Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Palatine, IL

13d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician Preceptor works as part of the 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, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities aimed at improving patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and monitoring treatment, responding to treatment issues, documenting care, and reporting changes in patient condition. The preceptor also supports staff recruitment, orientation, training, and competency evaluation; contributes to education and infection control initiatives; and helps coordinate the care and education of newly admitted patients in the Transitional Care Unit. Additional duties include maintaining and disinfecting equipment and treatment areas, completing quality and clinical records, preparing laboratory specimens, supporting facility infection control audits, and helping patients understand treatment options, including home dialysis. The work takes place in a health care facility and includes travel between assigned facilities and other locations in the community. Direct care duties involve frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients, with assistance and material-handling devices available for heavier items.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
All 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.
Attend Fresenius and publicly offered skill-based training as assigned by the Clinical Manager.
Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program and CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and supplies.
Successful completion of the Ishihara Color Blindness test is required as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

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 adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access in coordination with other health care team members.
Welcome assigned patients, ask about their wellbeing, obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures, including calculating and entering machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Cannulate vascular access and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Evaluate and respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, document interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform and document treatment-related assessments, vital signs, weights, machine safety checks, vascular access monitoring, and treatment parameters; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier pickup of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment, clean blood spills promptly, and maintain a safe and clean treatment environment.
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 orientation, ongoing training, competency evaluations, and audits for direct patient care personnel and other facility staff.
Function as a preceptor for direct patient care training in accordance with state guidelines, organizational standards, and training manuals.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, nurses, and interdisciplinary team members on quality standards, regulatory and legal education, training programs, and continuous quality improvement.
Educate appropriate personnel about facility water-system integrity and environmental safety in partnership with RN and interdisciplinary staff, as permitted by local regulations.
Support communication and implementation of training and organizational development programs; participate in or help design educational programs for PCT staff.
Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatment areas and machines, perform required pretreatment alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete CQI documentation, enter treatment data into clinical applications, review treatment sheets for completeness, and ensure omitted entries are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with facility quality assurance and infection control audits; reinforce infection control policies and practices among staff, patients, and families under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee.
Participate in infection control education and responses to internal and external facility surveys under the direction of the appropriate leaders.
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 staff visits according to the care plan, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, assist with transitions to the patient's selected modality, and support TCU supply ordering and inventory.