Outpatient Registered Nurse - Transitional Care Unit - Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

The professional registered nurse (CAP RN 2) position may be an entry level CAP designation for new employees that meet the CAP RN 2 criteria or attained through advancement by the CAP RN 1.  The CAP RN 2 is accountable and responsible for the provision and coordination of clinically competent care including assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation for an assigned group of patients.

As a member of the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) health care team, the CAP RN 2 participates in decision-making, teaching, leadership functions, and quality improvement activities that enhance patient care outcomes and facility operations.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

All duties and responsibilities are expected to be performed in accordance with Fresenius Kidney Care policy, procedures, standards of nursing practice, state and federal regulations.

• Performs all essential functions under the direction of the Clinical Manager and with the guidance from the Educator, Preceptor or a CAP RN 2, 3, 4 or 5 for the first 3 months of employment.  

• Required to complete CAP program requirements to either maintain the CAP RN 2 level or advance to CAP RN 3.

• Performs ongoing, systematic collection and analysis of patient data pre – during – post hemodialysis treatment for assigned patients and documents in the patient medical record, makes adjustments or modifications to treatment plan as indicated and notifies Team Leader, Charge Nurse, Clinical Manager or Physician as needed.

• Recognizes aspects and implications of patient status that vary from normal and reports to or collaborates with appropriate health team members for input.

• Assesses daily assigned patient care needs and collaborates with direct and ancillary patient care staff as needed.

• Directs and provides all aspects of the daily provision of safe and effective delivery of chronic hemodialysis therapy to assigned patients.

• Administers medications as prescribed or in accordance with approved algorithm(s), and documents appropriate medical justification and effectiveness.

• Ensures correct laboratory collection, processing and shipping procedures are performed and reschedules missed or insufficient laboratory collections.

• Ensures physician orders for assigned patients are entered and acknowledged in the Medical Record.

• Initiates or assists with emergency response measures.

• Delegates appropriate tasks to direct patient care staff including but not limited to LVN/LPNs and Patient Care Technicians.

• Monitors patient care staff for appropriate techniques and adherence to FKC policy and procedures.

• Promotes infection control, equipment and environmental safety.

• Assesses, collaborates and documents patient/family’s basic learning needs including direct and ancillary patient care staff to provide initial and ongoing education to patients and family.

• Serves as a leader, coach, mentor and role model for new and incumbent employees by setting examples of appropriate behavior, work habits and attitudes towards patients, co-workers, supervisors and the company at the facility and area level.  May serve as a Preceptor to new employees.

• As a Preceptor fulfills the following:

  • Demonstrates, reinforces, and encourages attitudes and actions which are consistent with FKC Mission and Core Values.

  • Follows schedule established by the Education Department to ensure that information presented in class is applied in the clinical setting.

  • Seeks opportunities for new employees and communicates progress to Clinical Manager.  Provides feedback about new employee’s progress to the CM and the Education Department using evaluation tools and direct communication.

  • Completes all documentation in a timely manner.

  • Maintains direct supervision of the new employee until the employee is released to work independently by the Education Department and CM.

  • Encourages the new employee to function independently within the constraints of the training schedule and supplies positive feedback as well as suggestions to improve knowledge and skills.

• Performs essential functions of a Team Leader as assigned by the Clinical Manager or Charge Nurse

• Performs essential functions of a designated Nurse in charge as assigned by the Clinical Manager.

• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team in the assessment and development of patient plans of care.

• Identifies expected outcomes, documents and updates the nursing assessment and plan of care for assigned patients through collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team.

• Ensures patient awareness related to transplant and treatment modality options.

• Makes referrals to Social Worker and Registered Dietitian as appropriate for individual patient education and counseling.

• Checks availability of adequate emergency equipment and supplies daily as assigned.

• Assists with medication tracking and inventory as assigned.

• Serves as a resource for health care team, participates in staff training, orientation of new staff as assigned.

• Participates in all required staff meetings as scheduled.

• Supports and promotes the FMCNA’s mission, vision, values, and customer service philosophy. 

• Provides education to staff members regarding updates to policy and procedures as directed by Supervisor.

• Participates in education and quality improvement projects at the facility and area level as directed by Supervisor.

• Performs all other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Addendum: Transitional Care

In some designated programs, RN’s who have achieved a CAP 2 status may participate in our Transitional Care Program.  That program entails the following:

• Following all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinating their transitional dialysis care
• Coordinating all education and care related matters as it relates to the new patient; liaisons with appropriate FKC staff members to provide the best patient experience and education to include making sure all disciplines are scheduled to see patient according to plan
• Demonstrating and education on home dialysis products to ensure patient understands the benefits of home and how home dialysis can work for them.
• Ability to set and preform a treatment on all machines used in the transitional care unit. This includes being able to demonstrate peritoneal dialysis set-up.
• Coordinate transition to patient’s permanent modality choice.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here 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.

• The position provides direct patient care that regularly involves heavy lifting and moving of patients and assisting with ambulation.  Equipment aids and/or coworkers may provide assistance.  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. as high as 5 feet.  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.

• Day to day work includes desk work, computer work and interaction with patients, facility/hospital staff and physicians. The position may require travel to training sites or other facilities.

• May be asked to provide essential functions of this position in other locations with the same physical demands and working conditions as described above.

SUPERVISION:

• Assigned oversight of patient care technicians/LPNs as a Team Leader or designated Nurse in charge, after the following:

  •  Successful completion of all FKC education and training requirements for new employees plus

  •  Must have a minimum of 3 months experience in chronic hemodialysis plus

  • Achieve and maintain all CAP RN 2 level criteria.

EDUCATION:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.

• Current appropriate state licensure.

• Must meet the practice requirements in the state in which he or she is employed.

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS:

EO/AA Employer: Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Fresenius Medical Care North America maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

EO/AA Employer: Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Fresenius Medical Care North America maintains a drug-free workplace in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.