Technician

- Sets up and operates hemodialysis machine to provide dialysis treatment for patients with kidney failure: Attaches dialyzer and tubing to machine to assemble for use.

- Mixes dialysate, according to formula.

- Primes dialyzer with saline or heparinized solution to prepare machine for use.

- Transports patient to dialysis room and positions patient on lounge chair at hemodialysis machine.

- Takes and records patient's predialysis weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration rate.

- Explains dialysis procedure and operation of hemodialysis machine to patient before treatment to allay anxieties.

- Cleans area of access, using antiseptic solution.

- Connects hemodialysis machine to access in patient's forearm or catheter site to start blood circulating through dialyzer.

- Inspects equipment settings, including pressures, conductivity, and temperature to ensure conformance to safety standards.

- Starts blood flow pump at prescribed rate.

- Inspects venous and arterial pressures as registered on equipment to ensure pressures are within established limits.

- Calculates fluid removal or replacement to be achieved during dialysis procedure.

- Monitors patient for adverse reaction and hemodialysis machine for malfunction.

- Takes and records patient's postdialysis weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and respiration rate.

May fabricate parts, such as cannulas, tubing, catheters, connectors, and fittings, using handtools.