Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Lafayette, IN

About The Position

The Home Therapies Registered Nurse (RN CAP 1) is an entry-level designation in the Clinical Advancement Program. The role provides and coordinates clinically competent care for assigned patients, including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The RN assesses and manages patients’ responses to home dialysis training and treatment by following established protocols and communicating patient-related issues to physicians as needed. As a member of the End Stage Kidney Disease health care team, the RN participates in clinical decision-making, patient and family education, leadership functions, and quality improvement activities. The position primarily works in a clinic setting, providing one-on-one training and education to patients using peritoneal and home hemodialysis programs and equipment. Initial home visits are conducted with another staff member present. The RN also serves as an onsite patient educator and case manager, with coverage across varying shifts and work hours. The role includes assessing home dialysis candidates and their home environments, training patients and home partners to operate and maintain dialysis equipment, coordinating safe and effective treatment, and documenting care. Duties are performed in accordance with Fresenius Kidney Care policies and procedures, nursing practice standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.
Current appropriate state licensure and must meet practice requirements in the state of employment.
Current CPR BLS Certification or successful completion of CPR BLS Certification.
Entry-level designation for RNs with less than 2 years of Nephrology Nursing experience as a Registered Nurse.
Supervisory oversight eligibility requires successful completion of all FKC education and training requirements for new employees, at least 12 months of RN experience, and 3 months of RN experience in home peritoneal dialysis and/or hemodialysis.
Ability to perform direct patient care involving regular heavy lifting, moving equipment and patients, and assisting with ambulation, with assistance or equipment aids as needed.
Ability to stand for frequent, prolonged periods and bend over.
Ability, occasionally with assistance, to move machines and equipment weighing up to 200 lbs. and lift chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 lbs. as high as 5 feet.
Ability to work in a health care environment and potentially be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases or materials.
Ability to participate in on-call rotations and night, weekend, or holiday coverage as required by program needs.
Ability to travel to training sites, other facilities, or patient homes as required.

Nice To Haves

Minimum of 1 year of experience as a Registered Nurse (preferred).
Home dialysis therapy experience (preferred).

Responsibilities

Perform essential functions under the direction of the Supervisor, with guidance from an Educator or Preceptor or in collaboration with another Registered Nurse.
Collect and analyze dialysis data for assigned patients, document it in the medical record, adjust or modify treatment plans as indicated, and notify the Supervisor or physician as needed.
Assess and document patient and family learning needs and provide initial and ongoing education.
Coordinate and provide safe, effective dialysis therapy in collaboration with the patient, home care partner, and direct and ancillary care staff.
Administer prescribed medications or medications under approved algorithms, documenting medical justification and effectiveness.
Initiate or assist with emergency response measures.
Serve as a resource for the health care team and participate in staff training and orientation of new staff as assigned.
Ensure laboratory specimens are collected, processed, and shipped correctly, and reschedule missed or insufficient collections.
Identify expected outcomes and document and update nursing assessments and plans of care in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team.
Ensure patients are aware of transplant and treatment modality options.
Assist with identifying, evaluating, selecting, and educating Home Dialysis candidates and Home Partners.
Assess Home Dialysis candidates’ home environments and identify barriers, including partner or family readiness and ability to perform home treatments.
Train Home Dialysis patients and/or Home Partners through a formal program on safe, effective operation and maintenance of home dialysis equipment and treatment supplies.
Complete CAP requirements to advance.
Rotate coverage with other licensed home therapies staff as assigned and participate in the on-call rotation and coverage required by program needs.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.