DIALYSIS MACHINE: Settings, Features, & Clinical Pearls - For Nurses, Techs, and Patients

Dialysis Nurse Lindsey Sippl
17 Jun 202318:45
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis educational video offers insights into hemodialysis machines, aiming to alleviate anxiety for new nurses, dialysis patients, and ICU nurses. The speaker, a seasoned dialysis nurse, shares personal experiences to build trust in the machines' safety features and reliability. She guides viewers through the operation of a B Braun dialysis machine, highlighting favorite features, safety protocols, and how to handle malfunctions. The video serves as a comprehensive tutorial, demystifying the technology and emphasizing the importance of following machine instructions for patient safety.

Takeaways
  • ๐Ÿ˜€ The video aims to address the concerns and fears of new nurses, dialysis patients, and ICU nurses regarding hemodialysis machines.
  • ๐Ÿ” The speaker has been a dialysis nurse for six years and trusts the machines to indicate when they are functioning properly or experiencing issues.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ The machines perform numerous safety checks and will alert the operator to malfunctions, such as high temperature or pressure alarms, before treatment begins.
  • ๐Ÿ’ง The protocol at the speaker's clinic includes checking pH levels and verifying conductivity before each treatment, as well as water checks every four hours.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ Trusting the machine's alerts is emphasized as crucial; if a machine indicates a problem, the operator should pull it out of service and call for repairs.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง The speaker acknowledges that machines can break down but emphasizes that the biomed team will address and verify fixes before machines are put back into use.
  • ๐Ÿ›‘ The importance of double-checking machine settings and configurations, such as ensuring the correct dialysate bath and wand placement, is highlighted.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š The video provides an overview of how to set up and operate a B Braun dialysis machine, including selecting treatment parameters like sodium levels and conductivity profiles.
  • ๐Ÿฉบ The machine's features, such as monitoring blood pressure, blood flow, and ultrafiltration rates, are essential for patient safety and treatment efficacy.
  • ๐Ÿ’Š The script explains how to administer heparin during treatment, including bolus doses and stop times to prevent bleeding post-treatment.
  • ๐Ÿ“š The speaker encourages viewers to watch additional videos for more detailed information on topics like conductivity profiles and KT/V calculations.
Q & A
  • What is the main purpose of the video?

    -The main purpose of the video is to educate and reassure new nurses, dialysis patients, and ICU nurses about hemodialysis machines, addressing their questions, anxieties, and fears, and to demonstrate trust in the machines' functionality and safety features.

  • How long has the speaker been a dialysis nurse?

    -The speaker has been a dialysis nurse for six years.

  • What brand of dialysis machines does the speaker primarily work with?

    -The speaker primarily works with B Braun brand dialysis machines.

  • What is the speaker's approach to machine malfunctions?

    -The speaker trusts the machines to indicate when they are not working properly. In such cases, the speaker pulls the machine, calls the biomed team for repair, and ensures the machine is verified as fixed before being used again.

  • What is the significance of checking the pH and conductivity before every treatment?

    -Checking the pH and conductivity ensures that the dialysis treatment is safe and that the dialysate is at the correct concentration, which is crucial for the patient's health and the effectiveness of the treatment.

  • Why does the speaker wish the dialysate bath selection feature was not on the machine?

    -The speaker wishes the dialysate bath selection feature was not on the machine because it can lead to confusion and errors, as the machine does not verify if the correct bath is actually in use where the wand is located.

  • What is the purpose of the 'Conductivity Profile' setting on the machine?

    -The 'Conductivity Profile' setting allows the nurse to set the sodium concentration in the dialysate, which is important for matching the patient's blood sodium levels and ensuring the effectiveness of the dialysis treatment.

  • What does the speaker mean by 'Diffusion' in the context of dialysis?

    -In the context of dialysis, 'Diffusion' refers to the process by which substances move across a semipermeable membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, such as waste products moving from the blood into the dialysate.

  • What is the role of the 'Ultra Filtration' setting in a dialysis treatment?

