A dialysis technician is very essential when someone undergoes a dialysis because they are the ones in charge in assembling and operating the dialysis machine. They make sure that the machine is in working order and sterile. It is also part of a dialysis technician responsibilities to check the patient’s chart, administer the local anesthesia and do the dialysis procedure according to the prescription.

Dialysis is an alarming word for a person diagnosed with a kidney failure/disease. They even equate “dialysis” with death. If you fail to undergo with it, living would be impossible. Dialysis is an artificial process of eliminating waste from the blood. It is artificial, because our kidneys do this naturally. Some people however, has damage kidneys and cannot carry out the functions properly. They need a dialysis.

Education

To become a dialysis technician, a candidate must have a high school diploma or GED. He or she should acquire a vocational or technical course related to health care such as medical assistant or nursing assistant. Most programs have a classroom, clinical and laboratory segment. In here, the students will learn about the dialysis environment and principles. The course generally takes 12-18 months.

Training

Just like other medical courses, aspiring dialysis technicians are also required to have an on-the-job-training. Some may have employer-sponsored training. During the training period, students will work in a clinical setting under the supervision of a licensed physician or nurse.

Certification

Students who finished their vocational course are eligible to take the certification examination in both the national and state level. This will certify that the graduate has not only completed their course work, but they also know how to apply the concepts and principles in the real-world practices.

CertificationTests for Dialysis Technician

1. Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam (CHT)

This certifies the dialysis technician at the state level but does not certify them at the national level. The examination is offered by The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)

2. Clinical Nephrology Technology (CNT)

This certifies the dialysis technician at the national level. The exam is offered by The National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO). This certification is renewed every four years.

3. Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)

The examination is offered by The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC). This certification is renewed every three years.

Job Description

Dialysis technicians are responsible in operating and maintaining the equipment associated with the dialysis procedure. They are responsible of equipment repair and maintenance, dialyzer reprocessing, water treatment monitoring, as well as, the direct care of the patient. They also assist their patients with any mental or physical concern they may have before, during or after the treatment.

Necessary skills and qualities

Because they work closely with ill patients, dialysis technicians should possess empathy and compassion. They also need physical strength to help move patients, good dexterity to operate the equipment properly and stamina to work long hours.

Career Opportunity

A dialysis technician with many years of experience has the opportunity to work in larger hospitals, and advance to a position of head technician. With additional training and education, a dialysis technician can advance into a more specialized career such as nursing.
Job opportunities in this field continue to grow as the population ages, and the procedure is paid by all health care insurance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in healthcare fields including medical technicians are expected to increase for about 15% in the next 10 years.

Salary for dialysis technicians ranges from $25,000-$33,000 per year. Just like other medical professions, the salary varies with the person’s experience, training and location. Those working in hospitals can earn $30,000 annually while those working in dialysis centers can earn $26,000 per year. Less experienced technicians earn a median salary of $25,000-$30,000 per year. For the more experienced technician, they earn an average $40,000 per year.

The life of a dialysis technician is not simple. It requires patience, time, devotion, and care for other people to be effective and successful. Long hours spent with patients who are suffering is part of a technician’s job description. A dialysis technician should have good interpersonal characteristic. The joy of saving or prolonging a human life is the measure of a dialysis technicians career fulfillment.