Certified Hemodialysis Tech - Inpatient Dialysis

The Inpatient Dialysis Technician assumes responsibility for care of the dialysis patient only as it pertains to dialysis under the supervision of a RN or physician. The Technician is not responsible for general patient care.

• Demonstrates applicable knowledge of policies and procedures related to the Dialysis Patient Care Technician.
• Demonstrates ability to work with any patient or staff, regardless of race, gender, disease process, lifestyle, religious or cultural beliefs, or treatment.
• Develops and assimilates theoretical and technical knowledge with observations, assessment, and communication skills to detect dialysis and non-dialysis related problems.
• Assist RN staffs to transport/set-up machines, start ROs (ICUs & home unit)
• Assist with set up and tear down HD machines for RN staffs and switches out HD machines in use with idle machines to assure all are disinfected at least once every 72 hours.
• Assist with patient transport as necessary
• Performs monthly environmental testing for chemical contaminants, colony count and endotoxin in dialysis water and dialysis fluids, ships specimens to lab, documents and reports results to Unit Director. Take appropriate action when results are out of range.
• Performs audits on log forms for all water treatment and hemodialysis equipment.
• Attends and participates in quality assurance performance improvement (QAPI) meetings.
• Restock bedside acute carts daily.
• Checks expiration dates on all lab specimen tubes and reagents used in the Dialysis Unit monthly.
• Performs disinfection and cleaning on all dialysis equipment.
• Store dialysis equipment, leave patient area neat and clean.
• Takes and records patient's pre-dialysis weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate.
• Explains dialysis procedure and operation of hemodialysis machine to the patient before treatment to allay anxieties.
• Cleans area of access (fistula, graph or catheter) using aseptic solution.
• Connects hemodialysis machine to access in patient's forearm, leg or catheter site to start blood circulating through dialyzer.
• Starts blood flow pump at prescribed rate. Inspects venous and arterial pressures as registered on equipment to ensure pressures are within normal limits.
• Calculates fluid removal or replacement to be achieved during dialysis procedure. Monitors patient for adverse reaction and hemodialysis machine for malfunction.
• Takes and records patient's post-dialysis weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate and respiratory rate. As well as documents post-dialysis note.

Education: High school diploma or general education diploma (GED). Successful completion of a nationally recognized Hemodialysis Training Program.

Experience: At least 3 years Dialysis experience preferred.

Licensure/Certifications/Registration: Required to pass all written exams including initial exams provided during initial orientation and annual exams with a score of 80%. Demonstrate competency through written and skills test on an annual basis. Attend 10 hours annually of continuing education classes related to end stage renal disease. Must hold one of the following certifications pursuant to 18 VAC 75-40-30 of the Virginia Department of Health Professions Regulations Governing the Certification of Dialysis Technicians: Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CHHT) by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC). Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT). Certified in Clinical Nephrology Technology (CCNT) by the National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO). Certification or licensure as a dialysis technician or similar title by another jurisdiction in the United States provided the standards for certification or licensure or substantially equivalent to those in Virginia.

Other Minimum Qualifications: Exposed to potentially hazardous/infectious materials, observing and complying with the safety regulations/requirements of the hospital and governmental agencies. Requires lifting.

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