Patient Care Technician - PCT - Dialysis Preceptor

Fresenius Medical Care•Londonderry, NH

About The Position

The Patient Care Technician 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 organization policies, procedures, training, and applicable regulations. The role is responsible for setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality improvement activities intended to improve patient satisfaction and help patients achieve organizational quality goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatments, including patient assessment, vascular access care, treatment initiation and discontinuation, monitoring, documentation, and reporting changes in condition. It also supports patient education, self-care, laboratory testing, infection control, equipment maintenance, and clinical recordkeeping. As a preceptor, the technician participates in recruiting and orienting clinical staff, provides and supports training, conducts competency evaluations, and works with clinical leaders and education staff to reinforce quality, regulatory, safety, and infection-control standards. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician follows newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, helps coordinate care and modality transitions, and supports supply management. The role involves work in a health care facility and travel between assigned facilities and community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, or Corporate meetings may also be required. Work includes interaction with patients and clinical staff and may involve exposure to infectious materials. Direct care regularly requires lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, bending, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

Requirements

Must have dialysis experience and an active CCHT.
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Valid PCT national certification or state-specific certification as defined by CMS.
Meet all applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
Attend and actively participate in applicable preceptor training programs established by education leadership.
Attend Fresenius and publicly offered skill-based training as assigned by the Clinical Manager.
Continued employment depends on successful completion of the organization’s dialysis training program and CPR certification.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.
Ability to perform the physical demands of direct patient care, including frequent prolonged standing, bending, patient lifting and movement, assisting with ambulation, and lifting or lowering solutions and equipment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Provide patient-specific education with other health care team members about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access.
Welcome patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access, perform cannulation, and administer heparin when delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment weights and vital signs, and assess vascular access before treatment.
Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
Monitor patients’ response to dialysis, evaluate intradialytic problems, provide prescribed or directed interventions, and document patient responses.
Calculate and enter dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and prescribed ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required machine safety alarms are enabled and perform machine safety checks according to facility policy.
Record accurate and timely vital signs and treatment parameters, complete treatment sheets and applicable progress notes, and report significant information or changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Monitor vascular access pressures during treatment, intervene as appropriate, document findings, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and collect, label, prepare, store, and arrange pickup of specimens according to laboratory requirements.
Clean blood spills promptly with appropriate disinfectants and prepare and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision and assist them as applicable.
Participate in recruiting clinical staff, orienting facility staff, and training direct patient care personnel.
Serve as a preceptor in direct patient care training according to state guidelines, regulations, organizational policies, and training standards.
Conduct ongoing competency evaluations and audits of other PCTs and provide developmental support to applicable clinical and facility staff.
Collaborate with clinical managers and education coordinators to reinforce quality standards, ESRD regulatory and legal requirements, and continuous quality improvement.
Educate appropriate personnel, with the RN and interdisciplinary team, about facility water-system integrity and environmental integrity, safety, and maintenance as permitted by local regulations.
Support communication and coordinate the scheduling and implementation of training and organizational development programs.
Participate in CQI activities and monitor patient-care processes.
Maintain the safety, cleanliness, and appearance of the work environment; clean and disinfect dialysis machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatments, perform required pretreatment machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding Test, and initiate the Solution Delivery System.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly, review treatment sheets for completeness, and ensure omissions or corrections are addressed by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts and paperwork, print laboratory requisitions, and ensure laboratory specimens are collected by the appropriate courier.
Assist with facility infection-control audits, reinforce infection-control policies and practices among staff and patients, and participate in related education and survey responses under the direction of the Clinical Manager or designee.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional care.
Reinforce education for new patients, coordinate appointments with relevant staff, and help patients understand home dialysis products, benefits, and treatment options.
Set up and perform treatments on machines used in the Transitional Care Unit, demonstrate peritoneal dialysis setup as appropriate, and help coordinate transitions to patients’ chosen modalities.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.