Outpatient Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Lake Charles, LA

About The Position

The Outpatient Registered Nurse (RN) CAP 1 is an entry-level designation in the Clinical Advancement Program. The role is accountable for providing and coordinating clinically competent care—including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation—for an assigned group of patients. The RN may delegate appropriate tasks to patient-care staff, including RNs, LVN/LPNs, and Patient Care Technicians. As a member of the End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) health care team, the RN participates in decision-making, teaching, leadership functions, and quality improvement activities intended to enhance patient-care outcomes and facility operations. Duties are performed in accordance with Fresenius Kidney Care policies, procedures, nursing practice standards, and applicable state and federal regulations. The RN works under the direction of a Supervisor and with guidance from a Clinical Educator or Preceptor, or in collaboration with other Registered Nurses. The role includes assessing patients before, during, and after hemodialysis; coordinating and delivering safe treatment; educating patients and families; administering medications; responding to emergencies; and collaborating with the Interdisciplinary Team on assessments and care plans. CAP requirements must be completed to advance. The position provides direct patient care in a health care facility and may require travel to training sites or other facilities. Work involves regular heavy lifting, moving patients, and assisting with ambulation, as well as frequent and prolonged standing and bending. The employee may occasionally move machines and equipment weighing up to 200 lbs. with assistance and lift chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 lbs. as high as 5 feet. The work environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise levels, and may involve exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.

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.
Entry-level RN position for candidates with less than 2 years of Nephrology Nursing experience as a Registered Nurse.
Assigned oversight of Patient Care Technicians, LPNs/LVNs, or RNs as Team Leader or designated Nurse in Charge requires completion of all FKC education and training requirements for new employees, at least 9 months of RN experience, and at least 3 months of chronic/acute hemodialysis experience as an RN.
Ability to meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including heavy lifting, moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, and bending; occasional assisted movement of equipment up to 200 lbs. and lifting of chemical or water solutions up to 30 lbs. as high as 5 feet.

Nice To Haves

Chronic or acute hemodialysis experience.

Responsibilities

Perform essential functions under the direction of the Supervisor and with guidance from a Clinical Educator or Preceptor, or in collaboration with other Registered Nurses.
Collect and analyze patient data before, during, and after hemodialysis; document findings; adjust or modify treatment plans as indicated; and notify the appropriate team member or physician as needed.
Assess and document patients’ and families’ basic learning needs and provide initial and ongoing education.
Direct and provide, in collaboration with direct and ancillary patient-care staff, the daily safe and effective delivery of hemodialysis therapy to assigned patients.
Administer prescribed medications or medications under approved algorithms, and document medical justification and effectiveness.
Initiate or assist with emergency response measures.
Serve as a resource for the health care team and participate in staff training and new-staff orientation as assigned.
Ensure laboratory specimens are correctly collected, processed, and shipped, and reschedule missed or insufficient collections.
Identify expected outcomes and document and update nursing assessments and care plans in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team.
Ensure patients are aware of transplant and treatment-modality options.
Complete CAP requirements to advance.
Perform other duties assigned by the Supervisor.