Patient Care Aide

Centers for Dialysis Care•Cleveland, OH

About The Position

Major Performance Responsibilities Assists with the maintenance of physiologic function through the conscientious discontinuation of hemodialysis and related patient care tasks: Demonstrates a basis knowledge and understanding of the objectives of dialysis therapy and the means by which those objectives are attained Provides care for patients under the supervision of the RN Performs machine testing and sets up machine correctly Discontinues dialysis per protocol Records treatment information pertinent observations and data onto the flow sheet accurately and legibly Legible, accurate and complete medical documentation Communicates throughout the shift to the RN and other members of the patient care team Cleans all equipment after each treatment Demonstrates competence with special procedures or equipment related to dialysis requirements Keeps patient and work areas neat and orderly at all times Actively participates in the patients care plan Recognizes dialysis complications and responds with appropriate intervention Maintains current CPR licensure and responds to emergency situations with appropriate life support measures (the ABC’s of CPR) Ability to organize tasks to assure completion or daily work assignments Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment: Supports all policies developed to enhance the patient care environment Demonstrates an awareness of aseptic technique and follows Universal Secretion Precautions Demonstrates knowledge and proper use of all electrical and mechanical equipment Demonstrates knowledge and proper use of all electrical and mechanical equipment Demonstrates an awareness of the policies and procedures related to disaster preparedness Ability to transfer patients from one location to another as needed. This includes, but is not limited to transfer to/from treatment chair to wheelchair, treatment chair to floor or treatment chair to stretcher. Ability to distinguish positive and negative colorimetric assessments used to determine the safety of medical devices for patient use Able to transfer dialysis treatment supplies of up to 50 pounds from one location to another. Ability to organize tasks to assure completion of daily work assignments used to determine the safety of medical devices for patient use Compliance with Biohazard Waste and Hazcom policies Demonstrates a basic knowledge and understanding of the importance of water treatment for dialysis and its safe delivery for patients Demonstrates a basic knowledge and understanding of the practices and principles of dialyzer reuse Basic knowledge and understanding of anti-coagulation therapy Assists with the teaching of patients and families and provides emotional support: Recognizes behavioral changes and reports these changes to the RN Develops a therapeutic relationship with patients Maintains patient confidentiality at all times Gives appropriate explanation of any procedure or treatment given Reinforces explanations or teachings based on questions from patients and families Documents information on the patient flow sheet or the progress notes Demonstrates continuous self-growth and development: Attends continuing education programs; voluntary and mandatory Shares knowledge and experience with staff Participates actively in staff meetings Utilizes available resources to maintain an awareness of the current trends in dialysis techniques and therapy Completes self-evaluation on a yearly basis Identifies own learning needs Performs as a preceptor when assigned Promotes a team atmosphere through cooperative working relationships and collective problem solving Participates in facility task forces, quality facilitation processes and research on a voluntary and assigned basis Upholds CDC policies, procedures and practices to facilitate operations and ultimately assure quality patient care: Practices within the realm of CDC policies and procedures Assists in the development and maintenance of organizational department climate in which the needs of the patients and staff are met with warmth, respect and responsiveness Share in the responsibility of promoting CDC as a center of quality Maintains a professional appearance and demeanor at all times Appropriately responds to difficult and abusive patients Complies with personnel policies and procedures Demonstrates flexibility and availability in staff scheduling and unit task assignments. Requires overtime as needed Manages CDC resources in an efficient fiscally responsible manner: Follows protocols for equipment, supply use, and evaluation or new equipment and supplies Utilizes supplies in a cost conscious manner Provides input and suggestions that enhance efficiency in practice and or cost reduction Opening and closing duties including but not limited to: Water treatment system assessment Dialysis equipment rinsing Removing nonfunctional equipment and replacing it with functional equipment Properly performing bicarbonate preparation, and if applicable, proper rinsing and disinfecting of solution distribution system (SDS)

Requirements

knowledge and understanding of the objectives of dialysis therapy
knowledge and understanding of water treatment for dialysis and its safe delivery for patients
knowledge and understanding of the practices and principles of dialyzer reuse
Basic knowledge and understanding of anti-coagulation therapy
CPR licensure

Responsibilities

Assists with the maintenance of physiologic function through the conscientious discontinuation of hemodialysis and related patient care tasks
Demonstrates a basis knowledge and understanding of the objectives of dialysis therapy and the means by which those objectives are attained
Provides care for patients under the supervision of the RN
Performs machine testing and sets up machine correctly
Discontinues dialysis per protocol
Records treatment information pertinent observations and data onto the flow sheet accurately and legibly
Legible, accurate and complete medical documentation
Communicates throughout the shift to the RN and other members of the patient care team
Cleans all equipment after each treatment
Demonstrates competence with special procedures or equipment related to dialysis requirements
Keeps patient and work areas neat and orderly at all times
Actively participates in the patients care plan
Recognizes dialysis complications and responds with appropriate intervention
Maintains current CPR licensure and responds to emergency situations with appropriate life support measures (the ABC’s of CPR)
Ability to organize tasks to assure completion or daily work assignments
Supports all policies developed to enhance the patient care environment
Demonstrates an awareness of aseptic technique and follows Universal Secretion Precautions
Demonstrates knowledge and proper use of all electrical and mechanical equipment
Demonstrates an awareness of the policies and procedures related to disaster preparedness
Ability to transfer patients from one location to another as needed. This includes, but is not limited to transfer to/from treatment chair to wheelchair, treatment chair to floor or treatment chair to stretcher.
Ability to distinguish positive and negative colorimetric assessments used to determine the safety of medical devices for patient use
Able to transfer dialysis treatment supplies of up to 50 pounds from one location to another.
Compliance with Biohazard Waste and Hazcom policies
Demonstrates a basic knowledge and understanding of the importance of water treatment for dialysis and its safe delivery for patients
Demonstrates a basic knowledge and understanding of the practices and principles of dialyzer reuse
Basic knowledge and understanding of anti-coagulation therapy
Recognizes behavioral changes and reports these changes to the RN
Develops a therapeutic relationship with patients
Maintains patient confidentiality at all times
Gives appropriate explanation of any procedure or treatment given
Reinforces explanations or teachings based on questions from patients and families
Documents information on the patient flow sheet or the progress notes
Attends continuing education programs; voluntary and mandatory
Shares knowledge and experience with staff
Participates actively in staff meetings
Utilizes available resources to maintain an awareness of the current trends in dialysis techniques and therapy
Completes self-evaluation on a yearly basis
Identifies own learning needs
Performs as a preceptor when assigned
Promotes a team atmosphere through cooperative working relationships and collective problem solving
Participates in facility task forces, quality facilitation processes and research on a voluntary and assigned basis
Practices within the realm of CDC policies and procedures
Assists in the development and maintenance of organizational department climate in which the needs of the patients and staff are met with warmth, respect and responsiveness
Share in the responsibility of promoting CDC as a center of quality
Maintains a professional appearance and demeanor at all times
Appropriately responds to difficult and abusive patients
Complies with personnel policies and procedures
Demonstrates flexibility and availability in staff scheduling and unit task assignments. Requires overtime as needed
Follows protocols for equipment, supply use, and evaluation or new equipment and supplies
Utilizes supplies in a cost conscious manner
Provides input and suggestions that enhance efficiency in practice and or cost reduction
Water treatment system assessment
Dialysis equipment rinsing
Removing nonfunctional equipment and replacing it with functional equipment
Properly performing bicarbonate preparation, and if applicable, proper rinsing and disinfecting of solution distribution system (SDS)