Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Belmont, NC

14d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician Preceptor works 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 is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities. The position provides direct patient care, including preparing and monitoring dialysis treatments, assessing vascular access and patient responses, documenting treatment information, collecting laboratory specimens, and reporting changes or concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The preceptor also supports recruitment, orientation, training, and competency evaluation of clinical staff, and reinforces quality, safety, and infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the role follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care and appointments, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality. The work involves patient and staff interaction in a health care facility, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and physical tasks including prolonged standing, 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; the posting also specifies CCHT certification required.
Any 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 is dependent on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
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.
Ability to perform direct patient-care tasks involving heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, and bending.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; 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-handling devices are available for heavier items.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their well-being since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed 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-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Assess intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and monitor patient responses to dialysis.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion; discontinue treatment according to procedures; assess patients before termination and discharge; obtain hemostasis and apply dressings.
Calculate and enter dialysis-machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient observations and machine safety checks.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly; complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, unusual findings, or vascular-access concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests, prepare and document specimens, and ensure their collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Clean blood spills and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist with self-care as applicable.
Participate in recruitment of new clinical staff and assist with clinical orientation and ongoing staff training.
Serve as a preceptor for direct patient care training in accordance with state guidelines, organizational standards, policies, and training materials.
Conduct ongoing competency evaluations and audits of other patient care technicians.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers and Education Coordinators to promote quality standards, regulatory compliance, continuous quality improvement, and staff development.
Educate appropriate personnel about facility water-system integrity and safety and environmental integrity, as allowed by local regulations.
Support communication and coordination among Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, patient care staff, and support staff about training and organizational development.
Participate in or help design educational programs for PCT staff and assist with scheduling and implementing training programs.
Monitor patient-care processes through regular CQI activities and incorporate organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical practices into training.
Maintain safe and clean facility areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis machines for treatment, perform and document required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document participation in CQI activities; enter treatment data accurately and promptly in the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork; prepare lab requisitions; collect, label, prepare, and store lab samples according to laboratory specifications.
Assist with facility infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control practices among staff, patients, and families under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee.
Support infection-control education and adherence through new-hire reinforcement, staff meetings, patient lobby activities, visual media, and responses to facility surveys, as directed.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience, and help ensure appointments occur according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home-dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and modality choices, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transitions to patients’ selected modalities, and support supply ordering and inventory.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.