    -The 'Ultra Filtration' setting determines how much fluid will be removed from the patient's blood during the dialysis treatment, which is important for managing the patient's fluid balance and preventing complications like hypertension.

  • What is the significance of the 'Heparin Stop Time' setting?

    -The 'Heparin Stop Time' setting is crucial for preventing bleeding in patients after the treatment. It allows the nurse to stop the administration of heparin, an anticoagulant, a certain amount of time before the end of the treatment, especially for patients with fistulas or grafts.

  • How does the speaker use the 'KT/V' button on the machine?

    -The speaker mentions that the 'KT/V' button is used to assess how well the patient's blood is being cleaned during dialysis. However, in the speaker's experience, this feature is not used often, as they prefer to perform the KT/V calculation through their EMR system after drawing the patient's blood.

Outlines
00:00
๐Ÿ˜€ Introduction to Hemodialysis Machines

The video script introduces the topic of hemodialysis machines, addressing the concerns of new nurses, dialysis patients, and ICU nurses. The speaker aims to alleviate anxiety and answer questions about these machines, based on their six years of experience as a dialysis nurse. The script mentions the importance of trusting the machines to indicate when they are functioning properly or experiencing malfunctions. The speaker also highlights the routine checks performed in their clinic, such as pH and conductivity verification, and emphasizes the machine's reliability in signaling any issues. The video promises a tour of favorite features of the B Braun machine and a discussion of personal experiences that have built trust in these machines.

05:00
๐Ÿ” Detailed Explanation of Dialysis Machine Settings

This paragraph delves into the specifics of setting up a dialysis machine, including the selection of the correct dialysate bath and concentrate profile, which are crucial for matching the patient's blood sodium levels. The speaker discusses the importance of double-checking these settings, as the machine does not verify the correct bath placement. The paragraph also covers how to set up conductivity profiles, as ordered by physicians, and the significance of dialysate flow rates, bicarbonate concentrate, and dialysate fluid temperature. The speaker explains how these settings can be adjusted according to the patient's needs and facility protocols, and touches on the safety features of the machine, such as the upper limit for ultra-filtration rates.

10:03
๐Ÿ’‰ Hemodialysis Treatment Parameters and Safety Features

The script continues with a discussion on the treatment parameters of hemodialysis, including ultra-filtration volume, rate, and therapy time, which can be adjusted based on patient requirements. It explains the safety features that prevent excessive fluid removal, such as the upper limit for ultra-filtration rates. The paragraph also covers the use of heparin during treatment, detailing the process of administering a bolus and the rationale behind stopping heparin injection an hour before treatment ends to prevent bleeding. Additionally, the speaker introduces the KT/V calculation as a measure of blood cleaning efficiency, and explains how the machine can be used to monitor blood pressure and other vital parameters during dialysis.

