Dialysis Technician

A dialysis technician resume should be clean, well structured and polished. While there is no such thing as a perfect resume, you must come up with one that is impressive to your would be employer. Writing a resume can be quite tricky for most people, this is generally because most people are not clear how to structure all the information in a CV (curriculum vitae).

If you are planning to submit a job application for a dialysis technician position soon, it is best to learn about the basics of constructing a resume first. This will help you not only place the data in the right places but more importantly catch your potential employer’s eye and interest.

Your resume should be ideally divided into four sections

• Career objective
• Education
• Work experience
• Contact information

You can also add a section for personal skills and interests. As for references suggest that they can be provided upon request.

Let us now take a closer look at each of the sections in more detail

Career Objective

The career objective section must showcase the your current focus in your present Dialysis Technician job duties and also your plans for the future. This does not mean you ramble on and on. Keep it succinct and be very specific when it comes to your career goals.

Education

Next up is either the education section or your work experience section. If this is your first foray into a job as a Dialysis Technician then it may be best to lost your education and other technical qualifications next. Those with prior work experience can list their work experience first. For those looking to start their careers, it is important to highlight all the training, especially the hands on training you’ve done. Any and all direct work experience, internships done must be clearly listed and highlighted to catch your potential employers eye.

Work Experience

If you have prior work experience, then start off by listing your present or most recent job profile. Use a line or two to explain your role and responsibilities at your current or previous job. Employers would like to see your flexibility and technical experience since being a Dialysis Technician can get quite technical in addition to being a health care provider.

If you do not have any previous health care work experience, you ca then add job experiences where you believe you excelled. Your employer will use this information to form their opinion and can be important when it comes to choosing between you and someone else for the position.

Contact Information

Ideally your name, address, and contact information must be placed on top of the resume. This text can be placed beside or below your picture if you decide to include that with your resume. Do ensure that all contact information is correct and free from errors. The last thing you want is for your potential employer to try and contact you without luck.

Final Tips

If you are having trouble writing  your resume, it is best to check out a few sample resumes on the internet. By looking at samples, ideas will start to flow and you will soon find yourself structuring the basic framework of your resume. Remember you will need to go through a few drafts before you can feel completely satisfied with your CV. Sometimes using certain sections from sample resumes also help in drafting your resume quickly.

Finally, as much as possible try to focus on facts when writing your resume. Embellishing facts will only land you in trouble if not now but sometime in the future. Your employer can and will fire you if they find out certain facts that you portrayed in your resume were false.

One of the most important documents to submit when applying for a Dialysis Technician job or for any job for that matter is the cover letter. A cover letter serves as a welcome note and a brief overview of the applicant and often ends up creating an impression even before the recruiter checks the applicant’s resume. If you are planning to apply for a dialysis technician position then drafting a well though out cover letter can only help you in your job quest.

Providing a cover letter gives you an edge over other applicants since it succinctly states and talks about your intentions and interest in working as a dialysis technician. You can in the cover letter, discuss briefly your skills and capabilities for the job, as well as your plans in the job position for the immediate and future years.

All said and done, a cover letter must be neat, concise and well written. Employers usually look at the cover letter as a reflection of the applicant’s work abilities, organization and coherence.

Structure

Cover letters are generally addressed to the person who most likely will end up making the hire decision. Therefore it is best that the cover letter be written in a formal manner and tone. Take care to observe and follow proper guidelines while drafting the letter and your resume. Watch your P’s and Q’s and even things like margins and indentations. If you are not used to composing formal letters, you may want to look at sample cover letters and use them as guides. You will find a number of sample templates in your choice of word processor software. I know Microsoft word has quite a few samples and can serve as an excellent starting point.

Body

When writing the body of the letter, you must be able to convey your goals and intentions from a work perspective. What are your goals and aims as a Dialysis Technician in the health care facility you are applying at. Again, being concise is key so don’t spend more than two sentences on this part of the letter.

Your next paragraph should provide information that is relevant to your application. You can start with your most recent work experience in a related health care job or if you are a fresh graduate, you can state that you have just finished a degree in Dialysis Technician training and your current status in this profession (if you are already certified or still waiting for the results of your certification exam).

