Registered Nurse - RN - Apheresis

Purpose and Scope

The Apheresis RN spends 80% or more of their time providing Apheresis treatments and direct patient care in accordance with company policies and procedures, including FMCNA compliance programs and contracted hospitals' policies and procedures. Areas of practice include therapeutic plasma exchange, RBC exchange and depletion, PLT and WBC depletions, PBSC and WBC collections, Photopheresis, and LDL apheresis. The Apheresis RN partners with the hospital or outpatient facility to provide quality care and a positive patient experience.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Under limited supervision, applies considerable knowledge to perform a broad range of tasks including direct patient care in multiple modalities not limited to apheresis.
• Responsible for direct patient care of assigned patients in the hospital or outpatient location, providing the appropriate treatment technique for assigned patients or donors as prescribed in all apheresis modality procedures.
• Performs scheduled, unscheduled, and emergency Apheresis treatments and other extra-corporeal therapies in assigned hospitals or outpatient locations, establishing priority of care.
• Initiates, monitors, and discontinues prescribed treatments and medication according to established FMCNA policies and procedures.
• Gives organized, concise shift reports for patients as assigned.
• Applies high-level thinking skills to patient schedules to meet needs of more critical patients due to labs, MD orders, availability of access/replacement products, or patient assessment.
• Ensures adequate coverage of patient treatments and customer needs through appropriate scheduling.
• Travels outside regional area as necessary to help with coverage of patient treatments to perform Apheresis or other extra-corporeal therapies.
• Maintains a safe environment for self, patients, and staff by following universal infection control precautions in performing patient care and handling of equipment.
• Maintains current knowledge of advancements in Therapeutic Apheresis by ensuring apheresis LMS modules are reviewed and completed.

Patient Care

• Assesses patients' responses to therapeutic apheresis, making appropriate adjustments and modifications to the treatment plan as indicated by the appropriately credentialed physician.
• Communicates problems or concerns to the Inpatient Program Manager, appropriately credentialed physician, patient hospital primary nurse, and others as indicated.
• Assesses patients pre-, during, and post-treatment to detect mild, moderate, and severe Apheresis and non-Apheresis related complications, notifying appropriate hospital personnel.
• Responsible for implementation, administration, monitoring, and documentation of patient's response to prescribed treatment modality, including appropriate notification of adverse reactions to physician and blood supplier.
• Delivers safe, effective care in a timely and efficient manner.
• Reports all new or unusual incidents, information, complaints, or problems to applicable Apheresis Managers and/or hospital personnel, tracking and documenting all adverse events in accordance with Variance Reporting guidelines.
• Accurately documents all pertinent treatment information in the individual patient's record (ACES) and the hospital record, as needed.
• Completes appropriate training programs to successfully deliver specific patient care to a variety of patients.
• Utilizes principles of growth and development to assess patient's status, identifying each patient's relative requirements and providing recommendations for the patient's plan of care.
• Implements physician's orders and follows through appropriately.
• Ensures patient confidentiality.
• Assists in the evacuation of patients in the event of emergency, fire, or disaster according to company and hospital policy and procedures.
• Assists with and performs all equipment preventative maintenance date confirmations, cleans and disinfects machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments according to inpatient policies and procedures.
• Conducts all tasks necessary for preparation for apheresis treatments or collections and documents where appropriate.
• Sets up, monitors, and discontinues use of Apheresis equipment, blood warmer, and other equipment used for related procedures according to established standard operating procedure.
• Assists with inventory control according to corporate and department policy, manufacturer recommendations, and regulatory agency guidelines.
• Manages and maintains supply inventory in an efficient and cost-effective manner, documenting all inventory control.
• Performs all required pre-treatment apheresis machine alarm testing and documents information and equipment maintenance according to policy.
• Operates all related equipment appropriately and safely and provides minor troubleshooting when necessary; efficiently utilizes supplies to prevent waste.
• Understands, conducts, and documents appropriately Apheresis machine safety tests/alarm tests, equipment calibration, machine safety tests, functional testing, and internal and external disinfection on all machines and complies with documentation/notification standards per FMCNA policies.
• Maintains a safe, neat, and adequately stocked supply and equipment area.
• Reports all equipment and supply problems to repair personnel.

Staff Related

• Completes and documents ongoing participation in QAI activities.
• Responsible for reporting all new or unusual incidents, information, complaints, or problems to the Inpatient Program Manager and other parties per Adverse Event Reporting requirements.
• May be assigned to other in-patient care on an as-needed basis.
• Acts as a resource for other staff members.
• Participates in staff meetings and mandatory continuing education as scheduled and participates in staff training and orientation as assigned.
• Communicates effectively with physicians, supervisors, hospital staff, coworkers, patients, and families.
• Recognizes and utilizes opportunities for patient and family education specific to individual and family needs.
• Maintains a positive working relationship with all company and hospital staff members to ensure effective and efficient treatments.

Other

• Reviews and complies with the Code of Business Conduct and all applicable company policies and procedures, local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Assists with various projects as assigned by direct supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees are required to take the Ishihara's Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and the Company will consider whether reasonable accommodations can be made. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community. Position requires on-call rotation including night, day, weekend, and holidays. The work environment is characteristic of a health care facility with air temperature control and moderate noise levels. May be potential for exposure to infectious and contagious diseases/materials. Position provides direct patient care which regularly involves heavy lifting, moving of patient and/or equipment > 200-lbs (with mechanical assistance).

Supervision

None

Education

• Current appropriate state licensure.
• Must meet the practice requirements in the state in which employed.
• Certification in Apheresis Nursing is highly encouraged.
• Peripheral vein cannulation abilities preferred.
• Maintains acquired knowledge and remains current in advancements of therapeutic apheresis, relative to inpatient care for hospitalized patients requiring varied treatment modalities.

Experience and Required Skills

• One year of RN experience required.
• One year of Apheresis or ICU/CCU/ED experience preferred.
• Demonstrated strong assessment skills related to the critically ill patient.
• Successful completion of competency training course in theory and practice of Therapeutic Apheresis and related procedures.
• BLS CPR Recognition.
• ACLS CPR Recognition preferred, but not required.
• Demonstrates organizational and time management skills, and a competency toward completing continuing and ongoing apheresis education.
• Displays leadership skills and ability to direct and supervise others (such as Technical, Clerical Staff).
• Valid driver's license.