NAC449.5525. Orientation program for new employees; continuing education.

     1. Each facility shall develop and carry out a program to orient and familiarize each new employee of the facility with:

     (a) The policies and operation of the facility; and

     (b) The responsibilities of the position for which the employee is employed by the facility.

     2. Each new member of the staff of a facility who will provide care directly to patients of the facility must be allowed a sufficient period to become familiar with the facility. The orientation program provided by the facility for each of those new members must:

     (a) Be at least 2 weeks in duration, if the new member has experience concerning the performance of dialysis; and

     (b) Include 2 weeks of training concerning the direct care of patients of the facility, if the new member has no experience concerning the performance of dialysis.

     3. If a facility employs a licensed nurse who has no experience concerning the performance of dialysis, the orientation program provided by the facility to that nurse must be at least 6 weeks in duration and must include training in the following subjects:

     (a) Fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance;

     (b) Kidney disease and the treatment of that disease;

     (c) Dietary management of kidney disease;

     (d) Principles of dialysis;

     (e) Dialysis technology;

     (f) Techniques for performing venipuncture;

     (g) Care of the dialysis patient;

     (h) Psychological, social, financial and physical complications of long-term dialysis;

     (i) Prevention of hepatitis and other diseases; and

     (j) Risks and benefits of reusing hemodialyzers, if the facility reuses any hemodialyzer in providing treatment to a patient of the facility.

     4. Each facility shall ensure that each member of the staff of the facility who provides care to a patient of the facility completes a course of continuing education concerning end-stage renal disease. The course must be at least 5 hours in duration and must be completed annually by each such member of the staff of the facility. The course may be provided by a member of the staff of the facility.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Health by R130-99, eff. 8-1-2001)