15:05
๐Ÿ“Š Monitoring and Adjusting Dialysis Treatment

The final paragraph focuses on the monitoring aspects of a dialysis treatment, including the use of the 'eyeball' feature to track blood cleaned, heparin administered, fluid removed, and infusions given. It also discusses the importance of regular blood pressure monitoring and the machine's ability to cycle blood pressure readings at different intervals. The speaker mentions the need to ensure that the machine's pump is functioning correctly and that the correct bath is selected for the dialysis wand. The paragraph concludes with a mention of the machine's setup process, which includes priming the lines and performing safety checks, and expresses gratitude for the support received from the audience.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กHemodialysis machines
Hemodialysis machines are medical devices used to perform hemodialysis, a procedure that helps to purify the blood of patients whose kidneys are no longer functioning adequately. In the video, the speaker aims to educate viewers about these machines, addressing common fears and questions, and emphasizing the importance of trusting the machine's safety features.
๐Ÿ’กAnxiety
Anxiety, in the context of the video, refers to the apprehension or nervousness that new nurses, dialysis patients, or ICU nurses may feel when dealing with hemodialysis machines. The speaker acknowledges this anxiety and seeks to alleviate it by providing information and reassurance about the machines' functions and safety.
๐Ÿ’กMalfunction alarms
Malfunction alarms are signals from the hemodialysis machine indicating that something is wrong with its operation. The video discusses the importance of recognizing these alarms and responding appropriately, such as by calling for maintenance, to ensure patient safety.
๐Ÿ’กConductivity
Conductivity, in the context of hemodialysis, refers to the ability of a solution to conduct electricity, which is related to its ionic content. The video explains that conductivity is an important parameter to verify before each treatment to ensure the correct composition of the dialysis fluid, which is crucial for the patient's safety.
๐Ÿ’กDialysate
Dialysate is the fluid that flows through the dialysis machine and exchanges substances with the patient's blood across the dialysis membrane. The video script mentions setting the correct dialysate bath, which is essential for the proper balance of electrolytes and other substances during treatment.
๐Ÿ’กUltrafiltration
Ultrafiltration is the process of removing excess fluid from the blood during hemodialysis. The video explains how the machine allows for setting the ultrafiltration rate and volume, which is a critical aspect of managing the patient's fluid balance.
๐Ÿ’กHeparin
Heparin is an anticoagulant medication used during hemodialysis to prevent blood clotting in the dialysis circuit. The video script discusses setting the heparin dosage and stop time, which are important for the safety and efficacy of the treatment.
๐Ÿ’กKt/V
Kt/V is a measure used to quantify the adequacy of dialysis, representing the clearance of urea from the blood. The video mentions a target Kt/V of 1.2 for better patient outcomes, indicating the machine's capability to estimate this value, although the speaker notes that it is not commonly used in their unit.
๐Ÿ’กBicarbonate
Bicarbonate is a component of the dialysate that helps to maintain the acid-base balance in the patient's blood during dialysis. The video script refers to setting the bicarbonate profile, which is an important aspect of the dialysis prescription.
๐Ÿ’กSafety features
Safety features of hemodialysis machines include alarms and checks that ensure the treatment is conducted safely. The video emphasizes trusting these safety features, such as the machine's ability to alert the operator to potential issues with the treatment, like incorrect fluid removal rates.
๐Ÿ’กB Braun
B Braun is a brand of medical devices, including hemodialysis machines. The video provides a tour of some favorite features of the B Braun machine, highlighting the brand's specific functionalities and design elements that contribute to the ease of use and safety of the dialysis process.
Highlights

Introduction to hemodialysis machines and addressing anxiety for new nurses, patients, and ICU nurses.

Emphasizing the importance of trusting hemodialysis machines and learning from experience.

The speaker's six years of experience as a dialysis nurse with B brand machines.

Machines' ability to signal malfunctions and the importance of double-checking safety.

Protocols for checking pH, conductivity, and water checks every four hours.

The machine's reliability in indicating when it is functioning properly or not.

The process of addressing machine malfunctions with the help of biomed teams.

Features of the B Braun dialysis machine, including hemodialysis and disinfection options.

Explanation of the filter expiration alarm and the necessity of changing the filter every 200 treatments.

Clarification on the role of the machine in creating dialysate and the importance of matching the bath.

Setting the concentrate profile and conductivity to match blood sodium levels.

Demonstration of how to set a conductivity profile with varying levels over time.

Adjusting dialysate flow rate and bicarbonate concentrate according to provider orders.

Setting the dialysate fluid temperature and its impact on patient blood pressure.

Ultra-filtration settings for fluid removal during dialysis and safety features.

Heparin administration settings and the importance of timing for different patient types.

KT/V calculations for assessing blood cleaning efficiency and its clinical significance.

In-machine monitoring of blood pressure, blood flow, and ultra-filtration rate.

Use of the 'eyeball' feature for monitoring treatment progress and post-treatment review.

Ensuring the correct dialysate bath is used for priming lines and machine setup.

Final thoughts on the importance of trust in machines and the collaborative role of the biomed team.

Transcripts
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