Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Portland, OR

13d

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician Preceptor works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe, 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 the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient assessment, vascular access evaluation and cannulation, treatment setup and monitoring, documentation, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. The preceptor also supports patient education, staff recruitment and training, clinical orientation, competency evaluation, infection control, and facility quality activities. The role includes transitional-care support for newly admitted dialysis patients during their first four weeks, helping coordinate care, reinforce education, explain treatment and home-dialysis options, and support transition to the patient’s chosen modality. Work includes desk and computer tasks, direct patient interaction, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and may include travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility, with controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur. Direct patient care regularly involves lifting and moving patients and assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment.

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 organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successful completion of the organization's dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation will be considered.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift and lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance or material-assist 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

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform access cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Evaluate and intervene in intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient response, and report significant information or changes to a registered nurse or supervisor.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain pre-reinfusion vital signs, evaluate patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and document care.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Record accurate and timely vital signs, treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, and other patient-treatment information in required records and clinical applications.
Observe patients, perform machine safety checks, monitor vascular-access pressures, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectants and organize supplies and equipment to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist with self-care as applicable.
Participate in recruitment of clinical staff and assist with clinical orientation, ongoing training, and staff development.
Serve as a preceptor for direct patient-care training in accordance with state guidelines, organizational standards, policies, and training manuals.
Deliver and maintain competency evaluations and audits for other patient care technicians.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers and Education Coordinators to promote quality standards, regulatory compliance, continuous quality improvement, and staff training.
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, direct-care staff, and support staff regarding training and development programs.
Participate in or design educational programs for patient care technician staff and assist with scheduling and implementing training.
Monitor patient-care processes through continuous quality improvement activities and incorporate organizational business policies and ethical practices into training.
Maintain facility cleanliness and environmental integrity; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform and document required machine alarm testing, including pressure-holding tests, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in continuous quality improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omitted or corrected entries with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with facility infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control policies and practices, monitor adherence under direction, and support infection-control engagement and education for staff, patients, and families.
Participate in education responses to internal and external facility surveys under Education Department direction.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce new-patient education, coordinate appropriate staff visits, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, coordinate transition to the patient's chosen modality, and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
Attend and actively participate in applicable preceptor training and assigned skill-based training.