New Graduate RN

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• 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 but not limited to 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.
• Participate 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 patients, and records education related to diet/fluid and medication compliance.
• Provides patient specific detailed education regarding adequacy measures where applicable - Online Clearance Monitoring (OLC), Adequacy Monitoring Program (AMP), Urea Kinetic Modeling (UKM).
• Ensures transplant awareness, modality awareness, and drive catheter reduction.
• Educates patients regarding laboratory values and the relationship to adequate dialysis therapy, compliance with treatment schedule, medications, and fluid.
• 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) to ensure stable treatment therapy as indicated.
• Assesses patients' response to hemodialysis treatment therapy, making appropriate adjustments and modifications to the treatment plan as indicated by the prescribing physician.
• Initiates Initial and Annual Nursing Assessment, and ongoing evaluation and documentation of patient care needs according to FMC Policies and Procedures.
• Actively participates in the pre-evaluation, initiation, monitoring, termination, access homeostasis, and post evaluation of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment therapy according to established FMC procedures.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Reports alert/panic and abnormal labs result to appropriate physician.
• 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.
• Act as a resource for other staff members.
• Routinely meets with the Clinical Manager to discuss personnel and patient care status, issues, and information.
• Collaborate and communicate with physicians and other members of the healthcare team to interpret, adjust, and coordinate care provided to the patient.
• Maintains competency with all emergency's operational procedures, and initiates CPR and emergency measures in the event of a cardiac and/or respiratory arrest.
• 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.
• 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 relevant data including physician orders, lab results, vital signs and treatment parameters, and patient status are documented appropriately and entered into Medical Information System.
• Initiates, documents, and completes ongoing Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities including monthly reports.
• Completes monthly nurses' progress note.
• Completes patient care plans for new patients within the initial 30 days or any patients deemed unstable requiring monthly patient care plans.
• Completes initial and annual Nursing History and Assessment physical.
• Ensures completion of Annual Standing Order Review with each physician as required.

Education and Required Credentials

• Graduated from an accredited nursing program within the past 12 months.

Experience and Skills

• 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.