Outpatient Registered Nurse - RN - Dialysis

Purpose and Scope

Functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team as a Staff Registered Nurse to ensure provision of quality patient care on a daily basis in accordance with FMS policies, procedures, and training. Supports the FMCNA’s mission, vision, values, and customer service philosophy. Supports the FMCNA commitment to the Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI Activities, including those related to patient satisfaction and actively participates in process improvement activities that enhance the likelihood that patients will achieve the FMCNA Quality Enhancement Goals (QEP).

Adheres to all requirements of the FMCNA Compliance Program, and FMS patient care and administrative policies.

• Directs Patient Care Technician’s provision of safe and effective delivery of chronic hemodialysis therapy to patients in compliance with standards outlined in the facility policy procedure manuals, as well as regulations set forth by the corporation, state, and federal agencies.
• Delegates tasks to all direct patient care staff including LVN/LPNs, Patient Care Technicians, and Dialysis Assistants.
• Assesses 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.
• 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, dialysis therapy, and related health conditions; records education related to diet, fluid, and medication compliance.
• Provides patient‑specific detailed education regarding adequacy measures such as Online Clearance Monitoring (OLC), Adequacy Monitoring Program (AMP), and Urea Kinetic Modeling (UKM).
• Ensures transplant awareness, modality awareness, and drives catheter reduction.
• Educates patients regarding laboratory values and their relationship to adequate dialysis therapy, compliance with treatment schedule, medications, and fluid.
• Accurately implements treatment prescriptions including Sodium (Na) modeling and Ultrafiltration modeling, ensuring stable treatment therapy as indicated.
• Assesses patients’ response to hemodialysis treatment and makes appropriate adjustments to the treatment plan as indicated by the prescribing physician.
• Communicates problems or concerns to the Team Leader or physician and initiates interventions for changes in patient adequacy status.
• Monitors and troubleshoots access flow issues as identified by OLC/AMP yellow lights; supervises or monitors hemodialysis access care according to established procedures.
• Administers, monitors, and documents patient’s response to prescribed interdialytic transfusions, notifying physician of adverse reactions.
• Ensures accurate and complete documentation by Patient Care Technician on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet, and reviews, transcribes, and enters physician lab orders accurately into the Medical Information System.
• Ensures appropriate lab requisitions, correct labs tubes, and proper lab draw and processing procedures; follows DOT policies for shipment of blood or body fluid specimens.
• Reports alert/panic and abnormal lab results to appropriate physician and forwards lab results as requested.
• Enforces all company approved policies and procedures, and regulations set forth by state and federal agencies.
• Maintains overall shift operation in a safe, efficient, and effective manner; acts as resource for other staff members.
• Collaborates and communicates with physicians and other members of the healthcare team to interpret, adjust, and coordinate care.
• Assists patients with prescription refills according to FMCNA Policies and ensures all physician orders are transcribed and entered into the Medical Information system timely.
• Oversight of documentation of patient information and maintenance of facility drug list for required stock medications.
• Maintains competency with emergency operational procedures; initiates CPR and…