PCT II

Fresenius Medical Care•Tomball, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The PCT II 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 follows organizational policies, procedures, and training, as well as applicable corporate, state, and federal regulations. Responsibilities include setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and supporting quality enhancement and continuous quality improvement activities related to patient satisfaction and organizational goals. The position provides direct patient care throughout dialysis treatment, including assessing patients and vascular access, initiating and discontinuing prescribed treatments, monitoring patient responses, documenting treatment information, and reporting changes or concerns to a registered nurse or supervisor. The PCT II also supports laboratory specimen handling, infection control, patient education, staff training, and—in Transitional Care Units—the coordination and education of newly admitted patients during their first four weeks of dialysis and transition to a chosen treatment modality. The work includes desk and computer tasks and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians. Travel between assigned facilities and community locations is required; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may also be required. The work environment is a health care facility with controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Direct patient care involves frequent, prolonged standing, bending, heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. Employees may occasionally push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift or lower solutions up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance and material-handling devices are available for heavier items. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing it does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the applicable state or CMS timeline.
Meet applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
Demonstrate commitment to organizational culture, values, and customer service standards.
Successfully complete the organization's dialysis training program; continued employment is dependent on completion.
Successfully complete CPR certification; continued employment is dependent on completion.
Take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations may be considered.
Ability to perform the described physical duties, including frequent prolonged standing and bending; heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation; frequent lifting or lowering of solutions up to 30 pounds; and occasional lifting up to 40 pounds as high as five feet. Assistance or material-assist devices are available for heavier items.
Ability to travel between assigned facilities and various community locations; travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings may be required.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assist other health care team members in providing patient-specific education about adequacy measures, disease processes, and vascular access, as appropriate.
Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
Assess vascular access patency, cannulate vascular access, and administer heparin as delegated or permitted by state law.
Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weights, and perform pre-treatment vascular access evaluations.
Initiate dialysis according to prescribed orders, including blood flow and dialysate flow settings.
Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed or directed; monitor and document patient responses.
Obtain vital signs before reinfusion and perform and document the procedures needed to discontinue treatment.
Discontinue treatment according to established procedures, evaluate patients before venous access termination, obtain standing and sitting blood pressure, achieve hemostasis, and apply appropriate dressings.
Evaluate patients before discharge.
Calculate and enter prescribed individual dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration goal, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
Ensure required safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits (NVL) 160.
Accurately and promptly record vital signs, treatment parameters, treatment information, and relevant progress notes, including required initial identification.
Report significant information and changes in patient condition to the registered nurse or supervisor.
Observe patients and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy; report changes or unusual findings.
Evaluate vascular access during treatment, including arterial and venous monitoring pressures; intervene as appropriate, document, and report unusual findings.
Obtain prescribed laboratory tests and prepare specimens for collection.
Clean blood spills immediately with the appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
Prepare, organize, and use supplies and equipment efficiently to prevent waste.
Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under nurse supervision.
Follow organizational business policies, procedures, systems, and ethical business practices included in training.
Maintain a safe, clean environment and its aesthetics; clean and disinfect the dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments.
Prepare for dialysis treatment, document as appropriate, perform required pretreatment machine alarm tests including Pressure Holding Test (PHT), and initiate the Solution Delivery System (SDS).
Participate in and document ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
Enter treatment data accurately and promptly into the designated clinical application.
Review treatment sheets for completeness, verify nursing signatures, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
Prepare initial patient charts for admission and compile paperwork for placement in the chart.
Prepare and print laboratory requisitions for prescribed or stat specimens according to laboratory destination.
Collect, label, prepare, and store laboratory samples according to laboratory specifications, and ensure collection by the appropriate laboratory courier.
Assist in collecting information for infection control audits; support staff and patient adherence to infection control practices; follow infection control policies and procedures.
Participate in and reinforce infection control education for patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee, as allowed by state law.
Follow newly admitted Transitional Care Unit patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate their transitional dialysis care.
Reinforce education and care matters for new patients as allowed by state law.
Coordinate with appropriate FKC staff to support the patient experience and ensure disciplines are scheduled to see the patient according to the plan.
Help patients understand home dialysis products, the benefits of home dialysis, and how it may work for them.
Set and perform treatments on all machines used in the Transitional Care Unit.
Help patients understand treatment options, including demonstrating peritoneal dialysis setup.
Assist with coordination of transition to the patient's chosen modality.
Assist with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.