Lastly, you may add a more open narrative that discusses about your traits and willingness to learn while working in this position. The last paragraph serves as your means to build rapport with your employer, so that he or she will be enthused enough to look through your resume and other documents at hand.

Attachments

Cover letters makes sense only when they are accompanied with your resume and other documents requested as part of the job application. As we talked about earlier, a cover letter serves as a formal introduction highlighting your application and a guide to your succeeding attachments such as your resume, Dialysis Technician certification and licensing documentation and finally any of your previous employment records.

Cover Letter Writing Tips

Employers like it when applicants are able to state their knowledge and experience about the job. This is why you might want to add a line or two describing your experience, education and first hand knowledge of the job. You can deftly include your previous work experience and/or things you have learned in school. However, remember that it is most important to keep your cover letter short so fit in these statements without rambling on.

The most important requirement before you can start your career as a Dialysis Technician is the certification. Being a certified dialysis technician is now a requirement before you can even begin to apply for a job. Also most states in the U.S require now that Dialysis Technicians appear for their licensing exam in addition to being certified. You will need to pass your certification exam before you can appear for your state licensing exam.

Certification Requirements

There are two main requirements that you need to satisfy before you can be certified.

• Completion of an accredited Dialysis Technician course
• Clearing the certification examination.

You will find a plethora of choices when it comes to courses and training programs for a career as Dialysis Technician. The duration of the courses vary as well, some as short as six months and some lasting to two years. You also have specialization courses that serve as master’s degrees for those students who already have a bachelor’s degree.

The shorter duration courses are meant for students who already have their bachelor’s degree. Short courses focus more on the practical and hands on portion such as the use and maintenance of the dialyzer machine and actually performing dialysis routines.

You also have have a number of options when it comes to decide where to go for your Dialysis Technician courses. These courses are available in junior colleges, community colleges and medical schools. There are also hospitals that offer dialysis technician training for free with the understanding that graduates  are required to render a certain number of hours of unpaid duty.

The important point to keep in mind when you choose a course is to choose an institution that has been duly accredited so that your degree is recognized once you graduate. This is a common problem faced by a few graduates. After graduation they find out that they are not eligible to take the certification examinations since the school where they graduated from is not accredited by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission.

Graduates from accredited and certified Dialysis Technician courses on the other hand can proceed with their certification examination also provided by the NNCC. This is a comprehensive examination that tackles all the various points in the field of work. After clearing the examination you can then proceed to take the oath and receive your certification.

Career Opportunities

Having a Dialysis Technician certification used to be quite sought after when it was not mandatory. A certification would help in easily finding employment, steady pay, opportunities to further your career and more. These days, certification is a requirement. You will need to be certified before you can take up your state licensing exam, after which you are free to apply for jobs.

If you are considering a career in the health care industry, becoming a Dialysis Technician may be just up your alley. It is one of the more easier careers and quite in demand in the recent times. With attractive salaries and many job benefits, the training, certification and licensing is all you need to start working as a Dialysis Technician.

Becoming a dialysis technician is an easy avenue for those looking to enter into a career in the health care industry. Unlike other jobs in the health care sector, being a dialysis technician means limited responsibilities, assigned to an enclosed location and workplace and have a pretty stable work schedule. Finding work opportunities as a Dialysis Technician should be quite easy due to the growing demand in various health care establishments across the Unites States and other parts of the world.

If you are thinking of changing careers towards becoming a dialysis technician then learning about the duties and responsibilities might help you decide. Like other health care jobs, dialysis technicians are trained to care for their patients. That said, their main job is to operate the equipment that is used for a dialysis procedure.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Dialysis Technician

Dialysis technicians are mainly responsible for operating the dialyzer machine during a scheduled dialysis procedure. Among the many tasks that they perform during a dialysis procedure includes

• Preparing the dialyzer machine for use. In this task, the technician prepares the dialyzer machine and its supporting equipment, adjusts the necessary control settings and places the right amount dialysate in accordance to patient protocols.
• Check for system malfunctions before the start of the dialysis. Dialysis technicians also test the equipment before the scheduled dialysis. This is the standard operating procedure for most health care establishments as problems that may arise during a dialysis can result in complications to the patient’s health.
• Troubleshooting. In the event of minor problems with the dialyzer, the dialysis technician will be required to perform certain troubleshooting procedures to determine if the machine is in need of repair. They will also write down reports and submit recommendations to their authorities so that the malfunctioning equipment is sent for repair.

Workplace Tasks

Dialysis technicians do not only operate the dialyzer machine. They are also in charge of keeping the dialysis room at par with the sanitation standards at all times. Among the duties which they have to perform under this category are

• Removing and disposing of supplies used after dialysis. All the used tubes, paper towels, syringes and needles would have to be properly disposed right after a dialysis procedure so that they will not contaminate the surrounding environment and cause health risks to other patients.
• Replacing the sheets used in the patient bed. Dialysis technicians also change sheets every after dialysis procedure, so that new patients would be able to enjoy clean and comfortable beds once they undergo dialysis.
• Cleaning the whole dialysis room. Lastly, dialysis technicians are in charge of cleaning the dialysis room on a regular basis. These include occasional mopping of floors and disinfecting used equipment after dialysis.

Patient Care Duties

Dialysis technicians also work as caregivers in a dialysis room setting. They provide comfort to patients and try to cheer them up, keeping the patients company and monitoring the whole dialysis process to make sure that procedure will turn out accordingly. After a dialysis procedure, these technicians also prepare post-dialysis patient reports which are then submitted to their superiors for interpretation and further study.

Working as a dialysis technician is one of the best ways to jump start a career in the health care industry. This particular profession is quite popular and there are many reasons why. We cover this in detail in our previous article on “Why become a Dialysis Technician“.  Suffice to say that dialysis technicians are quite in demand these days, draw a decent if not a good pay packet and have one the more lighter workloads when compared to any other health care professions. I’m sure all of this has peaked your interest, so let’s take a detailed look at what exactly is the work of Dialysis Technician.

Job Profile

In essence, dialysis technicians operate the equipment used for dialysis procedures. They set up the dialyzer machine, add the right amount of dialysate according to patient needs, and adjust the proper dialyzer settings before starting the procedure.

Dialysis technicians also control the functions of the dialyzer machine. They check for machine problems and recommend equipment repair or replacement whenever necessary. They also perform maintenance checks for the equipment on a regular basis. They make sure that the machines are properly cleaned after each use.

Day to Day Tasks and Schedule

Apart from the main task of conducting dialysis, a renal dialysis technician is also expected to do other related work. Some of the tasks and responsibilities that they are usually in charge of aside from handling the dialyzer equipment are

• Checking patient profiles for dialysis requirements. Dialysis technicians check patient data for protocols they will use for a dialysis. Through these data, they will know how much dialysate to add to the machine, as well as adjust the right settings for dialysis.
• Prepare the patient for dialysis. Dialysis technicians clean and dress up the patient who will undergo dialysis. These include cleaning the areas where the tubes and needles will be attached and placing the patient in a comfortable position so that dialysis can start.
• Monitor dialysis functions. A normal dialysis procedure takes up to four hours. Dialysis technicians are thus present throughout the whole procedure to make sure that the equipment is working properly.
• Respond to emergency situations. While most dialysis procedures turn out fine, unexpected events can still take place, such as patient convulsions, difficulty in breathing, hypertension, etc. Dialysis technicians thus serve as the emergency response personnel who will attend to such problems when a nurse or doctor is not present.
• Cleaning and maintenance of the dialysis room. Dialysis technicians are in charge of cleaning the dialysis equipment after use, as well as the whole dialysis room after each procedure. Cleaning includes disposal and replacement of used supplies, changing of sheets, and disinfecting the floor and atmosphere to make the room ready for the next scheduled dialysis session.

