Patient Care Technician - PCT

Fresenius Medical Care•Kearney, NE

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician (PCT) 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, assisting with a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities. The PCT welcomes and monitors patients, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated tasks as permitted, takes and records vital signs and weights, initiates and discontinues dialysis treatments according to orders and procedures, monitors patient responses, and reports significant changes to a registered nurse or supervisor. The role also includes preparing and collecting laboratory specimens, maintaining treatment records, conducting machine safety checks, cleaning and disinfecting equipment, and supporting infection-control practices. In the Transitional Care Unit, the PCT follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, coordinates care with appropriate staff, helps patients understand treatment and home-dialysis options, supports modality transitions, and assists with supply ordering and inventory. The position involves desk and computer work as well as direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to meetings. The work environment is that of a health care facility, with possible exposure to infectious or contagious materials.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Hold any applicable state licensure and complete required education and training.
Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
Be able to perform essential duties involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving patients, and assisting with ambulation; lift or lower solutions frequently up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 40 pounds as high as five feet, and occasionally push or pull equipment using up to 15 pounds of force. Assistance or material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Nice To Haves

Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin as 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; monitor the treatment and intervene as prescribed or directed.
Monitor patient responses to dialysis, evaluate patients before treatment termination and discharge, and report significant information or changes in condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Discontinue treatments according to established procedures, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Conduct patient and machine safety checks, evaluate vascular access and treatment pressures, document interventions and patient responses, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens according to laboratory specifications.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under registered nurse supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organization policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices; maintain safe and clean areas.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to facility policy.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, conduct and document required pretreatment machine alarm testing, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data accurately and promptly in 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, and prepare or print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, follow infection-control policies, and reinforce patient and family education under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.
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 allowed by state law; liaise with facility staff to support the patient experience and coordinate discipline visits according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup, explain treatment options, and assist with transitions to the patient’s chosen modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with its supply ordering and inventory.