Advanced Dialysis Assistant

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work within the recognised boundaries of the remit of Advanced Dialysis Assistant.

•               Assist the nursing staff in delivering a high standard of holistic care to patients, promoting their equality, privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times.

•               Assist in and perform patient assessment including HD intentional rounding (under supervision and an appropriate delegation from the registered practitioner), plan and deliver high standards of HD care.

•               Be proficient with IT systems used in the Trust for patient’s records

•               Demonstrate a variety of communication skills: provide concise handovers to the nursing team, provide and receive complex sensitive information with reference to patients, carers and members of the MDT regarding all aspects of care, which may be sensitive or contentious.

•               Obtain, relay, record and store information relating to care episode via EPIC, whilst at all times maintaining confidentiality.

•               Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of accurate documentation and contribution towards recording dialysis encounters via EPIC, recognising that the qualified practitioner has personal accountability for entries to patient records.

•               Provide and promote health education to delegated patients within the unit in which they work in line with national and local policies

•               Ensure the appropriate HD related nutritional intake and advice is provided to delegated patients, with due consideration to dietary and cultural needs.

•               Prepare patient for and assist with specific HD related clinical procedures appropriate to the area in which they are working, for example; insertion of temporary vascular catheter.

•               Perform and record blood glucose, and potassium levels utilising point of care monitoring equipment as per Trust policy, report adverse results to a registered nurse.

•               Assist with basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation procedures.

•               Patients delegated per shift will be at the discretion of the Nurse in Charge/Unit Manager

 Haemodialysis specific responsibilities: 

•               Be able to ‘set up’ all models of Haemodialysis machines according to patients’ dialysis prescription.

•       Be able to safely and competently connect patients to the haemodialysis system, only after all setting and programming have been verified by a Registered Nurse

•               Measure, monitor and record the following, escalating and reporting any abnormalities to the RGN:

ü  Blood pressure, pulse, weight pre/post dialysis

ü  Temperature

ü  Respiratory rate 

ü  Oxygen saturation levels

ü  Blood sugar

ü  Vascular access arterial and venous pressure

ü  Transmembrane /Dialysate Inlet pressure

ü  Blood flow 

ü  Ongoing monitoring via the EPIC flowsheet 

ü  Patient environment for risk of falls

ü  Assesses the patient for risk of needle dislodgement

ü  Litres processed

ü  Treatment start/stop time

ü  Machine number

ü  Document dialysis observations

•               Be able to cannulate both arterial and venous sites of mature AV fistulas with minimal or no support as directed by a registered nurse

•               Be able to undertake routine and monthly blood sampling as requested by a registered nurse

•               Able to meet the needs or care and support at the end of life as well as provide care for the deceased person respecting cultural requirements and protocols, involving families and carers.

•               Be able to competently and safely discontinue haemodialysis when treatment has been completed

•               Be able to safely remove and dispose of AV fistula needles

•               Be able to dispose of all HD circuit lines following infection control guidelines

•               Be able to decontaminate dialysis equipment following infection control guidelines and document using the HD decontamination checklist.

•               Ensure that the HD station equipment is decontaminated accordingly depending on the shift following infection control guidelines and complete documentation via the HD station checklist