Outpatient Registered Nurse - RN - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Humble, TX

26d•Onsite

About The Position

The Outpatient Registered Nurse works as part of the hemodialysis health care team to provide quality daily care to patients in accordance with Fresenius Medical Care policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The nurse supports the company’s mission, values, quality initiatives, and compliance program. This is a Regional Float position requiring coverage at area facilities as directed by management. The role directs and delegates work to patient-care staff, assesses patient needs, coordinates assignments, monitors care practices, and contributes to staff training. The nurse educates patients and families about end-stage renal disease, dialysis, vascular access, medications, diet, fluids, laboratory results, transplant and treatment options, and related health conditions. The nurse provides and monitors hemodialysis care, assesses patient responses, implements prescribed treatment plans, responds to changes in patient status, and communicates concerns to physicians and the Team Leader. Responsibilities also include medication administration, emergency readiness, laboratory and physician-order processes, documentation and medical-record oversight, infection-control and facility safety, and ongoing quality-improvement and care-planning activities. The position involves direct patient care in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious or contagious materials. Physical duties include regularly lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent, prolonged standing and bending; occasionally moving equipment weighing up to 200 pounds with assistance; and lifting chemical or water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to a height of five feet. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current appropriate state licensure and ability to 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 automatically preclude employment.
Able to perform the described physical duties, with assistance or reasonable accommodations as applicable.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of one year of medical-surgical nursing experience preferred.
Hemodialysis experience preferred.
ICU experience preferred.
ICD-9 coding training.
Nurses Technical Training.

Responsibilities

Direct and delegate patient-care work to Patient Care Technicians and other direct-care staff, and assess patient needs to develop assignments.
Monitor patient-care techniques and compliance with facility policies and procedures; participate in staff training, orientation, and required meetings.
Educate patients and families about ESRD, renal disease, vascular access, dialysis therapy, diet and fluid intake, medications, laboratory values, treatment adequacy, transplant awareness, and treatment modalities.
Provide safe hemodialysis care, implement prescribed treatment plans, assess patient responses, make appropriate adjustments, and communicate patient concerns to the Team Leader or physician.
Perform and document initial, annual, and ongoing nursing assessments and evaluations; participate in pre-evaluation, treatment initiation and monitoring, termination, access homeostasis, and post-evaluation.
Provide, supervise when applicable, and monitor hemodialysis access care; troubleshoot access-flow issues and respond to changes in adequacy status.
Implement, monitor, and document prescribed transfusions and medications, including responses, adverse reactions, and controlled-substance records.
Review and enter physician orders and laboratory orders into the Medical Information System; coordinate specimen collection, processing, packaging, delivery, follow-up, and reporting of abnormal results.
Ensure complete and accurate patient-care documentation, including treatment sheets, medical records, vital signs, treatment parameters, and required reports.
Maintain safe and effective shift operations, act as a resource for staff, and coordinate care with physicians and other health care team members.
Maintain emergency readiness, verify emergency equipment availability, and initiate CPR and other emergency measures when needed.
Ensure appropriate vaccinations, immunizations, and annual tuberculosis testing are provided.
Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary treatment environment; ensure proper machine and station cleanliness and address blood spills according to policy.
Ensure patient admission, transfer, and discharge procedures are followed, and assist with patient transportation when necessary.
Initiate, document, and complete continuous quality-improvement activities, monthly reports, progress notes, care plans, long-term programs, and annual standing-order reviews.
Provide coverage at area facilities as required by management and perform additional duties as assigned.