Patient Care Technician - PCT - Dialysis Preceptor

Fresenius Medical Care•Niles, MI

11d

About The Position

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team, providing 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, helps maintain a safe and clean work environment, and supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including patient education, access assessment and cannulation, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, specimen collection, and reporting changes in patient condition. As a preceptor, the technician supports recruitment, clinical orientation, staff training, and competency evaluation. The role also contributes to infection-control activities, facility readiness, and transitional care for newly admitted dialysis patients, including support for understanding treatment options and coordinating transitions to a chosen modality.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by CMS, and any applicable state licensure, education, and training.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Attendance and active participation in applicable preceptor training programs established by education leadership.
Attendance at Fresenius and publicly offered skill-based training as assigned by the Clinical Manager.
Successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification is required for continued employment.
Ability to meet the position’s physical demands, including frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient lifting and ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions weighing up to 30 pounds frequently and up to 40 pounds occasionally.
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.

Nice To Haves

At least five years of patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility is preferred.

Responsibilities

Educate patients, as appropriate, about adequacy measures, the disease process, and vascular access.
Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and vascular-access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood-flow and dialysate-flow settings, and program ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling as prescribed.
Monitor patients’ responses to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, and provide interventions as prescribed or directed.
Perform treatment discontinuation procedures, obtain hemostasis, apply dressings, and evaluate patients before discharge.
Ensure appropriate machine safety alarms are enabled and conduct patient and machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Document treatment parameters, vital signs, evaluations, interventions, and patient responses accurately and promptly; report significant information and changes to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access and arterial and venous pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, and document and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, and store specimens; prepare requisitions; and ensure specimens are collected by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectants and organize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist them as applicable.
Participate in recruiting clinical staff and assist with clinical orientation and ongoing training for direct patient care personnel and facility staff.
Serve as a preceptor in direct patient care training in accordance with applicable state guidelines, organizational standards, and policies.
Deliver and maintain competency evaluations and audits for other patient care technicians.
Collaborate with Clinical Managers, Education Coordinators, RNs, and interdisciplinary team staff on quality standards, regulatory and legal requirements, training, staff development, and CQI activities.
Educate appropriate personnel, with RN and interdisciplinary team staff, about water-system integrity and safety and the facility’s environmental integrity and safety, as permitted by local regulations.
Support communication and coordination of training and organizational development programs among clinical and facility staff; participate in or help design educational programs for PCT staff.
Monitor patient-care processes through regular CQI activities and incorporate business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical practices into training.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly facility environment; clean and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare dialysis equipment and conduct required pretreatment machine alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Test (PHT); initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Complete and document CQI participation; enter treatment data into the clinical application; review treatment sheets for completeness and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and admission paperwork for placement in the chart.
Assist with facility quality assurance and infection-control audits, monitor adherence to infection-control practices under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee, and reinforce practices with staff, patients, and families as permitted by state law.
Support infection-control education and engagement, including new-hire reinforcement, patient lobby days, staff meetings, visual materials, and responses to facility surveys 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 with facility staff to support the patient experience and scheduling of disciplines according to the care plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products and benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup; assist with transitions to the patient’s selected modality.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit and assist with TCU supply ordering and inventory.