Work Environment

Dialysis technicians usually handle three to four patients per day depending on the establishment they work for. Unlike other health care workers, they get to enjoy regular hours of work. Working in shifts only take place in bigger health care facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes. Dialysis technicians in smaller clinics and diagnostic centers usually work fixed hours. That said, there might always be the requirement to work on weekends depending on the patient load and their employer’s requirements.

Since most of the their working hours is spent working on dialysis procedures, dialysis technicians are not expected make the rounds or rotate in different work assignments unlike nurses or scrubs. This is one of the perks on the profession. Fixed hours and fixed type of work most of the time translates to a more relaxed work environment and way less stress when compared to other nursing and health care professions.

Dialysis Technician Work Profile

Dialysis technicians are health care professionals mainly in charge of preparing, maintaining and operating the dialyzer machine during a dialysis procedure. Dialysis Technicians are quite in demand during the recent years thanks to the growing number of health care facilities not only in the United States but also in the other parts of the world. They share similar responsibilities with nurses and nursing assistants. That said, their work is most of the time limited to working with Dialysis patients where the main focus of attention is only on patients who are in need of kidney dialysis.

People working as dialysis technicians can expect better job benefits unlike other health workers. They get to work at regular hours, have specialized work areas and attend mostly to scheduled client appointments. They are not subject to handling emergency situations unless a medical emergency takes place during dialysis which is quite rare. This making the job less stressful. Being a Dialysis Technician, you have the option of using their current job as training for a more advanced career in health care or medicine in the event you plan to step up to a nurses profession or even become a doctor in the future.

Nature of Work

The main tasks of dialysis technicians are concentrated mainly on the handling of the equipment to be used for kidney dialysis. This is a complicated task in itself due to the frequent changing of dialyzer settings, amount of dialysate to be added to the dialyzer and the necessary connectors to be used on the patient. Almost every health care facility that offers dialysis require the services of trained dialysis technicians since you need trained personnel to handle the dialyzer equipment as compared to nurses who have a more comprehensive training and experience in health care procedures.

Dialysis technicians are required to be present in every dialysis procedure conducted on a patient. This is not only because they operate the equipment; they also monitor the functions of the dialyzer. They observe fluctuations, make adjustments and troubleshoot suspected problems with the dialyzer machine.

Nursing Tasks

Dialysis technicians also touch on certain nursing tasks. Some of their typical job duties include

• Preparing the patient for dialysis. This includes cleansing and dressing the patient, and injecting the intravenous tubes in which the blood will pass through during the dialysis procedure.

• Rendering first aid procedures in case of emergencies. There are times when medical emergencies take place during a dialysis procedure. Dialysis technicians would then have to respond to these cases until professional help arrives.

• Dealing with patients can be a bit difficult because they have different personalities and temperaments. Dialysis technicians would have to exert extra amounts of patience and enthusiasm so that they will be able to conduct their duties properly. The positive attitude they exert also help in assuring their clients that their dialysis procedure will go through successfully.

Administrative Tasks

Dialysis technicians also take over a number of administrative tasks. They assist nurses and doctors who administer patient dialysis, record patient conditions during the procedure, and submit patient reports to attending authorities.

Finally, dialysis technicians also act as scrubs in the dialysis room. They clean up the dialyzer and dispose the used needles and pads, and replace tubes whenever necessary. They also replace sheets after each dialysis and clean the surrounding environment to prepare for the next patient who will undergo the procedure.

Becoming a Dialysis Technician is a popular choice as far as medical and health care careers go. Previously we looked at what is a Dialysis Technician, how to go about becoming one and why a career in the field of Dialysis is popular. We also looked at the choices we have in terms of Dialysis Technician schools and online training. Today, let’s look deeper into the specific programs that various schools and programs teach to prepare you for a career in this field.

Certified Dialysis Technician programs vary in scope and curriculum. Courses are not uniform unlike baccalaureate programs since they focus mainly on the technical aspects of the field. Unlike other nursing careers, Dialysis Technicians job can get quite technical in nature since they operate quite a few medical equipment and machines that are used in the dialysis processes and also be well versed in the medical and patient care protocols as well.

