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 ensuring quality patient care, delegating tasks, assessing patient care needs, and providing education and treatment.

Responsibilities

• Directs Patient Care Technician’s provision of safe and effective delivery of chronic hemodialysis therapy.
• Delegates tasks to all direct patient care staff.
• 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.
• Education: 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.
• Dialysis Treatment: Provides safe and effective delivery of care to patients with ESRD.
• Accurately implements treatment prescriptions including Sodium (Na) modeling prescription, and Ultrafiltration modeling (where appropriate).
• Communicates problems or concerns to the Team Leader or physician.
• Identifies and communicates patient related issues to Team Leader or physician.
• Initiates Initial and Annual Nursing Assessment, and ongoing evaluation and documentation of patient care needs.
• Participates in the pre evaluation, initiation, monitoring, termination, access homeostasis, and post evaluation of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment therapy.
• Takes appropriate intervention for changes in patient adequacy status and troubleshooting access flow issues as identified by OLC/AMP yellow lights.
• 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.
• Laboratory-related: Reviews, transcribes, and enters physician lab orders accurately into the Medical Information System.
• Ensures appropriate preparation of 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.
• Maintains overall shift operation in a safe, efficient, and effective manner.
• Enforces all company approved policies and procedures, as well as regulations set forth by state and federal agencies and departments.
• 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 appropriate recording of controlled substances as required by law.
• Assists with the coordination of patient transportation if necessary.
• Maintains 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.
• 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 FMCNA policies regarding patient admission, transfer, and discharge are appropriately implemented.
• Ensures and verify 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.
• Monthly 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.
• Annually Completes initial and annual Nursing History and Assessment physical.
• Sets up and maintains appropriate inventory of medications and supplies.
• Completes Annual Standing Order Review with each physician as required.

Qualifications

Required to obtain nursing license and registration within the timeline defined by state regulations, or within 90 days of hire, whichever occurs first. Current appropriate state Temporary Permit. Must meet the practice requirements in the state in which he or she is employed.