Hemodialysis Technician

Overview

The Hemodialysis Technician is directly responsible to the Assistant Head Nurse/ Charge Nurse of the Hemodialysis Unit or Designee for all patient care activities. Functions as part of the multidisciplinary team providing direct patient care to outpatient hemodialysis patients. Participates in interdisciplinary ESRD activities.

Responsibilities

• Set up and flush dialyzers to remove sterilizing solution and tests for thoroughness of flushing procedures. Test all monitoring devices.
• Recognize, tests, and treats blood leaks during dialysis. Change dialyzer during dialysis if blood leaks occur.
• Rinse and clean dialyzer for reuse employing strict adherence to protocol; carries out tests associated with reuse; and safely stores or disposes of dialyzer.
• Prepare dialysate concentrate adding necessary additives.
• Perform laboratory tests on dialysate.
• Set up other dialysis related equipment, such as single needle machines, bed scales, heparin pumps, and air bubble detectors.
• Understand basic operation and makes minor repairs of the delivery system.
  
  

Patient Care (under the direct supervision of the Assistant Head Nurse Hemodialysis):

• Check with nurse performing pre-dialysis evaluation to determine when patient is ready for dialysis and if any necessary precautions must be taken.
• Draw up and gives saline and heparin in amounts ordered by the physician for the particular patient.
• Initiate dialysis using fistulas, grafts, and catheters.
• Measure, records, and adjusts blood flow rates per orders.
• Ultra filtrate patient according to orders given by physician.
• Monitor patient’s vital signs and physiological and psychological changes during dialysis.
• Treat hypotensive episodes by adjusting dialysis parameters or giving saline according to orders.
• Appropriately keeps Nurse-in-Charge informed of patient’s condition during dialysis.
• Perform clotting times as decided upon by nursing and notifies nurse of results.
• Monitor dialysis machine’s parameters during dialysis and appropriately adjusts machine or refers problems to nurse.
• Return blood to patient and terminates dialysis.
• Recognize and participates in emergency situations such as cardiac or pulmonary arrests, or severe hypotension.
• Ability to perform BCLS functions.
  
  

Other Duties

• Participates in patient care and team conferences.
• Participates in research projects following approved protocols.
• Participates in educational programs and continuing education.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

Education:

• High School diploma or equivalency.
• Two (2) years College preferred.
  
  

Experience

• Minimum one (1) year previous dialysis patient care experience.
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• Ability to be read and write in English with excellent written and verbal communication.
• Interpersonal skills to interact with patients, families, division, hospital, and outside agency staff.
• Math and computer skills.
• Works as a team player. Demonstrates respect and professionalism in all interactions.
• Decision making and problem solving skills.
• Ability to fully utilize BHMC’s electronic record systems, equipment and other healthcare and billing systems relevant to this position as required.
  
  

Licenses, Certifications

• Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association, required.
• New York State Hemodialysis Technician Certification required.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Physically demanding, high-stress environment.
• Occasional exposure to blood and body fluids, communicable diseases, chemicals, radiation, and repetitive motions.
• Full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients.
• Manual and finger dexterity.
• Hand and eye coordination.
• Sitting, standing, and walking for extensive periods of time.
• Lifting and carrying items weighing up to 35 pounds.
• Corrected vision and hearing to within normal range.
• Frequently sitting at desk working on computer.
  
  

The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and can be modified in the future. When determining a team member’s base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., site, specialty, service line, years of relevant experience, education, credentials, negotiated contracts, budget and internal equity).

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of One Brooklyn Health (OBH).

OBH is an equal opportunity employer, it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, military status, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability or handicap or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.