Hemodialysis Technician Courses

Certificate in hermodialysis technician courses are the most common type of programs offered in most schools and medical institutions. Hemodialysis Technician programs last for two years and cover various subjects involved in the job. Some of the subjects that are covered in these courses are listed below

• Human anatomy. Students are guided through the basics of human anatomy to help them better understand what their patients are going through. Alongside human anatomy, the main focus of the course is on kidney health, attention and treatment. As dialysis technicians, one should completely understand and be knowledgeable when it comes to the health, development and treatment of the kidneys.
• Patient care and handling. One of the main aspects of a Dialysis Technicians job is to handle, manage and attend to patients with severe kidney problems. A patient can get quite irritable due to their medical condition and also due to the feeling of helplessness. Dialysis technicians should be well trained to deal with typical patient behavior while at the same time operate and carry out the necessary processes in dialysis.
• Equipment operation. There are different types of equipment used in a dialysis procedure. These machines should then be studied in terms of operation, basic troubleshooting and repair. In this area students learn about the ins and outs of the equipment along with their maintenance techniques. This is again a very crucial area and a must for Dialysis Technicians to be able to excel at their job.

Nephrology Courses

There are institutions that offer Nephrology courses and programs to students. These programs take a more comprehensive approach towards becoming a Dialysis nurse. They usually last for two years and can be used to apply for Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician examinations.

Advanced Hemodialysis Technician Courses

There are also more advanced hermodialysis technician courses that are available to students who want to pursue a more intensive and hands on course in dialysis nursing. These programs are designed to cover both the technical and medical aspects of the field in detail. They are recommended to students who have a previous education in the field of nursing. This course is also an option to already certified Dialysis Technicians to use as a springboard to further their careers in the field of nursing.

Program Requirements

Most of the courses in dialysis technician require a high school diploma or equivalent GED. The cost of these courses range from $2,500 to $7,500 and can be paid on an installment basis. Some programs tend to be cheaper as they are offered by medical institutions, a course at a medical institution can work out well since they also hire students fresh out of training and offer paid internships as well. This can really aspiring dialysis technicians and would save yu a lot of time and effort looking for jobs after graduation. Certified Dialysis Technicians can also use their certificate education to pursue further courses in nursing and move the ladder in lateral health care careers. Many technicians continue their education and become registered nurses. Some even go on to do their medical degree and work as doctors in the field of Nephrology.

Becoming a Dialysis Technician has quickly become one of the more popular career choices as far as health care careers go. There are many reasons for this, we briefly highlighted a few of them in our previous article on “How to become a Dialysis Technician“. In this article we will take a more detailed look at why the profession is so popular and all the reasons why you should consider this career path for yourself. For those that are still not very clear about the Dialysis Technician job profile, start off by reading our introductory article “What is a Dialysis Technician“, followed by the requirements for a Dialysis Technician that you will need to satisfy before you can start your career.

Lets now take a look at the reasons why a huge number of people are making a beeline to become Dialysis Technicians. The health care industry is booming and with it are many medical technician and nursing jobs. The demand for health care and medical professionals have far outstripped supply for a number of years with no sign of letting up.

High Demand

The demand for dialysis treatment rising each day and coupled with the fact that a number of specialized dialysis clinics that have sprung up all over the country to cater to the demand, the shortfall of good dialysis technicians are being felt across the U.D. With specialized clinics and kidney centers no longer part of hospitals and specialized care facilities for the elderly increasing each day, you have a situation where a decent dialysis technician with the right education, hands-on training and experience being snapped up quickly.

Shorter Educational Courses

Unlike many other health care careers, the education required to become a Dialysis Technician is far shorter. There are courses that are 6 months in duration which immediately looks attractive to a prospective student. Ofcourse, there are also courses that take 2 years to complete and is more thorough in the breadth of education that they cover. Also there are many online colleges that have started offering training which is another reason for the burgeoning interest in the profession.

Most of the courses for dialysis technicians require minimal qualifications. With the minimum qualification of a high school diploma or its equivalent like the GED, you have a great career option for many students looking to enter into the health care industry.

