Patient handling and treatment: •
Assesses patient status prior to, during and after dialysis treatment and informs the physician of significant changes in: general health status, weight, heart rate and blood pressure, body temperature, vascular access, etc. • Complies with local and corporate safety and hygiene and infection control regulations - especially NC Standard Good Dialysis Care and NC Standard Hygiene and Infection Control • Performs patient connection and disconnection • Performs correct anticoagulation of extracorporeal circuit and administers medication during treatment, in line with patient prescription • Monitors patients during treatment and informs physician of changes which need medical attention • Properly handle tunnel and non-tunnel central venous catheters • Performs patient education with regards to managing their health conditions, e.g. nutrition, hygiene, fistula care, etc • Assists patients in haemostasis after dialysis treatment whenever needed • Performs blood sampling for lab tests • Performs emergency interventions and resuscitation procedures • Handle (prepare and distribute) meals to patients, if applicable • Assists patients on arrival to and departure from dialysis unit, if applicable • Prepared bed/chairs for patient treatment, if applicable • Performs other examinations with proper medical equipment, e.g. BCM, ECG, etc. • Prepares and administers medication and anticoagulation Dialysis supplies and disposables: • Checks availability integrity and validity of dialysis disposables, disinfectants and other necessary materials and medication for each of allocated dialysis stations, before the treatment • Brings dialysis supplies from storage to dialysis treatment room, in line with hygiene and infection control procedures • Supervises and/or performs collection of nonmedical and medical waste, in line with hygiene and infection control standards and procedures Dialysis machine manipulation: • Performs machine start, internal & external disinfection, adds bicarbonate supply and other disposables and performs all other necessary tests and procedures before, during and after the treatment TASKS AND QUALIFICATIONS: DIALYSIS UNIT NURSE Page 2 of 3 • Announces Head Nurse or technician of any irregularities in machine functioning • Primes circuits, connects bloodlines and needles in line with existing procedures • Sets treatment parameters in line with the medical prescription • If applicable, performs systems start and shut-down procedures, i.e water system, CDS, etc • Checks service label, potential equilibration cables and status of latest hydraulic disinfection • May perform dialysis machine replacement Documentation: • Performs documentation of treatment, as required by procedures Cooperation with others: • Support, help, teach other nurses as necessary, mentoring less experienced personnel if required by Head Nurse • Gives all necessary information to nurses in next shift or to physicians, psychologists, and other clinical functions Peritoneal Dialysis tasks (if applicable): • Performs patient education on: hygiene, nutrition and basic PD knowledge for CAPD and APD, complications and emergency situation • Participates to and supports the PD treatment initiation • Periodically assess and document patient status: blood pressure, heart rate, presence of oedema, body temperature, diuresis, body weight and ultrafiltration • Verifies that patients are correctly performing PD treatment • Supervises and is responsible for the hygiene status of PD treatment room, including the correct disposal of contaminated waste • Strictly follows the physician requirements in regards to patient assessment: o Lab test sampling, storage and sending o Gathering test results and recording them in patient files o Follows patients to different tests recommended by the physician o Performs peritoneal QA tests