Patient Care Technician - PCT

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Functions as part of the dialysis health care team in providing safe and effective dialysis therapy for patients under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse, in accordance with organization policies, procedures, training, and regulations set forth by the corporation, state, and federal agencies. Responsible for the setup and operation of hemodialysis machines. Assist in maintaining a safe and clean working environment.

Supports the organization’s Quality Enhancement Program (QEP) and CQI activities, including those related to patient satisfaction, and participates in process improvement activities that help achieve the organization’s Quality Enhancement Goals (QEP).

Patient Related

• Education:
  
  Assist other health care members in providing patient-specific education regarding adequacy measures where appropriate—Online Clearance Monitoring (OLC), Adequacy Monitoring Program (AMP), Urea Kinetic Modeling (UKM), and disease process/access.
• Treatment:
  Welcome assigned patients and inquire about their wellbeing since their last treatment; evaluate vascular access for patency, perform cannulation, and administer heparin as delegated or allowed by state law; obtain necessary pre- and post-treatment vital signs and weight; perform vascular access evaluation pre-treatment; initiate dialysis treatment according to prescribed orders (QB and QD); evaluate intradialytic problems and provide interventions as prescribed;
  
  monitor patients’ response to dialysis therapy; obtain vital signs prior to reinfusion and perform functions necessary for discontinuation of treatment; document.
• Discontinue dialysis treatment according to established procedures and evaluate the patient prior to termination of venous access (standing and sitting blood pressure); obtain hemostasis and apply appropriate dressings; evaluate the patient prior to discharge; perform and document pre- and post-dialysis evaluation, weight, and vital signs with initial identification; calculate and enter individual patients’ dialysis machine programming for ultrafiltration (UF) goal, treatment time, and UF modeling as prescribed;
  
  ensure safety alarms are enabled (including NVL 160); record accurate information on the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet with initial identification; document patient treatment information including completion of the Hemodialysis Treatment Sheet and, if applicable, progress notes; report significant information or changes in patient condition to the RN or supervisor; observe patient and conduct machine safety checks and report changes to the RN or supervisor;
  
  intervene for unusual patient status and document response.
• Vascular access management:
  Evaluate patients’ vascular access during treatment, monitor arterial and venous pressures, provide necessary interventions, and report any unusual findings; obtain prescribed laboratory testing and prepare specimens for collection; clean blood spills per facility policy; organize and utilize supplies efficiently to prevent wastage; monitor patients performing self-care under RN supervision.

Staff Related

• Assist in training applicable direct patient care staff on appropriate programs under the supervision of a nurse.

Education/Communication

• Follow organization policies, procedures, and systems included in training; maintain environmental integrity and safety; clean and disinfect dialysis machine surfaces, chairs, equipment, and surrounding areas between treatments per facility policy; conduct pretreatment dialysis machine alarm testing including Pressure Holding (PHT); initiate Solution Delivery System (SDS) system.

Record Keeping

• Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) activities; enter all treatment data into the designated clinical application accurately and timely; review treatment sheets for completeness, ensure nursing signatures are documented, and complete omitted entries as needed; prepare initial patient chart for admission and compile paperwork for chart placement; prepare/print lab requisitions for prescribed or stat lab specimens; collect, label, prepare, and store lab samples according to laboratory…