Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Tullahoma, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician Preceptor functions as part of the dialysis health care team, providing safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, helps maintain a safe and clean environment, and supports quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, specimen collection, and reporting changes in patient condition. As a preceptor, the role helps recruit, orient, train, and evaluate clinical staff, and collaborates with clinical leaders and education staff on training, quality standards, and continuous quality improvement. Additional duties include supporting infection-control practices, maintaining treatment equipment and the care environment, and keeping patient records and treatment data accurate and complete. In the Transitional Care Unit, the preceptor follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care and treatment-option transitions, and supports supply and inventory needs. The work is performed in a health care facility and includes interaction with patients, staff, and physicians. It involves travel between assigned facilities and community locations, possible travel to organizational meetings, exposure to infectious or contagious materials, frequent standing and bending, and lifting or moving patients and equipment. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by CMS.
All applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Attendance and active participation in applicable preceptor training programs established by education leadership.
Attendance at Fresenius and publicly offered skill-based training as assigned by the Clinical Manager.
Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Ability to take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not automatically preclude employment.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment with up to 15 pounds of force.
Ability to frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet; assistance and material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
At least five years of patient care experience in a hospital or related facility is preferred.

Nice To Haves

At least five years of patient care experience in a hospital or related facility.

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in educating patients about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures, obtain relevant vital signs, assess the patient before discharge, achieve hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Program dialysis machines for prescribed ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling, and ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and other required information in treatment records and clinical applications.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy; report unusual findings and document interventions and patient responses.
Monitor vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using approved disinfectants and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist with self-care as applicable.
Participate in recruitment of new clinical staff; assist with clinical orientation, ongoing training, and facility staff orientation.
Serve as a preceptor for direct patient care training in accordance with state requirements, organizational standards, policies, procedures, and clinical training manuals.
Deliver and maintain competency evaluations and audits for other PCTs, and provide developmental support to clinical and facility staff.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, nurses, and interdisciplinary team staff to deliver training, promote quality standards, and support regulatory compliance and continuous quality improvement.
Educate appropriate personnel on facility water-system integrity and safety and environmental integrity, including patient and staff safety, as allowed by local regulations.
Support communication and scheduling of training and organizational development programs; participate in or help design educational programs for PCT staff.
Monitor patient-care processes through regular continuous quality improvement activities and incorporate organizational business policies, procedures, ethical practices, and systems into training.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly work areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis, perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm tests, including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in CQI activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on missing or corrected entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for routine or stat specimens.
Assist with facility infection-control audits, monitor and reinforce staff and patient adherence to infection-control policies, and support infection-control education and survey responses under designated supervision.
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 appropriate staff visits according to the care plan, and help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, and assist with transition to the patient’s selected modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community and, when required, attend regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings.