Outpatient Licensed Practical Nurse - LPN LVN - Dialysis

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Participates in the recruitment process for new clinical staff.
• Assists with clinical orientation and on-going training of all appropriate direct patient care personnel as well as the orientation of all facility staff to FKC.
• Functions as preceptor in direct patient care training programs to support the delivery of quality patient care.
• Delivers and maintains on-going competency evaluations/audits to ensure ongoing performance of other LPNs and PCTs.
• Collaborates with the Clinical Manager and Education Coordinator in driving FKC quality standards through education regarding all Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) regulatory and legal requirements.
• Provides coaching and developmental support to applicable clinical and facility staff.
• Partners with RN and IDT staff to educate the appropriate personnel regarding the integrity and safety of the facility water systems.
• Monitors processes in the delivery of patient care through regular Quality Assurance Indicator (QAI) activities.
• Welcomes assigned patients and inquire as to their well-being since their last treatment.
• Evaluates vascular access for patency.
• Obtains necessary pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight.
• Performs vascular access evaluation pre-treatment.
• Performs vascular access cannulation.
• Performs administration of Heparin, as delegated or as allowed by state law.
• Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines.
• Initiates dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD).
• Evaluates intradialytic problems and provides intervention as prescribed by physician order or as directed.
• Monitors patients' response to dialysis therapy.
• Discontinues dialysis treatment according to established procedures.
• Evaluates patient prior to termination of venous access - standing & sitting blood pressure.
• Obtains Hemostasis and applies appropriate dressings.
• Performs and records pre and post dialysis evaluation, weight and vital signs with initial identification.
• Responsible for calculating and entry of individual patients' dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal; treatment time; Sodium (Na) modeling; and UF modeling as prescribed.
• Responsible for ensuring appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, (NVL) 160.
• Records accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters onto the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet.
• Responsible for accurate documentation of information related to patient treatment.
• Reports directly to the nurse supervisor.
• Responsible for reporting and documenting any significant information and/or change in patient condition.
• Observes patient, and conducts machine safety checks according to facility policy.
• Performs and documents any intervention for unusual patient status and document patients' response to intervention.
• Evaluates patients' vascular access during treatment including arterial and venous monitoring pressures.
• Obtains all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
• Assists in developing and following the teaching plan to educate the patient and family regarding end stage renal disease, dialysis therapy, diet, and medications.
• Assists with all emergency operational procedures.
• Administers medications including intravenous in accordance with physician orders and state nurse practice laws.
• Initiates basic CPR measures in the event of cardiac and/or pulmonary arrest and respond to emergency situations related to dialysis treatment.
• Assists with facility Quality Assurance Indicators (QAI) infection control audits.
• Acts as a change agent for infection control practices within clinic.
• Monitors staff and patient adherence to infection control practices.
• Reinforces new hire employee adherence to infection control Policies and Procedures.
• Supports ongoing staff and patient engagement on infection control practices.
• Participates in education response to internal and external facility surveys.
• Maintains environmental integrity and aesthetics; ensures all areas are safe and clean.
• Cleans and disinfects dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments according to facility policy.
• Conducts all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document where appropriate.
• Performs all required pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT).
• Initiates Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.
• Ensures that all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
• Prepares, organizes, and efficiently utilizes supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
• Completes and documents ongoing participation in Quality Assurance Indicators (QAI) activities.
• Enters all treatment data into the designated clinical application in an accurate and timely manner.
• Reviews treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure omitted entries are completed or corrected where appropriate.
• Prepares initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
• Prepares lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens according to laboratory destination.
• Collects, labels, appropriately prepares and stores lab samples according required laboratory specifications.
• Ensures collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. May be exposed to infectious and contagious diseases/materials. The position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients, and assisting with ambulation. This position requires frequent, prolonged periods of standing and the employee must be able to bend over. The employee may occasionally be required to move, with assistance, machines and equipment of up to 200 lbs., and may lift chemical and water solutions of up to 30 lbs. up as high as 5 feet.