Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Aberdeen, WA

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 and in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role sets up and operates hemodialysis machines, supports a safe and clean work environment, and contributes to quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities focused on patient satisfaction and outcomes. The preceptor provides direct patient care during dialysis treatments, including patient assessment, vascular-access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and response to treatment-related concerns. The role also trains and supports clinical staff, conducts competency evaluations, reinforces infection-control and facility-safety practices, and contributes to staff education and development. In the Transitional Care Unit, the preceptor follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with facility staff, supports patients in understanding treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with modality transitions and supply inventory. The position involves work in a health care facility, direct patient interaction, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and physical activity including frequent standing, bending, lifting, and moving patients or equipment.

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 organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Attendance and active participation in applicable preceptor training programs.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program is required for continued employment.
Successful completion of CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to 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 involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting, moving patients, and assisting with ambulation.
Ability to occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force; frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet. Assistance and 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 previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, including required assessments before treatment termination.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; evaluate patients before discharge and obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis-machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, patient assessments, interventions, and responses accurately and promptly; report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular-access pressures during treatment and document, intervene, and report unusual findings as appropriate.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectants and organize supplies and equipment to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist them as applicable.
Participate in recruitment of clinical staff and support clinical orientation, ongoing training, and facility staff orientation.
Precept direct patient care training in accordance with state guidelines, regulations, organizational standards, and clinical training manuals.
Conduct ongoing competency evaluations and audits for other PCTs and provide developmental support to clinical and facility staff.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers and Education Coordinators on training, organizational development, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and continuous quality improvement.
Educate appropriate personnel, with RN and IDT staff, about facility water-system integrity, environmental integrity, and safety as permitted by local regulations.
Support communication among clinical managers, education coordinators, direct patient care staff, and support staff about training and development programs.
Participate in or design educational programs for PCT staff and help schedule and implement training as directed.
Maintain safe, clean, and orderly facility areas; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatment areas and perform and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete CQI documentation, enter treatment data in the designated clinical application, review treatment sheets for completeness, and help ensure missing or incorrect entries are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, prepare lab requisitions, and coordinate specimen collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist with facility quality-assurance infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control practices among staff and patients under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee.
Reinforce infection-control requirements for new hires, participate in staff and patient engagement activities, and support infection-control education and survey responses as directed.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients as permitted by state law, coordinate appointments with appropriate staff, and support patient understanding of home-dialysis products and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal-dialysis setup as appropriate, and assist with transition to the patient’s chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
Attend and actively participate in applicable preceptor training and assigned skill-based training.
Travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and attend regional, Business Unit, or corporate meetings when required.