Patient Care Technician - PCT
About The Position
The Patient Care Technician works as part of a dialysis health care team to provide safe and effective dialysis therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The role includes setting up and operating hemodialysis machines, supporting a safe and clean treatment environment, contributing to quality improvement activities, and documenting patient treatment and care. No dialysis experience is required; extensive on-the-job training is provided. The technician welcomes patients, checks their condition, performs pre- and post-treatment assessments, monitors patients and vascular access during dialysis, responds to treatment issues as directed, and documents treatment information. Responsibilities also include preparing and maintaining equipment, collecting laboratory specimens, following infection-control practices, and assisting with patient education and staff training under appropriate supervision. In the Transitional Care Unit, the technician helps coordinate newly admitted patients’ first four weeks of dialysis, reinforces education, supports understanding of treatment and home-dialysis options, and assists with modality transitions, equipment, supplies, and inventory. The position involves direct patient care, travel between assigned facilities and community locations, and frequent physical activity including standing, bending, lifting, and assisting with patient movement.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- Meet applicable CMS-approved state and/or national certification requirements within the required state or CMS timeline.
- Meet any applicable state licensure, education, and training requirements.
- Demonstrate commitment to the organization’s culture, values, and customer service standards.
- Successfully complete the organization’s dialysis training program to remain employed.
- Successfully complete CPR certification to remain employed.
- Ability to perform direct patient care duties involving frequent, prolonged standing, bending, lifting, and assisting with patient movement.
- Ability to push or pull equipment with up to 15 pounds of force, frequently lift and lower solutions weighing up to 30 pounds, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds as high as five feet.
Nice To Haves
- Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or related facility.
Responsibilities
- Welcome assigned patients and ask about their wellbeing since their previous treatment.
- Assess vascular access and perform cannulation and heparin administration when delegated or permitted by state law.
- Obtain and document pre- and post-treatment vital signs, weights, and patient evaluations.
- Initiate, monitor, and discontinue dialysis treatments according to prescribed orders and established procedures.
- Calculate and enter prescribed dialysis machine programming, including ultrafiltration goals, treatment time, and ultrafiltration modeling.
- Check and enable required machine safety alarms, observe patients, and conduct machine safety checks.
- Identify and report changes in patient condition, unusual findings, and treatment concerns to the registered nurse or supervisor.
- Intervene as directed for unusual patient status and document the intervention and patient response.
- Monitor vascular access and treatment pressures, intervene as appropriate, and report or document unusual findings.
- Obtain prescribed laboratory tests; prepare, label, store, and arrange collection of specimens.
- Clean blood spills and disinfect machines, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas according to facility policy.
- Prepare and organize supplies and equipment while preventing waste.
- Monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.
- Assist with training applicable direct patient care staff under nurse supervision.
- Follow organization policies, procedures, business practices, and infection-control requirements.
- Complete and document participation in Continuous Quality Improvement activities.
- Enter treatment data accurately and promptly, review treatment sheets for completeness, and ensure omissions are corrected by appropriate staff.
- Prepare patient charts and paperwork, and prepare laboratory requisitions and specimens according to laboratory requirements.
- Assist with infection-control audits and reinforce infection-control education for patients and families as directed and allowed by law.
- Support newly admitted patients through their first four weeks of dialysis and coordinate transitional dialysis care.
- Coordinate with appropriate staff to support the patient experience and ensure visits are scheduled according to the care plan.
- Help patients understand home dialysis products, home treatment benefits, treatment options, and peritoneal dialysis setup.
- Assist with transitions to patients’ chosen treatment modality and with Transitional Care Unit supply ordering and inventory.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
