Certified Dialysis Technician

Job Description Summary

Functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team in providing safe and effective Dialysis therapy for assigned patients in accordance with facility policies, procedures, and training and in compliance with regulations set forth by the corporation, state, and federal agencies.

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

PRN

Cost Center

CC003734 COL - Administration (DMC)

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

Health-22

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

Job summary: Functions as part of the hemodialysis health care team in providing safe and effective Dialysis therapy for assigned patients in accordance with facility policies, procedures, and training and in compliance with regulations set forth by the corporation, state, and federal agencies. 

Description: The Certified Dialysis Technician (CDT) reports to the Nurse Manager. Under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse, the Certified Dialysis Technician performs multi-skilled activities to support a decentralized patient-centered approach to patient care and achieve desired outcomes. 

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements: High school diploma or GED and certified as a Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) under a state certification program or a national commercially available program as a Patient Care Dialysis Technician required. Current Basic Life Support (BLS), either a certification from an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Providers (or AHA recognized equivalent) or an American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider required. 

Required License Certification and Registration: Certified as a Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) under a state certification program or a national commercially available program as a Patient Care Dialysis Technician required. 

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Provides patient care under the direct visual supervision of a Registered Nurse or in a treatment room immediately adjacent to an RN. Responsible for reporting and documenting all new and unusual incidents, information, complaints, or problems to the RN. 

With documented competency and proficiency may set up and prime equipment as directed by the Registered Nurse for renal replacement therapies (hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement and peritoneal dialysis therapies). 

Welcomes assigned patients and inquires as to their well-being since their last treatment. Reports any complaints or observations to the RN. 

Evaluates vascular access for patency and reports any unusual findings to RN. 

Obtains necessary pre and post treatment vital signs and weight. Reports unusual findings to RN. 

Performs vascular access cannulation and reports any difficulties in cannulation or unusual findings to RN. 

Responsible for calculating and entry of individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for Ultrafiltration (UF) goal; treatment time; Sodium (Na) modeling; and UF modeling as prescribed. 

Responsible for ensuring appropriate safety alarms are enabled including narrow venous limits. 

Records accurate and timely information regarding vital signs and treatment parameters onto the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification. 

Initiates renal replacement treatment according to prescribed orders including setting blood flow rate (QB) and dialysate flow rate (QD) or peritoneal dialysis as prescribed by the attending nephrologist. 

Collects, labels specimens and ensures timely delivery to laboratory per facility policy. 

Evaluates intradialytic problems and provides intervention as prescribed by physician’s order or as directed by RN. Monitors patient’s response to dialysis therapy and report any unusual findings to RN. 

Obtains vital signs prior to reinfusion; performing all relevant functions necessary for the discontinuatio