Dialysis Technician

These days dialysis technician schools can be found just about everywhere. Dialysis technician schools provide mostly certificate programs for individuals who intend to work in the said field. There are also educational centers that offer supplemental and continuing education programs which can in turn lead to more advanced courses, all of which help in career advancement and will be a great asset in your professional career not to mention a better pay.

Educational Requirements

Almost every dialysis technician school requires basic education levels for their students. Persons who wish to work in the said field should have either completed high school education or equivalent GED. College students who have taken up medical courses may also find an advantage in dialysis technician courses as majority of the subjects in the programs deal with human anatomy and biology.

Types of Dialysis Technician Schools

There are standalone dialysis technician schools which offer basic and advanced courses in the said field. Programs for dialysis technicians are also found in junior and community colleges, as well as in hospitals.

Standalone dialysis technical schools offer direct courses in the field. Most of their programs last between six months and two years, depending on the course curriculum. Fresh high school graduates are recommended to take up two-year certificate programs in dialysis technician training so they would be well educated with the basics of dialysis and kidney studies. They also study the use and operation of the different equipment in performing dialysis.

Dialysis technician courses in junior and community college can be used for advanced studies and for continuing education requirements. Most of the students who take up dialysis technician courses in these institutions are also planning to be registered nurses in the near future. It can be beneficial for them to study in such schools since the programs have related curriculum and coursework.

To those who are looking for more hands on training, they can study dialysis technician courses in hospitals and medical institutions. Nowadays a lot of hospitals offer educational courses in various fields due to the rising demand for health care workers. Dialysis technician courses in hospitals are shorter and deal more on the technical aspects of the field.

Online Dialysis Technician Schools

There are also online universities and colleges that offer courses in dialysis technician work. These courses are taught in the form of modules, podcasts, videos and webinars in which students can tune in as per their schedule and convenience. The advantage of online courses is that the flexibility it affords you. You can push through your course faster if you have a lot of free time or you can do it slowly while at the same time managing your home and current career. Keep in mind though that an online program lack hands on training and practicum which are vital to the job. Read our article “Online Dialysis Technician Training” for more information on online dialysis technician schools and training.

What to Look for in Dialysis Technician Schools

Dialysis technician schools, regardless of their orientation, should be accredited by Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission and the American Nephrology Nurses Association. Graduates of dialysis technician courses are subject to pass an examination in order to become certified workers in the said field.

School accreditation is important as students who graduate from non-accredited institutions become disqualified in certificate examinations. They would also be subject to less career opportunities as employers look for applicants with accredited backgrounds.

Studying in an accredited dialysis technician school (both online and on campus) guarantees higher quality education and provides better career possibilities. Graduates may not only land on good paying jobs but as well easily turn to advanced studies such as degrees in nursing or medicine.

Online dialysis technician training programs are useful for people who are considering becoming Dialysis Technicians but have time and personal limitations preventing them from committing to a campus based course. The online courses are conducted over the internet allowing you the option of studying from home without the need to attend classes on a college campuses. Through these online programs, working individuals get the opportunity to pursue a career that appeals to them, helps them work on their programs and studies in the limited amount of time they have and allowing them to graduate at their own pace and finally provide them with an opportunity to work as dialysis technicians.

Qualification Requirements

Almost all students can take up the training courses required to become a dialysis technician. Minimum requirements include completion of secondary education such as a high school diploma or equivalent GED. Keep in mind that an online courses are ideal for students who do not have time to go to on-campus classes such as working individuals or those who work from home.

Online dialysis technician training courses are also useful for people who are planning a career shift to health care services. Individuals that want to become nurses also find becoming a dialysis technician appealing since they can first work as dialysis technicians and learn and assimilate all hands-on training and introductory courses in nursing that come along with the training and profession.

Course Outline

Online training courses for dialysis technicians deal mostly with theoretical aspects of Dialysis and health care management. Among the basic subjects offered in these courses are

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Psychology
• Wellness and disease concepts
• Health care ethics, rights and responsibilities
• Hemodialysis
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Hemodialysis procedures and practices
• Lab values, medications and dietary regimens
• Vascular access
• Dialyzer, dialysate and delivery system procedures
• Dialyzer reprocessing
• Water treatment
• Emergency procedures
• Safety and security procedures
• Quality assurance

These subjects are divided and taught in different semesters. Advanced topics cannot be taken up unless the prerequisite courses have been completed. Online training programs are also usually shorter than the campus based classes; you are usually able to complete your training online several months ahead of schedule when you compare yourself to a campus based counterpart.

Internships

Internships are key if you are doing your training online. The biggest disadvantages of online courses is the lack of practical experience. The best way to counter this is to find great internship opportunities that will give you the experience, depth and hands on training that you will sorely lack in your online course. Internships for online dialysis technician training courses depend on the student’s location or country. To those living in the United States, internships can be applied for in local hospitals within the state. International students studying dialysis technician courses online will find it difficult to find internships in their localities since the curriculum of most online courses follow US based practices.

It is likewise best to discuss internship concerns with the online university in order to qualify for on-the-job training programs in hospitals and local health care establishments.

Certification

Students who complete their online dialysis technician training can then proceed to take up their certification examination also called as the BONET examination. Once you have cleared your certification you will then be required to take up the state licensing exam know as the Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) test. It is recommended to take up the certification and licensing as soon as possible after graduation.

Costs

The cost of studying and training to become a dialysis technician online can cost you in the range of $6000 – $8000. The final cost really depends on the program and school. While they can cost just as much if you study in a campus based program, an online course has it benefits and gives students the flexibility they need when it comes to time management and working around fixed schedules. An online course allows you to finish at your own time and pace. Another big positive is that graduates from an online course as long as they are proactive with their internships can earn as much as their campus based counter parts if not more. The salary ranges typically in the $45,000 to $60,000 per year.

Dialysis is a treatment that is very essential for patients with kidney/renal failures. It is an artificial process of  removing waste from the blood. This requires the services of special equipment and process. One has to be technically and thoroughly trained to operate the equipment. This is where you need the services of a Dialysis Technician.

Dialysis Technician Job Description

The basic task of a dialysis technician involves in operating the hemodialysis machines for dialysis procedure performed on patients with kidney failure. They are also called as hemodialysis technicians or patient care technicians (PCTs).

The various other tasks, which are done on a daily basis, are:

• Monitoring, recording, and evaluating the vital signs of the patient during the dialysis procedure.
• Setting up the machine and preparing the patient mentally and physically for the dialysis process and monitor both during the procedure.
• Obtaining the physical examination of the patient before dialysis.
• Acting on emergency situations and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in case of complications during procedure.
• Cleaning of the catheter and grafting using antiseptic solution.

A Dialysis Technician should possess skills to manage and control equipments, adapt to the technology development of the field and equipments, organize things according to the prescribed rules, have the ability to deal with patients with concern and be able to calm and comfort them etc.

The working hours can be part time or full time. However, night shifts and working on weekends are pretty much the norm in this field because the condition and requirements of the patients do vary. A Dialysis Technician’s job involves contact with blood, and with it comes the risk of health safety. It is is the Dialysis Technician’s job to be very careful and take the necessary measures to prevent an outbreak, be aware of HIV and hepatitis prevention procedure and techniques. Dialysis technicians can grow in their careers by specializing in renal dialysis, acute dialysis, and hemodialysis.

Dialysis Technician Training and Certification

The basic requirement to begin Dialysis Technician training is that one should be a science student. Courses that are accredited by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology is recommended. One can acquire a 1-year Diploma, a 2-year Associate Degree, or a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree from various Dialysis Technician schools. Once your education is done, recent changes have now made it mandatory that students are certified. Students must appear for the certification exam also called as the BONENT exam. After clearing your certification, you are then required to appear for your state licensing exam after which you will become licensed and legally allowed to work as a Dialysis Technician.

One can volunteer at hospitals or a dialysis center to get hands-on experience for further job opportunities. However, just the basic level of training is sufficient to start the entry level work and then continue their education online for the career growth.

Dialysis Technician Job Prospects and Salary

The range varies from $28,430 to $34500 approximately per year.  The salary varies depending on the work situation and the state rules. The hourly wages are approximately between $10 and $16 only. Of course, as the experience grows, the salary also would increase. There are also benefits such as health insurance and paid vacation in some states.

Career growth depends on the experience and specialization of the dialysis technology in fields like renal dialysis, acute dialysis and hemodialysis.