Patient Care Technician - PCT CCHT - Dialysis - Per Diem

Fresenius Medical Care • Reno, NV

1d • Onsite

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, supporting a safe and clean working environment, and participating in quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities. The technician provides direct patient care, monitors patients during treatment, documents treatment information, and reports changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or supervisor.

The position also supports patient education, infection control, laboratory specimen handling, record keeping, and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate care and education for newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with treatment setup, supplies, and inventory.

Work includes desk and computer tasks as well as regular patient interaction and direct care. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and locations in the community; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a healthcare facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct care regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, frequent and prolonged standing, bending, and occasional pushing or pulling equipment. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Meet CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
• Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
• Demonstrate commitment to the organization's culture, values, and customer service standards.
• Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program for continued employment.
• Successfully complete CPR certification for continued employment.
• Ability to perform the physical demands described, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, and lifting solutions up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Assist in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
• Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
• Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
• Obtain and record pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
• Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
• Respond to intradialytic problems as prescribed or directed, monitor patient responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to a registered nurse or supervisor.
• Calculate and enter patient-specific dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
• Document treatment parameters, vital signs, patient evaluations, interventions, and other required information accurately and promptly.
• Conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy, including required pretreatment machine alarm testing.
• Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange for pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
• Clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; promptly clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant.
• Prepare and organize supplies and equipment efficiently and monitor self-care patients under RN supervision.
• Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
• Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities and enter treatment data into the designated clinical application.
• Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and arrange for omitted entries to be completed or corrected by 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 patient and family education as directed and allowed by state law.
• Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
• Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled according to the care plan.
• Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with coordinating transition to the patient's chosen modality.
• Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with supply ordering and inventory.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly care environment and follow organizational policies, procedures, and ethical business practices.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED