Dialysis Support Technician

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Summary

1.0 FTE; 7am-5:30pm; 40 hours a week; Every other Saturday and holiday rotation which would require working a Sunday in order to be off the holiday for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years day ;

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Dialysis Support Technician assists with the delivery of patient care on the Renal Dialysis Unit by performing routine nursing procedures under the direct supervision and guidance of an RN. Patient care includes care to patients in the following age groups: pediatric (30 days through 12 years), adolescent (13 through 18 years), adult (19 through 64 years), and geriatric (65 years and above).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Qualified individuals must have the ability (with or without reasonable accommodation) to perform the following duties:

• Provides appropriate basic physical care to patients as designated/directed by the RN including taking vital signs and other procedures.

• Observes and reports unusual situations, reactions, effects, or conditions to appropriate person.  Demonstrates awareness of patients' potential need for dialysis interventions and knowledge and awareness of potential side effects from the dialysis procedure including prompt reporting of the observation to the RN.

• Perform appropriate Dialysis functions which may include the following, but not limited to:
  • Sets up the dialysis machine and attaches the dialyzer and the tubing to the machine to assemble for us.
  • May potentially mix dialysate according to formula.
  • Primes the dialyzer with appropriate solutions to prepare machine for use.
  • Transports patients to dialysis as appropriate and position patients appropriately.
  • Inspects equipment settings, including pressures, conductivity, and temperature to ensure conformance to safety standards.
  • Takes and records patients post dialysis weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration rate and document appropriately.
  • Discard dialysis supplies and sanitizes equipment according to manufacturer and unit protocol.
  • Communicates emotional, medical, psychosocial, and nutritional concerns to the registered nurse.
  • Collaborates with the registered nurse in identifying and meeting patient education goals.

• Environment Management –
  • Completes cleaning tasks utilizing OSHA standards. Performs maintenance and/or inventory of equipment according to unit/department standards.
  • Practices standard precautions while handling contaminated items.
  • Maintains unit order and efficiency.
  • Maintains appearance of patient care areas and public areas.
  • Maintains safe work environment

• Supply Management/Clerical –
  • Orders and stocks supplies to meet the needs of the unit/department.
  • Demonstrates an awareness of cost containment practices.
  • Distributes supplies to appropriate areas according to unit/department standards.
  • Demonstrates computer skills necessary to perform unit/department specific responsibilities.
  • Depending on location may need to schedule patients and handle phone calls.

• Patient Care/Safety –
  • Documents accurately and timely, according to unit/department standards
  • Reports promptly unusual situations, reactions, effects or conditions related to patient care to the responsible person(s).
  • Assist patients with personal hygiene needs and/or provide activities of daily living, comfort measures including changing linen, providing safe environment for mobility and ambulation, and maintaining a clean and orderly patient environment. 
  • Safely assist in mobilizing, turning, and positioning of patients; including use of various assistive devices and mechanical lifts.
  • Demonstrates positive interpersonal skills when dealing with patients, family members and staff.
  • Functions as a patient advocate by resolving patient/family concerns through appropriate actions.
  • Assists with arrivals, acute set ups, transports, etc.
  • Answer patient call lights independently, promptly, and to the patient’s satisfaction; referring patient concerns to the RN or Nurse Manager. 
  • Provide close observation and care safely for patients who require 1:1 observation. 
  • Demonstrate proper responses to emergency situations.

• Code of Conduct/Professionalism –
  • Identifies learning needs and seeks available resources and opportunities.
  • Completes assignments within designated shift.
  • Responds promptly to requests for assistance.
  • Respects patient rights and maintains strict confidentiality. 
  • Communicates clearly, concisely and appropriately (verbal/written communications).
  • Assumes personal responsibility for attendance to maintain unit/department function.
  • Demonstrates concern and respect for others thoughts and feelings and handles conflicts in a positive manner.
  • Able to prioritize continually

