Assess and agree the efficacy of the dialysis therapy

This standard is about weighing up medical data, information on the individual's medical condition and preferences in order to judge whether their dialysis therapy needs to change.  Sometimes changes will be made because of under dialysis.  At other times changes will be needed because of new treatment developments.  Adjustments can also be needed to accommodate some aspect of the individual's social, work or domestic life. Adjustments and compromises should concur with evidence for the overall benefits on the individuals' wellbeing.

This activity could be carried out in a main dialysis unit, a satellite unit or the individual's own home.

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1. ​access and accurately interpret all relevant work instructions and information
2. work safely at all times and in accordance with all relevant legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols
3. deal promptly and effectively with any problems within your control and report those which cannot be solved
4. identify and minimise hazards and risk in the workplace
5. communicate with the individual and key people at a pace, in a manner and at a level appropriate to the individual's understanding, preferences and needs
6. respect the individual's rights and wishes relating to their privacy, beliefs, and dignity
7. develop a picture with the individual of their wellbeing and feelings about their dialysis therapy
8. discuss the individual's goals and aspirations for dialysis and how it should enable them to live their day-to-day life
9. identify the impact of the present plan of care on the individual's lifestyle
10. find out how long the individual dialyses for and if they have their full treatment on all occasions
11. assess the performance of dialysis
12. make regular reviews of the individual's clinical health
13. establish nutritional status
14. relate the individual's dialysis efficiency to national recommendations/guidelines
15. interpret the medical and personal data alongside the individual's feelings and wishes with members of the multidisciplinary team to identify whether there is a case for making changes
16. identify appropriate interventions to address dialysis adequacy
17. complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements

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1. the current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere
2. the scope and limitations of your own competence, responsibilities and accountability as it applies to your job role
3. how to access and interpret all relevant work instructions and information
4. specific procedures for reporting issues which are beyond your competence, responsibilities and accountability
5. the duty to report any acts or omissions that could be unsafe/detrimental to you or others
6. the hazards and risks which may arise during the execution of your work role and how you can minimise these
7. how to adapt communication styles in ways which are appropriate to the needs of the individual  
8. the correct use of any equipment and PPE to protect the health and safety of you and others
9. the principles, practice and procedures associated with informed consent
10. the needs of individuals including issues relating to dignity, confidentiality, and privacy
11. organisational management structures, roles, and responsibilities
12. how to identify and respond to the concerns which individuals may have regarding dialysis and the way in which it affects their lives
13. how to give feedback to the individual on the performance of dialysis
14. the effects of dependence and independence on the individual, carer and the provision of the service
15. how to obtain from individuals a valid picture of their goals, aspirations, feelings and expectations
16. the importance of providing individuals with opportunities to ask questions and increase their understanding
17. information that should be available in the plan of care, what it means
18. the recording of agreements, plan of care and other communications
19. the different features services must have to meet people's gender, culture, language or other needs
20. the nature of renal failure and the function of renal replacement therapy
21. how dialysis works for the individual and how its performance is measured
22. the nature and significance of parameters of dialysis care plans and how circumstances may allow or require these to be varied
23. evidence of the relationship between individuals' lifestyles and their wellbeing
24. the effect of nutrition on measures of a individual's health
25. the relationship between dialysis, nutrition, medication and measures of the individual's health and procedures for controlling these
26. the organisation's policy on use of resources for individuals
27. how to complete and safely store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements

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2

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2026

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Current

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Original

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Skills for Health

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SFHCHS31

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Health and Social Care, Health and Social Services Officers, Health Associate Professionals, Health Professionals, Health, Public Services and Care, Healthcare and Related Personal Services

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2259

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Assess, agree, efficacy, dialysis, therapy

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