Hands-On Training

Live experience and hands-on training is crucial for any health care career and it’s no different with Dialysis Technicians. Compromising on your college and more of education might work to a certain degree but without good live training you will find it difficult to find takers. Luckily there are quite a few colleges that partner with hospitals and offer live experience to students. Also many health care institutions and hospitals are more than willing to intern students for little or no pay which works out great for the hospitals in reducing their expenses and for the student who gains valuable field experience.

Work Environment

This is one of the perks of being a dialysis technician. Unlike other health care workers, dialysis technicians usually have their own work setting and quite separate offices. This is primarily due to the fact that the job is equipment intensive. You need to have dedicated premises and offices to house the equipment. Also the job has a much lower stress levels when compared to other medical technician jobs. This is simply because the job of a Dialysis Technician follows a strict routine and is based on defined protocols. An emergency situation rarely occurs if ever.

Another characteristic of the job is that dialysis technicians rarely have patients to attend to apart from dialysis work. This means more free time and a generally more relaxed environment something other health care workers can only dream of. Less stress, a great work environment and working hours all make the job very appealing.

Good Salary and Benefits

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, dialysis technicians receive salaries that range between $25,000 and $40,000 per year. They are also eligible for benefits, adequate amount of leave credits and insurance policies depending on the hospital or medical institution that they work for. Keep in mind that the salary mentioned is an average and varies from city to city.

Career Advancement

Another appealing fact about becoming a Dialysis technician is that you can continue to further your education and open up more advanced medical careers for yourself. Many dialysis technicians continue down this path and become registered nurses, some even go on to study and become doctors as well. It is always nice to know that the time spent studying can come in handy if you would like to go on to a more intensive and advanced nursing or medical career.

Employment Requirements

Before you can finally start working, you are required to pass your certification exam and then appear for your state licensing exam conducted by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission. These are the two main requirements that you need to satisfy. Finding yourself that all important first job is relatively easier provided you make the right choices of school, training and get as much live experience as possible.

Becoming a Dialysis Technician is relatively simpler than other health care careers today. This can be mainly attributed to a relatively relaxed training program as well as a growing number of educational institutes, online campuses and medical establishments offering training to become a dialysis technician. Another important reason for the popularity is because the duties and responsibilities of a dialysis technician are somewhat lighter when compared to other health care careers. People who are looking to break into the health care industry also find being a Dialysis Technician attractive for all the reasons mentioned above. Some look at it as a stepping stone towards a more advanced career in the health care industry.

For all those that are planning on becoming dialysis technicians in the near future, the path or steps you have to take are relatively simple. We have detailed out the Requirements for a Dialysis Technician which might help. In the beginning however, to be successful, two things are very important, your education and the practical experience you accumulate via on the job training and/or internship.

Education

You have a variety of choice when it comes to education. You can choose from community colleges, specialized medical schools and colleges to even online training. There is a slight difference in course ware across states and the duration also varies. There are courses that last just 6 months to courses that take 2 years to complete. Choosing your training institution is important. Decide on your future goals first before deciding on an educational institute. Are you looking at a more advanced health care career for yourself? If yes, then a 2 year course might be your best option. Will my course also include practical exposure? Can I afford to dedicate the time required to study and graduate? These are but a few questions you should be asking before you decide on the exact nature and institute for your education

Your training will not only cover the use, care and maintenance of the dialyzer machine and equipment but also cover various health care related subjects such as human anatomy and physiology, kidney care, hemodialysis, patient care, human psychology, vascular access and emergency response. These subjects are important as dialysis technicians are expected to not only operate equipment but also take care of patients during a dialysis sessions. You must be well prepared to face setbacks and medical emergencies during which you are expected to perform the necessary response.

Like we mentioned earlier, there are many schools that offer dialysis technician courses. An important tip to keep in mind when scouting for a campus to enroll in is to choose one that is accredited by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission. Accredited campuses provide up-to-date lessons, the latest news and information and adopt the newest technologies in the field of  work.

