Registered Nurse (RN) - Pathology Apheresis - FT - Days - Augusta, GA

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Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

Job Summary

This position is Monday - Friday, between the hours of 7:30am - 4:00 with

rotating call.

An apheresis nurse is a specialized registered nurse who performs apheresis — the process of removing blood from a patient or donor, separating its components, collecting one or more (such as plasma, platelets, white blood cells, or stem cells), and returning the rest to the patient. This is used in both therapeutic treatments for conditions like blood cancers, autoimmune disorders, and sickle cell disease, and in donor programs for blood products.

Registered Nurses provide quality nursing services by working with the patient care team to assess, plan, implement, and

evaluate patients' care and by providing a positive, supportive environment. The Registered Nurse is the front-line

representative of the patient care team often serving as the intermediary between the patient and family, the provider(s),

and other care team members. This role is expected to: participate in performance improvement initiatives; maintain

professional competence; develop others; uphold confidentiality, safety, and professional standards; and support Shared

Governance through service on councils or sponsored activities.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Key Responsibilities

• Operate apheresis machines to separate and collect specific blood components
• Monitor patients during procedures, ensuring safety and comfort, and managing potential complications like citrate toxicity or low blood pressure
• Educate patients on the process, risks, and post-procedure care
• Collaborate with medical teams to coordinate treatments, including stem cell collection for transplantation
• Maintain aseptic technique and follow transfusion medicine protocols

Common Apheresis Procedures

• Plasmapheresis – removal/replacement of plasma (e.g., for autoimmune diseases)
• Leukapheresis – removal of white blood cells
• Erythrocytapheresis – red blood cell exchange (e.g., for sickle cell anemia)
• Photopheresis – treatment for T-cell lymphoma

Patient Care and Care Coordination: Monitors, examines, and evaluates the patients conditions. Assists with

the care plan and takes appropriate actions to promote the patients short/long-term outcomes and wellbeing.

Delivers care plan as outlined, applying independent judgment where appropriate. Collaborates with

and communicates patient care plans with other staff, as appropriate. Prioritizes and coordinates optimum

daily patient flow and patient experience. Delivers safe and effective care according to policies and

procedures. Maintains appropriate documentation of patient assessment, changes in condition, care

delivered, education provided, and any incidents or exceptions related to standards of care or compliance

with hospital policy.

Patient Advocacy and Satisfaction: Listens to concerns, probes in-depth to understand the needs and

concerns, and responds to patient needs in an appropriately timed manner. Serves as an educational

resource for patients and families on health-related issues. Communicates necessary patient information to

family, licensed care providers, and other staff. Embraces the concept of patient- and family-centered care

to maintain patient, family, staff, and physician satisfaction. Prioritizes actions according to patient needs and

provides input into the plan of care by reporting pertinent information involving the patient and family to the

appropriate individuals in accordance with confidentiality standards.

Performance Improvement: Seeks opportunities to improve the work environment and processes.

Contributes ideas to help identify solutions and supports change implementation. Supports and contributes

to improvement initiatives aligned with achieving better patient quality outcomes, patient satisfaction, staff

satisfaction, and organizational financial performance.

Professional Competency and Growth: Maintains professional licenses and certifications. Completes all

required training. Self-identifies and self-manages training and development opportunities. Is involved in

professional organizations. Keeps current with research literature and industry best practices. Seeks

opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.

Professional Leadership: Fosters the growth and development of other nurses through mentorship and

preceptorship. Contributes to a positive and supportive work environment. Adheres to all confidentiality,

safety, and professional standards. Acts with professionalism embrace shared governance principles and

demonstrate integrity. Holds self and others accountable for practice by participating in the peer feedback

process. Positively promotes the nursing profession and assists with the recruitment of nurses to AU Health.

Other duties as assigned.

Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education

• Associates Nursing or Diploma (Nurse) Nursing or Bachelors Nursing-Preferred

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)

All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

• BLS-I - Basic Life Support - Instructor or BLS - Basic Life Support or ARC-BLS - Amer Red Cross Basic Life Support
• RN - Reg Nurse (Single State) or RN-COMPACT - RN - Multi-state Compact