Patient Care Technician Preceptor - PCT - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Orangeburg, SC

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician Preceptor is part of the dialysis health care team and provides 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 environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and Continuous Quality Improvement activities. The position provides direct patient care before, during, and after dialysis treatments, including assessing vascular access, cannulation, monitoring patient response, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor. It also supports patient education, laboratory specimen handling, machine and environmental safety, infection control, and the operation of the Transitional Care Unit. As a preceptor, the technician helps recruit, orient, train, and evaluate clinical staff. The role collaborates with clinical managers, education coordinators, nurses, and interdisciplinary team members to implement training and quality standards. Work includes desk and computer tasks, interaction with patients and care teams, and travel between assigned facilities and other locations. The healthcare setting may involve exposure to infectious materials, frequent standing and 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.
Applicable state licensure, education, and training, if required.
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 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; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and other locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.
Ability to meet the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally; may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force. 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

Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and evaluate vascular access before treatment.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings; calculate and enter prescribed machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and UF modeling.
Monitor patients and machine safety, assess intradialytic problems, provide interventions as prescribed or directed, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue dialysis according to established procedures; obtain vital signs before reinfusion, assess patients before termination and discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply dressings.
Document treatment parameters, evaluations, interventions, patient responses, and other required information accurately and promptly.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Prepare and efficiently use supplies and equipment; immediately clean blood spills with appropriate disinfectants.
Monitor and assist patients performing self-care under RN supervision, as applicable.
Participate in recruiting clinical staff; assist with orientation and ongoing training of direct patient care personnel and facility staff.
Serve as a preceptor for direct patient care training, deliver competency evaluations and audits, and support staff development under applicable guidelines and regulations.
Collaborate with clinical managers and education coordinators to implement training, organizational development, quality, and regulatory education programs.
Educate appropriate personnel on facility water-system integrity and environmental safety in partnership with RN and interdisciplinary team staff, as permitted by local regulations.
Participate in CQI activities and monitor processes involved in patient care delivery.
Maintain a safe and clean environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis machines and perform required pretreatment alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing; initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Enter treatment data in the designated clinical application, review treatment sheets for completeness, and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control policies and practices among staff and patients, and participate in infection-control education and survey responses as directed.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional care.
Reinforce education for new patients, coordinate appointments with appropriate staff, and help patients understand home dialysis products and treatment options, including peritoneal dialysis setup demonstrations.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with transitions to patients’ chosen modalities, and help coordinate supply ordering and inventory.