New Graduate Registered Nurse - RN

About the role

This position functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team as a Registered Nurse. Responsibilities include directing patient care, delegating tasks, assessing patient needs, and providing education and treatment. The role supports FMCNA’s mission, vision, values, and customer service philosophy.

Responsibilities

• Directs Patient Care Technician’s provision of safe and effective delivery of chronic hemodialysis therapy.
• Delegates tasks to all direct patient care staff including LVN/LPNs, Patient Care Technicians, and Dialysis Assistants.
• Affirms daily patient care needs and develops appropriate patient care assignments.
• Routinely monitors patient care staff for appropriate techniques and adherence to facility policy and procedures.
• Participates in staff training and orientation of new staff as assigned.
• Participates in all required staff meetings as scheduled.

Patient Related

• Ensures educational needs of patients and family are met regarding End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
• Provides ongoing education to patients regarding their renal disease, vascular access and dialysis therapy, and other related health conditions.
• Discusses with patient, and records education related to diet/fluid and medication compliance.
• Educates patients regarding laboratory values and the relationship to adequate dialysis therapy, compliance with treatment schedule, medications, and fluid.
• Ensures transplant awareness, modality awareness, and drive catheter reduction.
• Provides, supervises (if applicable), and monitors hemodialysis access care according to established procedures.
• Implements, administers, monitors, and documents patient's response to prescribed interdialytic transfusions, including appropriate notification of adverse reactions to physician and appropriate blood supplier.
• Ensures accurate and complete documentation by Patient Care Technician on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet.

Laboratory-related

• Reviews, transcribes, and enters physician lab orders accurately into the Medical Information System.
• Safely prepares lab requisitions for Spectra or alternate lab.
• Ensures correct labs tubes are utilized for prescribed lab specimens and that lab draw and processing procedures are performed appropriately for all lab samples.
• Identifies and ensures appropriate follow-through regarding missed labs and specimens reported to be insufficient according to company policies and procedures.
• Ensures all specimens are appropriately packaged according to Department of Transportation (DOT) policies and procedures relating to shipment of blood or body fluid specimens and potentially hazardous material.
• Ensures that all labs are directed and delivered to appropriate labs.
• Reports alert/panic and abnormal labs results to appropriate physician.
• Ensures lab results are forwarded to physicians as requested.

General duties

• Enforces all company approved policies and procedures, as well as regulations set forth by state and federal agencies and departments.
• Maintains overall shift operation in a safe, efficient, and effective manner.
• Acts as a resource for other staff members.
• Routinely meets with the Clinical Manager to discuss personnel and patient care status, issues, and information.
• Collaborates and communicates with physicians and other members of the healthcare team to interpret, adjust, and coordinate care provided to the patient.
• Provides assistance as needed to patients regarding prescription refills according to FMCNA Policies.
• Maintains facility drug list for all required stock medications.
• Maintains competency with all emergency operational procedures, and initiates CPR and emergency measures in the event of a cardiac and/or respiratory arrest.
• Ensures verification and availability of adequate emergency equipment.
• Ensures provision of appropriate vaccinations, immunizations, and annual Tuberculosis (TB) testing.
• Administers medications as prescribed or in accordance with approved algorithm(s), and documents appropriate medical justification if indicated.
• Administers PRN medications as prescribed and completes appropriate documentation of assessment of effectiveness.
• Maintains appropriate recording of controlled substances as required by law.
• Assists with the coordination of patient transportation if necessary.

Maintenance/Technical

• Ensures a clean, safe, and sanitary environment in the dialysis facility treatment area.
• Ensures competency in the operation of all dialysis-related equipment safely and effectively.
• Ensures all patient stations, including machines and chairs, are clean and free of blood and placed appropriately.
• Ensures that all blood spills are immediately addressed according to FMCNA Bloodborne Pathogen Control Policies.

Medical Records & Documentation

• Ensures all relevant data including physician orders, lab results, vital signs and treatment parameters, and patient status are documented appropriately and entered into Medical Information System.
• Ensures all appropriate patient related treatment data is entered into the Medical Information System.
• Ensures all FMCNA policies regarding patient admission, transfer, and discharge are appropriately implemented.
• Ensures and verifies accuracy of Patient Care Technician documentation.
• Daily reviews and ensures appropriate daily completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheets by all patient care staff.
• Ensures that all appropriate procedures are followed regarding opening and closing procedures, inclusive of monitoring that all staff and patients have safely left the premises.
• Initiates, documents, and completes ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities including monthly reports.
• Completes monthly nurses' progress note.
• Ensures patient medical records are complete with appropriate information, documentation, and identification on each page (Addressograph label is on all chart forms).
• Reviews transplant status and follows established procedure regarding appropriate action to be taken.
• Completes patient care plans for new patients within the initial 30 days or any patients deemed unstable requiring monthly patient care plans.
• Completes any long-term programs that are due.
• Completes initial and annual Nursing History and Assessment physical.
• Completes Annual Standing Order Review with each physician as required.