Acute Registered Nurse

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

The registered professional nurse (CAP RN 1) position is an entry level designation into the Clinical Advancement Program for Registered Nurses.  The CAP RN 1 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 Kidney Disease health care team, the CAP RN 1 participates in decision-making, teaching, leadership functions, and quality improvement activities that enhance patient care outcomes and program operations. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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

• Performs all essential functions under the direction of the Program Manager (PM) and with guidance from the Educator, Preceptor or an Inpatient Services CAP RN 2, 3, 4 or 5 for the first 6 months of employment.

• Expected to complete requirements to advance to the next Inpatient CAP level, for which they qualify, within 24 months from date of hire.

• Performs ongoing, systematic collection and analysis of patient data pre - during - post treatment for assigned patients and documents in the patient medical record, adjusts or modifies the treatment plan as indicated and notifies inpatient program manager, appropriately credentialed physician, patient's primary nurse and others as may be indicated.

• Recognizes aspects and implications of patient status that vary from normal and reports to or collaborates with appropriate health team members for input including but not limited to manager, appropriate physician, and acute primary nurse.

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

• Directs and provides safe effective patient care for assigned patients as prescribed for all modality specific treatment procedures.

• Initiates and coordinates communication with FKC and Non-FKC dialysis providers and appropriate hospital personnel as needed to provide continuity of patient care. 

• Administers medications as prescribed and in accordance with contractual agreement.

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

• Enters all treatment data into the designated medical record thoroughly, accurately and in a timely manner.

• Performs the implementation, administration, monitoring, and documentation of patient's response to prescribed intradialytic transfusions, including appropriate notification of adverse reactions to physician and appropriate blood supplier.

• Ensures familiarity with company, inpatient services program and contracted provider emergency policy to initiate and assist 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 to provide initial and ongoing education to patients and family.

• Instructs hospital/facility staff on aspects of specialized care related to renal replacement and apheresis therapies.

• Collaborates with the interdisciplinary team to update the nursing assessment and plan of care for assigned patients.  

• Initiates, documents, and completes ongoing QAI activities including monthly reports as directed by manager or designee.

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

• Participates in all required staff meetings as scheduled.

• May be assigned to assist in an Outpatient facility on an as needed basis.    

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

• Performs all other duties as assigned by manager within state, federal and contractual standards.

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.

• Areas of practice are diverse, including, but not limited to, the fields of hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, continuous renal replacement therapies, and apheresis.

• 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.

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

• Day to day work includes desk work, computer work and interaction with patients, facility/hospital staff and physicians. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and various locations within the community and travel to regional meetings may be required.

• Position requires participation in on-call rotation. (Night, Weekend or as defined by individual program needs).

SUPERVISION: 

• Assigned oversight of Patient Care Technicians/LPNs as a designated Nurse in charge, after the following:

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

  •  Must have a minimum of 9 months experience as an RN plus

  •  6 months experience in dialysis

EDUCATION:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing.

• Current appropriate state licensure.

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

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Entry level for RNs with less than 2 years of nephrology nursing experience within the last two years or for RNs with a BSN and less than 1 year of nephrology nursing experience within the last two years.
• Minimum of 9 months experience as a Registered Nurse (preferred).
• Minimum 6 months nephrology experience required before working independently without a qualified dialysis RN
• 6 months dialysis experience required to be on-call.
• Hemodialysis and/or ICU experience (preferred).
• Successful completion of FKC Education and Training requirements for new employees.
• Successful completion and maintenance of CPR BLS Certification.
• Meet all conditions of employment including Ishihara's Color Blindness Test.
• Successful completion of all annual required education/training/competencies.
• Successful completion of on-going training and education as assigned or required

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.