Does anyone have a step by step procedure for set up and tear down?

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Aug 27, 2005

I feel a little lost and cannot find a manual anywhere. I am one of those step by step type people. You can't just start at A and end up at Z when setting up a machine. But it appears the PCT's that do the training um...can do that.
I have only been doing this for 3 days, the first day, I just watched, day 2 I was with a different person who I had a hard time understanding her, because she was from another country and then today I was back with the original person (who is also an LVN for 30 years, she is awesome.) I set up 3 machines today but I am getting lost after I prime my arterial line, I can't think, do I clamp that line so it will fill the veinous line then fill the air chamber, etc.... etc... What buttons do I push, yada yada yada?
Does anyone here have any suggestions on how to get my hands on a procedure manual for just set up and tear down. I can't even begin to think about tear down.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed today...

Don't rush yourself through this ! :nono:

Allow yourself plenty of time ... it WILL all come together for you. It takes WEEKS before you feel comfortable just with the set ups alone, much less your alarms, etc.

It will take you a good year to feel comfortable and confident with all that's involved with dialysis, so do NOT allow anyone to tell you differently or rush you through anything.

Soon enough, you'll be able to set up and tear down in your sleep. Once you've got it down, you've GOT it !!!

Don't feel bad about not "keeping up".. the techs, too, had to learn, and they, too, were not able to do this in a week's time.. no matter WHAT they tell you ! :chuckle

I wrote myself a step by step cheat sheet and kept it in my pocket for months when I first started doing this.. you might want to do the same. Refer to it anytime you feel "lost", or that "mental block" thing happens.

Also... it really depends on the type and "brand" machine you are using ! Are they Gambro machines, Fresenius machines, if so, what "make".. H or K... etc.

There are so many types and makes and companies, and all are set up differently.

Then, even if they are the same machine, each facility or "region" has different procedures and policies.... although our sister facilities in our "region" are all the same "company" they have somewhat different guidleines and procedures.... you'd think we'd all be uniform, right?

But no... that would be too EASY !!! :rotfl: