Professional Practice, Safety, and Ethical Considerations
Scope and standards
Know your scope of practice, the limits of your role within the dialysis team, and when to refer. Understand informed consent, privacy protections, and documentation standards. Biofeedback data are health information and must be handled accordingly.
Safety
Maintain equipment hygiene, follow infection control, and ensure electrical safety around fluid and machinery. Verify device function and dispose of single-use items properly. Know emergency procedures and your role in them.
Ethics
Respect autonomy, avoid coercion, and be honest about benefits and limits. Recognize that patients may feel pressured to participate; consent must be voluntary and revocable. Address cultural and language needs and avoid overpromising outcomes.
Traps
Questions often test boundary issues - for example, whether to advise on medication changes (refer, do not advise) or to continue training despite a safety concern (stop and escalate). Another trap is treating consent as a one-time event rather than ongoing.
Worked rule of thumb
When in doubt, apply the sequence: is it within scope, is it consented, is it safe, is it documented? If any answer is no, pause and consult.
Professionalism
Maintain competence through continuing education and reflective practice, and collaborate respectfully with nursing and nephrology colleagues.