Home Hemo- Certified Hemodialysis Technician
About The Position
Certified Hemodialysis Technicians work under the direct supervision of Registered Nurses and carry out standing dialysis treatment orders from physicians and/or nurse practitioners. They report to their assigned Registered Nurse or Charge Nurse for scheduling and compliance with personnel and other internal dialysis-unit policies. The position has no supervisory responsibilities. The role focuses on patient care and dialysis treatment. It includes assessing patients, initiating and monitoring treatments, recording relevant observations, responding to symptoms in consultation with nursing staff or physicians, and maintaining a safe, clean, and comfortable environment. Technicians also set up, operate, clean, and disinfect dialysis equipment; report equipment problems; and participate in staff meetings and educational programs.
Requirements
- Must possess a high school diploma.
- Must demonstrate ability and competence as a Dialysis Technician and be certified by the State of California.
- Must hold current CPR certification.
- Must demonstrate understanding of hemodialysis theory, methods, and care of dialysis patients.
- Must successfully pass a State or standardized national certification examination; the posting specifies a deadline of April 2010.
- Must have received job training as a dialysis technician and be certified by the State of California and/or through a national certification examination.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in a healthcare-related field or education in a health-related field is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Assess patients’ appearance, weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and general well-being; report abnormal findings and concerning symptoms to the Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician.
- Draw ordered blood work from an arterial or venous blood line when necessary.
- Initiate dialysis treatment according to each patient’s standing orders.
- Monitor patients during treatment and record blood pressure, pulse, and subjective findings on the data flow sheet and/or computer; confer with the Registered Nurse and physician regarding patient care.
- Maintain a clean, comfortable, and safe environment for patients, and wear a lab coat during treatments.
- Administer 150 cc of normal saline if a patient’s blood pressure drops or the patient becomes symptomatic, consulting with the Registered Nurse and/or physician.
- Keep dialysis equipment under observation, evaluate that it is operating properly, and report malfunctions to machine technicians.
- Terminate treatments according to procedure, administering normal saline on rinse back; remove patient needles, ensure proper clotting, and bandage access using proper technique.
- Evaluate patients’ condition using vital signs, fluid status, access appearance, and general condition.
- Use flow-sheet documentation when the dialysis machines cannot support computer documentation, and file the patient data sheet in the electronic chart.
- Acknowledge patient requests and feelings and show respect for patients and families.
- Follow and enforce infection-control and safety policies and procedures.
- Maintain knowledge of dialysis-unit equipment, start the RO system, log machine functions, and report malfunctions to the Registered Nurse and/or machine technicians.
- Set up equipment and prime the dialyzer according to unit procedures.
- Clean dialysis equipment after each treatment and disinfect it according to established procedures.
- Perform other tasks as needed, such as stocking shelves and drawers and cleaning assigned work areas.
- Seek assistance from appropriate resources when necessary.
- Participate in staff meetings and in-service educational programs within the dialysis unit, as well as outside seminars.
- Adapt to procedural changes, emergencies, patient census, and staffing adjustments; communicate effectively in writing and verbally with physicians, Registered Nurses, and coworkers.
- Follow the dialysis-unit dress code, report promptly at scheduled times, maintain good attendance, and adapt to scheduling and staffing changes.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
