Registered Nurse - RN - Dialysis

Fresenius Medical Care•Warrington Township, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Functions as a Staff Registered Nurse on a hemodialysis health care team, providing quality daily care in accordance with Fresenius Medical Care policies, procedures, training, and applicable state and federal regulations. Supports the company’s mission, values, quality initiatives, compliance program, and patient-satisfaction and continuous-improvement activities. Directs and supports patient-care staff, coordinates assignments, monitors care practices, and participates in training and orientation. Provides and documents patient and family education about end-stage renal disease, dialysis therapy, vascular access, diet, fluids, medications, laboratory results, treatment adequacy, transplantation, and treatment modalities. Assesses patients, implements prescribed hemodialysis treatments, monitors responses, adjusts care as indicated by the prescribing physician, and communicates concerns to the physician or Team Leader. Coordinates nursing assessments, access care, medication administration, transfusions, emergency response, laboratory processes, and accurate patient records. Maintains safe and sanitary facility operations, equipment readiness, and compliance with company policies and applicable regulations. Completes required care plans, assessments, quality-improvement activities, progress notes, and other assigned duties. The role provides direct patient care in a health care facility. It regularly involves heavy lifting and moving patients, assisting with ambulation, prolonged standing, and bending. With assistance, the employee may occasionally move machines or equipment weighing up to 200 pounds and lift chemical or water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds to a height of five feet. The environment has controlled air temperature and moderate noise, with possible exposure to infectious and contagious diseases or materials. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. An Ishihara color blindness test is required as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered. The employee may be required to provide coverage at any or all area facilities as directed by management.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current appropriate state licensure and compliance with practice requirements in the state of employment.
Successfully complete a training course in the theory and practice of hemodialysis.
Successfully complete CPR certification.
Meet applicable state requirements, if any.
Meet the necessary requirements of the Ishihara color blindness test as a condition of employment; failure does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodation may be considered.
Provide coverage at any or all area facilities as required by management.
Complete ICD-9 coding training.
Complete Nurses Technical Training.
Minimum of one year of medical-surgical nursing experience is preferred.
Hemodialysis experience is preferred.
ICU experience is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of one year of medical-surgical nursing experience.
Hemodialysis experience.
ICU experience.

Responsibilities

Direct Patient Care Technicians and delegate tasks to direct patient-care staff, including LVNs/LPNs, Patient Care Technicians, and Dialysis Assistants.
Assess daily patient-care needs, develop assignments, monitor staff techniques and compliance with facility procedures, and participate in staff training, orientation, and required meetings.
Provide and document education for patients and families on ESRD, renal disease, vascular access, dialysis therapy, diet and fluids, medication compliance, laboratory values, adequacy measures, transplantation, and treatment modalities.
Deliver safe and effective hemodialysis care and implement prescribed treatment parameters, including sodium and ultrafiltration modeling when appropriate.
Assess patient response to treatment, make appropriate adjustments to the treatment plan as indicated by the prescribing physician, and communicate patient concerns to the Team Leader or physician.
Initiate initial and annual nursing assessments and ongoing evaluation and documentation of patient-care needs.
Participate in pre-evaluation, treatment initiation, monitoring, termination, access homeostasis, and post-evaluation for hemodialysis patients.
Intervene for changes in patient adequacy status and troubleshoot access-flow issues identified through OLC/AMP.
Provide, supervise when applicable, and monitor hemodialysis access care.
Administer and monitor prescribed interdialytic transfusions, document patient response, and notify the physician and blood supplier of adverse reactions as appropriate.
Review and verify patient-care documentation, including Hemodialysis Treatment Sheets and entries in the Medical Information System.
Review, transcribe, and enter physician orders and laboratory orders accurately and in a timely manner.
Prepare laboratory requisitions; ensure appropriate tubes, draws, processing, follow-up on missed or insufficient specimens, packaging, and delivery to the appropriate laboratory.
Report alert, panic, and abnormal laboratory results to the appropriate physician and forward results as requested.
Enforce company policies and applicable state and federal regulations, and maintain shift operations safely, efficiently, and effectively.
Serve as a resource for staff and meet with the Clinical Manager regarding personnel and patient-care matters.
Collaborate with physicians and other health care team members to interpret, adjust, and coordinate patient care.
Assist patients with prescription refills in accordance with company policies.
Maintain the facility drug list and appropriate records of controlled substances.
Maintain competency in emergency procedures; initiate CPR and emergency measures during cardiac or respiratory arrest; and ensure emergency equipment is available.
Ensure appropriate vaccinations, immunizations, and annual tuberculosis testing.
Administer prescribed or algorithm-approved medications, including PRN medications, and document medical justification and assessment of effectiveness as appropriate.
Assist with patient transportation coordination when necessary.
Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary dialysis treatment area; ensure stations, machines, and chairs are clean and properly positioned; and address blood spills according to company policy.
Ensure competency in safe operation of dialysis equipment and complete documentation of physician orders, laboratory results, vital signs, treatment parameters, patient status, and treatment data in the Medical Information System.
Implement patient admission, transfer, and discharge policies and verify the accuracy and completion of patient-care staff documentation and treatment sheets.
Follow opening and closing procedures and ensure staff and patients have safely left the premises.
Initiate, document, and complete ongoing CQI activities, including monthly reports.
Complete monthly nurses’ progress notes, patient care plans, initial and annual nursing history and physical assessments, annual standing-order reviews with physicians, and long-term programs when due.
Review transplant status and follow established procedures for appropriate action.
Perform additional duties as assigned.