Practical Training

Hands on exposure is vital in any health care career and Dialysis Technician is no different. Your best bet to accumulate vital practical experience is to find a good internship or enroll yourself at an institute that offers on the job training. Some internships are sponsored by schools, particularly those that are partnered with a medical establishment. On the job training mostly though is your responsibility. Finding an external medical establishment where you as a student can train and practice your skills is the only other way you can hope to gain experience. Getting the experience of actual work is critical and people with live field experience will find it relatively easy to land a suitable position.

Certification & Licensing

Before you can start working though, Dialysis Technicians must pass the BONENT certification. You can only take up the certification exam after you’ve completed your training. Once you clear your certification, you then have to appear for your state licensing exam conducted by the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission. Certification and licensing is now a mandatory requirement in order to work as a dialysis technician.

Key Skills & Requirements to become a Dialysis Technician

Dialysis Technicians are among the most in demand health care careers at present. Their primary role is to handle the dialysis machine and conduct the procedure on patients that need dialysis. At the same time they also take on additional duties that a typical nurse performs on their patients. Dialysis technicians are in constant demand due to the growing number of individuals suffering from kidney issues especially among the elderly and people with kidney related problems.

But how does one become a Dialysis Technician? or more precisely, what are the requirements for a Dialysis Technicians? Like any medical career, dialysis technicians will have to undergo both theoretical and practical training. For more on the topic, refer to our previous articles on “What is a Dialysis Technician“, “Dialysis Technician Schools” and “Online Dialysis Technician Training“. Once the training is done, you would need to appear for a certification examination and then proceed to appear for the state licensing exam before you can be employed.

Education Requirements

Before you can appear for certification and licensing, you will need to undergo the required education and practical training. Those who wish to become dialysis technicians must first undergo theoretical and practical training either at an on-campus institution or an online educational course. There are quite a few training programs being offered by both educational institutions and medical establishments today. Aspiring students can check out courses and programs offered in junior and community colleges, nursing schools, medical schools and online colleges.

Courses in dialysis technician training generally last between six months and two years depending on the type of program and range of subjects covered. Basic courses tend to be longer as they have a comprehensive coverage of dialysis technician and related medical classes. There are also advanced programs which may be taken in order to advance to higher or lateral medical position. While on the subject of training, current dialysis technicians can take up shorter continuing educational courses to keep abreast of the changes in the field and satisfy one the main conditions of their licensing. Continuous education will also help in moving up in your career and in your profession as well.

In order to be accepted to a dialysis technician course, one should have completed their secondary education such as graduating high school or equivalent GED.

Training

Practical training for dialysis technicians are usually part of the course curriculum. Students are given time to work on laboratory equipment such as dialyzer machines and related tools and instruments. They also have to complete internships in kidney care clinics or hospitals for a number of hours in order to graduate.

There are some institutions that offer free or discounted courses in for aspiring dialysis technicians. In exchange, students would have to render hours of unpaid work at hospitals or partner health care institutions. These are good training grounds for people who want to work in the said field while being trained at a much lower cost and not to mention the opportunity to find steady employment right after graduation.

Certification

After graduating from your Dialysis Technician course, you are encouraged to appear for the certification exam conducted by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology, BONENT in short. Getting yourself certified is important as it validates your knowledge and experience in the field, infact recent rules have now made it mandatory. Once you have cleared your certification you are then eligible to appear for your state licensing exam.

Licensing

Being certified and being licensed are two different things altogether. Post your training and graduation, you are now required to appear for your BONENT certification exam and be certified. Once you are certified, you can then take up your state licensing exam. If you clear the state licensing exam you are now a Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT)

Attitude

While this is not a hard requirement, aspiring dialysis technicians can really go far is they possess good patient handling skills. Knowing how to take care of patients especially when they are moody and irritable due to their health condition is a skill that needs to be gained with experience. Good work ethic and being responsible and handle responsibility is very important when it comes to performing medical work. A good sense of structure and maintenance of equipment is also vital. Following medical protocols and equipment related maintenance protocols at all times is part and parcel of the job.

References

• http://www.bonent.org/