appropriate state licensure and compliance with practice requirements in the state of employment.
Current CPR BLS Certification or successful completion of CPR BLS Certification.
Minimum of 2 years of Nephrology Nursing experience.
Must complete all FKC education and training requirements for new employees before assigned oversight duties.
Must have at least 3 months of chronic or acute hemodialysis experience as an RN before assigned oversight duties.
Able to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting, moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
May need to move, with assistance, machines and equipment weighing up to 200 lbs. and lift chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 lbs. as high as 5 feet.

Responsibilities

Collects and analyzes patient data before, during, and after hemodialysis treatment; documents findings and modifies treatment plans as indicated, notifying appropriate clinical personnel as needed.
Assesses, collaborates on, and documents patients’ and families’ basic learning needs, providing initial and ongoing education.
Coordinates and provides safe and effective hemodialysis therapy in collaboration with direct and ancillary patient care staff.
Administers prescribed medications or medications under approved algorithms and documents medical justification and effectiveness.
Initiates or assists with emergency response measures.
Acts as a resource, leader, coach, mentor, and role model for new and incumbent employees.
Ensures laboratory specimens are collected, processed, and shipped correctly, and reschedules missed or insufficient collections.
Identifies expected outcomes and documents and updates nursing assessments and plans of care in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team.
Ensures patients are aware of transplant and treatment modality options.
Participates in facility- and area-level education and quality improvement projects as directed by the Supervisor.
May serve as a Preceptor to new employees.
Completes CAP requirements to maintain or advance within the program.
May oversee Patient Care Technicians, LVN/LPNs, and RNs as a Team Leader or designated Nurse in Charge after completing required training and meeting the stated hemodialysis experience condition.
Performs other duties assigned by the Supervisor.