If you want to work with patients who have end-stage renal disease, then consider becoming a dialysis technician. You will be responsible for monitoring kidney disease patients during their dialysis treatments and making sure that the equipment is functioning properly. Here are some essential assessment skills dialysis technicians need to have in order to effectively care for renal patients.
Vital Signs
During dialysis, the technician will need to frequently assess the patient’s vital signs so that subtle changes can be recognized and addressed. During a dialysis treatment, the blood pressure can fall quickly, which may indicate the presence of a health crisis. Other things the dialysis tech needs to watch out for include changes in the respiratory rate and pulse abnormalities. As soon as vital sign abnormalities occur, the technician will need to contact the nephrologist for treatment orders.
Symptoms
The dialysis tech also needs to have sharp assessment skills when it comes to monitoring any abnormal signs and symptoms that patients may develop during dialysis. These include swelling of the face, abdomen, hands and feet, pallor, lethargy, behavior changes and anxiety. In addition, the technician will need to monitor the patient for jaundice or a blue tint on the lips and fingernails because this can indicate a problem with blood oxygenation. The technician will also know that if the patient develops a rash or severe itching it may mean that an allergic reaction is taking place.
