DACUM Competency Profile for

Hemodialysis Technician
DACUM Panel Members
Carol Rell
Patient Care Technician
Total Renal Care
Santa Ana, CA
Brenda Roberts
Patient Care Technician
Newport Beach Dialysis
Newport Beach, CA
René L. Camarena, RN, BSN, CNN
Clinical Educator
St. Joseph Hospital - Renal Center
Orange, CA
Danil B. Concepcion
Renal Technology Services Manager
St. Joseph Hospital
Orange, CA
Angella Perez
Patient Care Technician
St. Joseph Hospital
Orange, CA
DACUM Facilitator
Joanne Gray, RN, MSN
Project Director
Saddleback College - RHORC
Mission Viejo, CA

Produced By

Regional Heatlh Occupations Resource Center

Saddleback College
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 582-4451
Fax (949) 347-9053

August 9 - August 10, 2000

DACUM Competency Profile for Hemodialysis Technician
The Hemodialysis Technician is one who performs the hemodialysis treatment and provides supportive care to the End Stage Renal
Disease patient by using the extracorporeal system to sustain life.

Duties Tasks
Assemble and Setup A-1 Start water purification A-2 Test water system for A-3 Prepare bath and connect A-4 Turn on and test
Hemodialysis Machine system (RO) chlorine/chloramine to machine hemodialysis machine
A functions

A-5 Verify patient and A-6 Test dialyzer for A-7 Prime the dialyzer and A-8 Prepare medications for
schedule disinfectant and verify blood lines administration

Perform Pre-evaluation of B-1 Visually evaluate the B-2 Weight the patient B-3 Measure vital signs B-4 Review recent patient
Patient patient's condition medical history
B

B-5 Perform physical B-6 Perform access B-7 Perform peripheral sticks B-8 Determine treatment
assessment assessment for blood dress if necessary duration and fluid removal

B-9 Record pre-dialysis data

Initiate Hemodialysis C-1 Test extracorporeal C-2 Verify/match patient and C-3 Cross-check dialysis C-4 Test dialystate
Treatment system for residual dialyzer orders conductivity
C disinfectant

C-5 Test machine alarm signs C-6 Perform venipuncture on C-7 Draw blood samples for C-8 Check blood sugar of
patient lab work diabetic patients

C-9 Connect patient to C-10 Adjust hemodialysis C-11 Reassess patient's blood C-12 Record initiation of
machine machine settings pressure treatment

Monitor Hemodialysis D-1 Follow patient's schedule D-2 Monitor patient's blood D-3 Monitor and adjust D-4 Observe physical and
Treatment pressure machine settings during mental status of patient
D treatment

D-5 Respond to machine D-6 Respond to patient calls D-7 Record treatment data D-8 Report pertinent
alarm signals information to appropriate
health care team members

D-9 Receive report on

pertinent information
 Respond to Emergencies E-1 Respond to hypotensive E-2 Respond to air embolism E-3 Respond to hemolysis E-4 Respond to blood leak
emergencies emergency emergency emergency
E

E-5 Respond to seizure E-6 Respond to pryogen E-7 Respond to water system E-8 Resuscitate patient and
emergency reaction emergency failure administer pulmonary massage

E-9 maintain open airway E-10 Evacuate patients from E-11 Activate emergency E-12 Respond to machine
facility in disaster situations medical system failure

Discontinue Hemodialysis F-1 Gather post-treatment F-2 Draw post-treatment blood F-3 Return blood to patient F-4 Monitor vital signs for
Treatment supplies samples stability
F

F-5 Disconnect patient from F-6 Perform post-evaluation F-7 Perform post access care F-8 Prepare dialyzer for
machine on patient reprocessing

F-9 Discharge patient F-10 Record summary notes

Disassemble Hemodialysis G-1 Remove and discard G-2 Remove, retrieve and G-3 Clean machine exterior G-4 Prepare setup for next
Machine disposable biohazardous waste prepare dialyzer for reuse and dialysate containers with patient
G disinfectant

G-5 Rinse and disinfect G-6 Turn off water

machine and dialysate purification (RO) system
containers

Process Dialyzers H-1 Prepare disinfectant tanks H-2 Rinse dialyzers for post- H-3 Process dialyzers H-4 Complete documentation
treatment
H

Perform Other Job I-1 Clean and disinfect work I-2 Stock supplies I-3 Refer patients to other I-4 Call for patient
Responsibilities area and re-usable supplies personnel/professionals transportation
I

I-5 Prepare on/off packs I-6 Maintain professional I-7 Precept less-experienced I-8 Teach patients
competencies workers

I-9 Input patient information I-10 Transfer patients from I-11 Prepare cleaning solutions I-12 Assist patient with
to files wheelchair to recliner activities of daily living

I-13 Participant in continuous

quality performance
Future Trends/Issues/Concerns Patient warning signs Test strips
Advanced technology and its associated Physical assessment Thermometer
changes Policy & procedures for assembly & Wheel Chair
Availability of patient transportation setup of machine and dialyzer
Bloodborne pathogens Priming procedures Worker Characteristics
Continuing education requirements Principles of dialysis machine Ability to deal with stress
Government regulations Principles of hemodialysis Adaptable
Health care reform Problem-solving skills Confidentiality
Increase in patient acuity Procedures for unusual occurrences Considerate of patient
Increasing responsibility for technicians Re-processing procedure Cultural sensitivity
Sharps disposal Dedicated
Managed care in the future Sterile technique Dependable
National standardization of competencies Teaching skills Efficient
Testing parameters Good personal hygiene
Ownership of facilites Transfer techniques Helping attitude
Quality of life Venapuncture technieques Honest
Rationing of care provided Vital signs Initiative
Reimbursement Water purification & delivery system Integrity
Safety needle requirements Nurturing
Salary Tools, Equipment, Supplies And Organized
Materials Patient
State mandated education requirements
Ambu bag Pleasant
Knowlege & Skills Ampules Productive
Age realted bio-psychosocial issues Assessment equipment Professional behavior
Anticoagulation therapies Biohazaardous containers/bags Punctual
Appropriate tubes for lab work Blood pressure cuff Remains calm
Aseptic technique Blood sample tubes Respectful
Available emergency equipment Chloride meter Responsible
Basic computer skills Citric acid and heat Self-directed
Basic math skills Clamps Stamina
Basic renal anatomy, physiology, Computer Tactful
pathophysiology Copy Machine Team player
Bio-hazardous waste/medical waste Crash car Thorough
disposal Dialyzer Tolerant
Blood clotting mechanism Disinfecting reagents Trustworthy
Body mechanics Disposable supplies
Catheters Fax machine
Charting principles Fire extinguisher
Chemical disinfectants Formal dehyde
Communication skills (basic Glucose monitoring equipment
spelling/abbreviations) Gluteraldehyde
CPR Hemodialysis machine
Decision-making skills Ice Machine
Delegation skills Needles
Dialysate procedures Non-occluding forceps & clamps
Emeregency evacuation plan Oxygen tanks
EMS activations Peroxyacetic acid
Fire extinguisher location & operation Policy & procedure manual
Grafts & fistulas Protective equipment (gown, glvoes,
Heimlich maneuver mask)
Identificiation of test strips Rolodex
Kilogram scale & conversion to pounds Scissors
Machine alarms/corrections Sphygmomanometer
Machine operations Stethoscope
medical temrinology Suction
Medication actions Support belts for back
Medication administration Syringes & needles
Needle removal techniques Telephone
Observation skills Telephone book