Certified Dialysis Technician

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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 discontinuation of treatmentdocumentation. 

Reports any change or unusual findings to RN. 

Performs and document any intervention for unusual patient status and document patients’ response to intervention. 

Evaluates patients’ vascular access during treatment including arterial and venous monitoring pressures, provides appropriate intervention as needed, documents and reports any unusual findings to the RN. 

Discontinues dialysis treatment according to established procedures. 

Evaluates patient prior to termination of venous access – standing and sitting blood pressures prior to termination of venous access. Obtains hemostasis and applies appropriate dressings. Evaluates the patient prior to discharge and reports any unusual findings to the RN. 

Performs and records Pre and Post dialysis evaluation, weight and vital signs with initial identification.  

Other duties as required. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS: 

Ability to perform job functions while standing. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking. (Continuous) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to work from elevated areas. (Frequent) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (Frequent) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (Infrequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Continuous) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (Frequent) Ability to perform "pinching" operations. (Frequent) Ability to perform gross motor activities with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform firm grasping with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to perform fine manipulation with fingers and hands. (Continuous) Ability to reach overhead. (Frequent) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to use lower extremities for balance and coordination. (Frequent) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift from 36" to overhead 25 lbs. (Infrequent) Ability to exert up to 50 lbs. of force. (Frequent) Examples include: To transfer a 100 lb. patient that cannot assist in the transfer requires 50 lbs. of force. For every 100 additional pounds, assistance will be required from another healthcare worker. 20 lbs. of force are needed to push a 400 lb. patient in a wheelchair on carpet. 25 lbs. of force is required to push a stretcher with a patient with one hand. Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance.  

Additional Job Description

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

Medical University of South Carolina participates in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E-Verify program, please click here: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees