Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Milford, OH

14d•Onsite

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. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean working environment, and supporting quality improvement and patient satisfaction initiatives. The preceptor also helps recruit, orient, train, and evaluate clinical staff, and supports education and infection-control practices in the facility. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing prescribed treatments, monitoring patient responses, documenting treatment data, responding to changes in patient condition, and collecting laboratory specimens. It also includes equipment preparation and disinfection, record keeping, participation in continuous quality improvement activities, and support for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis in the Transitional Care Unit. Work takes place in a health care facility and includes interaction with patients, staff, and physicians. The role requires travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. Employees may be exposed to infectious or contagious materials. The work includes frequent and prolonged standing, bending, lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, and lifting solutions and equipment. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation will 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.
Attend 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 perform the described physical demands, with reasonable accommodation where applicable.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment.

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 educating patients about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
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-, intradialytic, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and assess patients before and after treatment.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure appropriate safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Monitor patient responses, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide or document interventions, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly 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 training of patient-care personnel and facility staff.
Serve as a preceptor for direct patient-care training according to state guidelines, organizational standards, policies, and procedures.
Deliver and maintain competency evaluations and audits for other PCTs.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers and Education Coordinators to promote quality standards, regulatory and legal compliance, continuous quality improvement, and staff development.
Educate appropriate personnel on facility water-system integrity and environmental integrity, including patient and staff safety, in partnership with RN and IDT staff and as allowed by local regulations.
Support communication and coordination among Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, direct patient-care staff, and support staff regarding training and development programs.
Participate in the design, scheduling, and implementation of PCT education and training programs as directed.
Monitor patient-care processes through regular continuous quality improvement activities and incorporate organizational business policies and ethical practices into training.
Maintain a safe, clean facility environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatment areas and machines, perform and document required pretreatment alarm testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in continuous quality improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, confirm nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare laboratory requisitions, and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with facility infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control practices with staff, patients, and families under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee.
Reinforce infection-control practices with new hires, support staff and patient engagement, and participate in education 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 as allowed by state law and coordinate with facility staff to support the patient experience and planned visits by disciplines.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with coordination of transitions to patients' chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.