Outpatient Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Aibonito, PR

19d

About The Position

The Outpatient Registered Nurse works as part of the hemodialysis health care team to provide daily, quality patient care in accordance with Fresenius Medical Care policies, procedures, and training. The role supports the company’s mission, vision, values, customer service philosophy, Quality Enhancement Program, and continuous quality improvement activities, while adhering to compliance and patient-care requirements. The nurse provides and coordinates hemodialysis care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), assesses patient needs and treatment responses, implements prescribed care, educates patients and families, and communicates with physicians and other members of the health care team. The role also supports staff through delegation, monitoring, training, and acting as a resource. Additional duties include maintaining accurate clinical records and laboratory processes, administering medications, responding to emergencies, maintaining a safe treatment environment, and completing quality, assessment, and care-planning documentation. This position involves direct patient care, including regular heavy lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation. It requires frequent, prolonged standing and bending. With assistance, the employee may occasionally move machines and equipment weighing up to 200 pounds and lift chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to a height of five feet. The work takes place in a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current appropriate state licensure and compliance with 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, if any.
Meet the requirements of the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.
Complete ICD-9 coding training and Nurses Technical Training.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of medical-surgical nursing experience.
Hemodialysis experience.
ICU experience.

Responsibilities

Direct and delegate patient-care work to Patient Care Technicians and other direct patient-care staff, assess daily care needs, assign work, and monitor staff techniques and compliance with policies.
Participate in staff training, new-staff orientation, and required staff meetings; serve as a resource for other staff.
Educate patients and families about ESRD, renal disease, vascular access, dialysis therapy, diet and fluid management, medications, laboratory values, adequacy measures, transplant and treatment-modality awareness, and related health conditions.
Provide safe and effective hemodialysis care, implement prescribed treatment plans, assess patient responses, make appropriate adjustments, and communicate patient concerns 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-treatment evaluation.
Provide, supervise when applicable, and monitor hemodialysis access care; intervene when adequacy or access-flow issues are identified.
Administer, monitor, and document prescribed medications and interdialytic transfusions, including responses and adverse reactions; maintain controlled-substance records and document medication effectiveness as required.
Review, transcribe, and enter physician orders into the Medical Information System; process laboratory requisitions and specimens, report abnormal or critical results, and ensure results are forwarded to physicians as requested.
Ensure accurate and complete patient-care documentation, including treatment sheets, physician orders, laboratory results, vital signs, treatment parameters, and patient status.
Maintain safe and effective shift operations, ensure emergency equipment is available, maintain competency in emergency procedures, and initiate CPR and emergency measures when needed.
Coordinate with physicians and other health care team members to interpret, adjust, and coordinate patient care; assist patients with prescription refills and transportation when needed.
Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary treatment environment; ensure equipment and patient stations are clean, address blood spills according to policy, and follow facility opening and closing procedures.
Implement patient admission, transfer, and discharge policies and verify the accuracy and completion of Patient Care Technician documentation and daily treatment sheets.
Initiate, document, and complete continuous quality improvement activities, including monthly reports; complete nurses’ progress notes, care plans, nursing histories and assessments, and standing-order reviews as required.
Review patient transplant status and take appropriate action according to established procedures.
Perform additional duties as assigned and provide coverage at area facilities as required by management.