Assistant Technician

**PRINCIPAL** **DUTIES** **AND**

**RESPONSIBILITIES**:
**Patient Related**

**Education**:

- Assist other health care members in providing patient specific detailed education regarding adequacy measures where appropriate - Online Clearance Monitoring (OLC), Adequacy Monitoring Program (AMP), Urea Kinetic Modeling (UKM), and regarding disease process/access.

Treatment:

- Welcome assigned patients and inquire as to their wellbeing since their last treatment.
- Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and perform administration of heparin as delegated or as allowed by state law.
- Obtain necessary pre and post treatment vital signs and weight and perform vascular access evaluation pre
- treatment
- Initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders including blood flow (QB) and dialysate flow (QD).
- Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide intervention as prescribed by physician order or as directed.
- Monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy.
- Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion; perform all relevant functions necessary for the discontinuation of treatment - document.
- Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to termination of venous access - standing & sitting blood pressure
- Evaluate the patient prior to discharge.
- Perform and record Pre and Post dialysis evaluation, weight, and vital signs with initial identification
- Responsible for calculating and entry of individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal; treatment time; and UF modeling as prescribed.
- Responsible for ensuring appropriate safety alarms are enabled, including Narrow Venous Limits, (NVL) 160.
- Record accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters onto the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification
- Responsible for accurate documentation of information related to patient treatment including completion of Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and, if applicable, progress notes.
- Report any significant information and/or change in patient condition directly to the registered nurse or supervisor.
- Observe patient and conduct machine safety checks according to facility policy. Report any change or unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
- Perform and document any intervention for unusual patient status and document patients' response to intervention.
- Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, provide appropriate intervention as needed, document and report any unusual findings to the registered nurse or supervisor.
- Obtain all prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection.
- Ensure that all blood spills are immediately cleaned with appropriate disinfectant according to facility policy.
- Prepare, organize, and efficiently utilize supplies and equipment to prevent wastage.
- Monitors patients performing self-care under the supervision of RN.

**Staff Related**
- Assists in training of applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.

Education/Communication:

- Follows all organization business policies, procedures and systems incorporated into training, including compliance with ethical business practices
- Maintain environmental integrity and aesthetics - ensure all areas are safe and clean.
- Clean and disinfect dialysis machine surface, chair, equipment, and surrounding area between treatments according to facility policy.
- Conduct all tasks necessary for preparation for dialysis treatment and document where appropriate and perform all required pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT).
- Initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.

**RECORD KEEPING**:

- Complete and document ongoing participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities.
- Review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and ensure

omitted entries are completed or corrected by appropriate staff.
- Prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for appropriate placement in chart.
- Prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat Lab specimens according to laboratory destination.
- Collect, label, appropriately prepare and store lab samples according required laboratory specifications.
- Ensure collection of lab specimens by appropriate lab courier.

**INFECTION CONTROL**:

- Assists in collecting information for infection control audits.
- Supports staff and patient Adherence to infection control practices.
- Follows infection control Policies and Procedures
- Participates in and reinforces infection control education of patients and families under the direction of the CM or designee as allowed by state law.

**TRANSITIONAL CARE UNIT**:

- Follows all newly admitted patients through their first 4 weeks of dialysis and coordinati