Patient Care Technician- PCT- Training Provided

Fresenius Medical Care•North Cape May, NJ

3d•$16 - $25

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 patient care, and maintaining a safe and clean environment in accordance with organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The technician supports the Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The position involves patient education and support; preparation, initiation, monitoring, and discontinuation of dialysis treatments; collection and documentation of patient measurements and treatment information; and reporting changes in patient condition. The technician also performs laboratory and infection-control tasks, maintains treatment areas and equipment, and may assist with training staff. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate care and education for newly admitted dialysis patients and supports their understanding of treatment and modality options. The role includes direct patient care and requires travel between assigned facilities and community locations. Work takes place in a health care facility and may involve exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Physical activities include frequent, prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient ambulation and movement, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Any applicable state licensure, education, and training required for the role.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s 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; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the position, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; assisting with patient movement and ambulation; frequently lifting or lowering solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasionally lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance devices or coworkers may be used.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Provide patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access as appropriate and within applicable law.
Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis treatments 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.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, assess patients before discharge, obtain hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly in required records and clinical applications.
Report significant information, changes in patient condition, and unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange collection of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly using appropriate disinfectant and prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis treatments, perform required machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities; review treatment sheets for completeness and follow up on omissions or corrections with appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork and prepare or print laboratory requisitions.
Assist with infection-control audits, support adherence to infection-control practices, and reinforce infection-control education under appropriate direction.
In the Transitional Care Unit, follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care information for new patients, coordinate with staff to support the patient experience, and help patients understand home dialysis and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, assist with demonstrations of peritoneal dialysis setup, and support transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.