Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care•Hammond, IN

About The Position

The Home Therapies Registered Nurse (RN), CAP 1, is an entry-level designation in the Clinical Advancement Program. The RN provides and coordinates clinically competent care for assigned patients, including assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation. The role assesses patients’ responses to home dialysis training and treatment, follows established protocols, and communicates patient-related issues to physicians as needed. As a member of the End Stage Kidney Disease health care team, the RN participates in care decisions, teaching, leadership, and quality improvement activities. The position primarily works in a clinic setting and conducts initial home visits with another staff member present. The RN serves as a patient educator and case manager, identifying and educating home dialysis candidates and partners, assessing home readiness, and training patients and/or partners to operate and maintain home dialysis equipment and supplies. Paid one-on-one training and education are provided. The RN works under the direction of a Supervisor, with guidance from an Educator or Preceptor or in collaboration with another RN. After meeting specified training and experience requirements, the nurse may be assigned oversight of LPNs/LVNs, RNs, Patient Care Technicians, and Home Therapy Care Team Assistants. The role involves direct patient care, periodic travel to training sites, other facilities, or patient homes, and participation in an on-call rotation and coverage schedule that may include nights, weekends, and holidays.

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 two years of nephrology nursing experience as a Registered Nurse.
Must complete FKC education and training requirements for new employees before receiving the described team-lead or nurse-in-charge oversight assignment.
For the described oversight assignment, must have at least 12 months of RN experience and three months of RN experience in home peritoneal dialysis and/or hemodialysis.
Ability to perform physical duties that include frequent prolonged standing and bending, heavy lifting and moving of equipment and patients, and assisting with ambulation. With assistance, may need to move equipment weighing up to 200 pounds and lift chemical and water solutions weighing up to 30 pounds as high as five feet.
Ability to work in a health care environment and potentially encounter infectious or contagious diseases or materials.
Availability for assigned coverage rotation and on-call participation, which may include nights, weekends, or holidays.
Ability to travel to training sites, other facilities, or patient homes when required.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of experience as a Registered Nurse (preferred).
Home dialysis therapy experience (preferred).

Responsibilities

Collect and analyze dialysis data for assigned patients, document findings in the medical record, adjust treatment plans as indicated, and notify the Supervisor or physician as needed.
Assess and document the basic learning needs of patients and families and provide initial and ongoing education.
Coordinate and provide safe, effective dialysis therapy in collaboration with patients, home care partners, and direct and ancillary care staff.
Administer prescribed medications or medications in accordance with 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 new-staff orientation as assigned.
Ensure correct laboratory collection, processing, and shipping procedures, 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 in identifying, evaluating, selecting, and educating Home Dialysis candidates and Home Partners.
Assess home-environment barriers and the readiness and ability of the patient’s partner or family to support home dialysis treatments.
Train Home Dialysis patients and/or Home Partners in the safe and effective operation and maintenance of home dialysis equipment and supplies through the formal training program.
Complete CAP requirements to advance.
Rotate coverage with other licensed home therapies staff as assigned and participate in the on-call rotation.
Perform other duties assigned by the Supervisor.