Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Palatine, IL

15d•$20 - $33

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician Preceptor works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, following organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, maintains a safe and clean working environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing treatments, monitoring patients, documenting treatment information, responding to changes in patient condition, and collecting laboratory specimens. The preceptor also supports staff recruitment, orientation, training, competency evaluation, infection-control practices, and education programs in collaboration with clinical managers, education coordinators, nurses, and interdisciplinary team members. Additional duties include maintaining dialysis equipment and facility cleanliness, managing treatment and patient records, supporting infection-control audits and education, and coordinating transitional dialysis care for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks. The role may involve travel between assigned facilities and community locations, as well as regional, business-unit, or corporate meetings. The work takes place in a health care facility and includes direct patient care, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by CMS.
Any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Attendance and active participation in applicable preceptor training programs established by education leadership.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program; continued employment depends on completion.
Successful completion of CPR certification; continued employment depends on completion.
Ability to meet the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing and bending, assisting with patient lifting and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and supplies.

Nice To Haves

At least five years of patient-care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education about dialysis adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate and address intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses to dialysis and interventions.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion, discontinue treatment according to established procedures, assess patients before termination and discharge, and obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled.
Document accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, evaluations, and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in condition, unusual findings, and vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange for pickup of laboratory specimens according to requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectants and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor and assist patients performing self-care under RN supervision, as applicable.
Participate in recruiting clinical staff; assist with clinical orientation, ongoing training, and facility staff orientation.
Serve as a preceptor for direct patient-care training under applicable state guidelines and organizational standards.
Conduct ongoing competency evaluations and audits for other PCTs and support staff development.
Collaborate with clinical managers and education coordinators on quality standards, regulatory and legal requirements, CQI, training schedules, and educational programs.
Educate appropriate personnel on facility water-system integrity and safety and environmental integrity, as permitted by local regulations.
Support communication about training and organizational-development programs among clinical managers, education coordinators, direct-care staff, and support staff.
Monitor patient-care processes through regular CQI activities and incorporate organizational policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices into training.
Maintain a safe, clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing, document as appropriate, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete CQI participation records, enter treatment data, review treatment sheets for completeness, and ensure omissions or corrections are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with facility infection-control audits; monitor and reinforce staff and patient adherence to infection-control practices under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee.
Reinforce infection-control practices through new-hire support, patient and staff engagement, visual media, meetings, and education, as directed.
Participate in education responses to internal and external facility surveys and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate appointments with appropriate facility disciplines, and support patient understanding of home dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the transitional care unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, support modality transitions, and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.