Patient Care Technician

About This Role

This role involves providing safe and effective dialysis therapy to patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. Key responsibilities include operating hemodialysis machines, assisting with patient education, and ensuring a safe and clean working environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist other healthcare members in providing patient-specific detailed education regarding adequacy measures and disease process/access
• Evaluate vascular access for patency, perform vascular access cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or 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 and dialysate flow
• Evaluate intradialytic problems and provide intervention as prescribed by physician order or directed
• Monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy
• Obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion; perform all relevant functions necessary for the discontinuation of treatment
• Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate patient prior to termination of venous access
• 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
• Ensure 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
• 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
• 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
• 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

Requirements

• High School diploma or G.E.D.
• Meet Center for Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS)-approved state and/or national certification requirements
• All appropriate state licensure, education, and training (if any) required
• Successful completion of required state or CMS timeline certification

Qualifications

• High School diploma or G.E.D.
• Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility preferred.

Nice to Have

• Previous patient care experience in a hospital setting or a related facility

Certifications