Patient Care Technician - PCT - training provided

Fresenius Medical Care•Pawtucket, RI

6d•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, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program and continuous quality improvement activities, including efforts to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes. The technician welcomes and monitors patients, evaluates vascular access, performs cannulation and delegated heparin administration where permitted, takes and records pre-, during-, and post-treatment measurements, initiates and discontinues dialysis according to prescribed orders and procedures, and responds to treatment issues as directed. The role includes programming treatment parameters, checking equipment and safety alarms, documenting care, reporting changes in patient condition, collecting laboratory specimens, and maintaining supplies and equipment. The technician also supports patient education, infection-control practices, staff training, and transitional-care activities for newly admitted dialysis patients, including education about treatment options and home dialysis. This is a full-time role requiring flexibility to work rotating 10-hour shifts between 4:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, including two Saturdays per month. Work includes direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The healthcare-facility environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise; exposure to infectious or contagious diseases and materials may occur. Physical duties include frequent and prolonged standing, bending, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or moving patients and supplies. The position may require frequent lifting of up to 30 pounds, occasional lifting of up to 40 pounds to a height of five feet, and occasional pushing or pulling with up to 15 pounds of force; assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara color-blindness test; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
Meet any 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 as a condition of continued employment.
Successfully complete CPR certification as a condition of continued employment.
Be able to perform the physical demands of the role, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, assisting with patient movement and ambulation, and the specified lifting, pushing, and pulling.
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.

Responsibilities

Provide dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse and according to organizational policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Evaluate vascular access, perform cannulation, administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law, and monitor access pressures and findings during treatment.
Obtain, record, and evaluate pre-, during-, and post-treatment vital signs and weights, including standing and sitting blood pressure where required.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures; assess patients before discharge and termination of venous access.
Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine settings, including ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and UF modeling; ensure required safety alarms are enabled.
Observe patients and perform machine safety checks; respond to treatment problems as prescribed or directed, document interventions and patient responses, and report significant changes or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Complete accurate and timely treatment records, including treatment sheets, progress notes where applicable, and clinical application entries; review sheets for completeness and follow up on omissions or corrections.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange courier collection of specimens, and prepare laboratory requisitions.
Clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments; immediately clean blood spills using appropriate disinfectant and follow infection-control procedures.
Prepare and organize supplies and equipment, use them efficiently to prevent waste, and assist with supply ordering and inventory for the Transitional Care Unit.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist with training applicable direct patient-care staff under nurse supervision.
Support patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, vascular access, infection control, treatment options, and home dialysis as permitted by state law and under appropriate direction.
Follow newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, coordinate transitional care and appointments with relevant staff, and assist with transitions to the patient's selected modality.
Participate in and document Continuous Quality Improvement activities, infection-control audits, and process-improvement efforts.
Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly environment and follow organizational business policies, procedures, ethical practices, and customer-service standards.
Initiate the Solution Delivery System and complete required dialysis-machine preparation and alarm testing, including Pressure Holding Testing.