• Clinical Skills –
  • Maintains clinical skills necessary to perform duty/job.
  • Demonstrates competency with procedures based on unit population and/or age-specific needs.
  • Obtains and accurately documents all required patient information; reporting changes and abnormal findings to the RN in a timely fashion.
  • Perform unit-specific lab tests as dictated by the Point of Care Testing lab standards (Glucose, stool, and emesis) record results, and report findings to the RN.  Perform quality control measures on unit assigned tests and equipment. 
  • Properly label specimen(s) and form(s) for lab test completion. 
  • Participates in achieving institution wide and unit based quality outcomes.
  • Performs duty/job with appropriate level of independence.
  • Performs duty/job with accuracy and efficiency.
  • Accepts accountability, as an individual and as a team member for all services provided.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS: The following duties are considered secondary to the primary duties listed above:

• Runs errands as requested by nurses on duty, including transporting supplies to and from Central Supply, medications from Pharmacy, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

​MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• CPR certification.
• One year experience as a Patient Care Assistant on an inpatient (or procedural) unit.
• Completion of the educational requirements (additional formal education/training; maximum supervision for initial competency; high degree associated risk factors; yearly competency evaluation and training).
• Renal Dialysis:  Patient Care Certification required within 18 months of hire date.  Employees hired must obtain certification within 18 months of initial date they began work in dialysis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

One to two (1-2) years of dialysis technician.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS

Attention/Concentration:

The position requires the ability to attend to more than one aspect of a situation simultaneously.  It is highly likely that multiple task demands are going to be required of the individual at the same time.

New Learning and Memory:

Demands on memory and for processing new information are minimal.  The individual must have the ability to understand or carry out simple instructions.

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Creative Thinking:

The requirement for autonomous problem solving or creativity of thought in the position is minimal.  Problems encountered tend to involve a few concrete variables in or from standardized situations.  Typically involves adhering to a chart or set procedure.

APTITUDES: 

Repetitive work: Ability to continuously perform the same type of work for extended periods of time, according to set procedures, sequence or pace.

Performing under stressful conditions: Ability to perform under stress when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual, or dangerous situations, or in situations in which working speed and sustained attention are critical aspects of the job. Is subject to danger or risk, or to tension as a regular, consistent part of the job.

Variety and change: Ability to perform a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure involving significant differences in technologies, techniques, procedures, environmental factors, physical demands, or work situations.

Communication:  Ability to exchange information with others clearly and concisely; to present ideas, facts and technical information.

EQUIPMENT USAGE REQUIREMENTS

Equipment/Tools: Computer, Phone, Copier, Printer, Fax, Office Supplies, oxygen tank, AVI pump, PCA pumps, bed scale/floor scale, hover lift, suction bottles, feeding pump, anti thrombic pumps, hypothermia blanket, sara lift, bladder scans, vital machines, accucheck readers, portable suction, temp probe, blood pressure machine and any other dept specific machinery, stethoscope, scissors, flashlight

Software: Microsoft Office Products, clinical information system and dept specific software

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Rarely 0-10%; Occasionally 11-35%; Frequently 36-70%; Continuously 71-100%

Body Position/Movement:

• Sit: Occasionally
• Stand: Continuously
• Walk: Continuously
• Bend: Occasionally
• Push: Frequently
• Pull: Frequently
• Kneel/Squat: Occasionally
• Reach: Frequently
• Twist: Rarely
• Balance: Occasionally
• Climb: Rarely

Lifting: Degree of physical exertion is: Heavy, exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

Sensory Abilities specifically required:

• Vision
• Hearing
• Touch/Feeling

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

WORKING CONDITIONS: Position involves exposure to the following harmful elements:

• Bio hazardous Waste
• Blood borne Pathogens
• Chemicals
• Extreme Noise Levels
• Moving/Rotating Machinery
• Radioactive Agents

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job.  It is intended to be a reflection of those principal job elements essential for recruitment and selection, for making fair job evaluations, and for establishing performance standards.  The percentages of time spent performing job duties are estimates, and should not be considered absolute.  The incumbent shall perform all other functions and/or be cross-trained as shall be determined at the sole discretion of management, who has the right to amend, modify, or terminate this job in part or in whole.  Incumbent must be able to perform all job functions safely.

Disclaimer

LGH Full Time Posted on 11/14/2024