Dialysis Technician

Dialysis Technician Career Overview

Dialysis technicians set up and operate hemodialysis machines to provide dialysis treatment for patients with kidney failure. Dialysis technicians work on a daily basis with people whose kidneys no longer work properly or at all. These professionals are also sometimes called hemodialysis technicians or patient care technicians (PCTs).

Some of the daily work these technicians perform is removing wastes, salt, and extra water from patients' blood while maintaining safe levels of certain chemicals. Dialysis patients generally use the machine for about four hours, three times a week. The technicians prepare patients for dialysis, monitor them and the machine during dialysis, and perform required procedures when dialysis is completed.

Dialysis technicians help patients feel comfortable during the procedure and keep the machine in good working condition. Most dialysis technicians work in hospitals under the supervision of a registered nurse. Others work in dialysis units run by private companies.

Dialysis Technician Training & Education

Dialysis technicians set up and operate hemodialysis machines to provide dialysis treatment for patients with kidney failure. In order to become a dialysis technician, students will need at least a high school diploma. Various community colleges, vocational schools, and training centers across the country offer programs leading to certification. State certification is required. Mechanical ability is also important in this job. Dialysis technicians train on the job. In a hospital they are taught how to operate the machine by a registered nurse. Companies that have dialysis units may also offer training.

Dialysis Technician Career & Salary

Dialysis technicians set up and operate hemodialysis machines to provide dialysis treatment for patients with kidney failure. Dialysis technicians work on a daily basis with people whose kidneys no longer work properly or at all.

Some of the daily work these technicians perform is removing wastes, salt, and extra water from patients' blood while maintaining safe levels of certain chemicals. Dialysis patients generally use the machine for about four hours, three times a week. The technicians prepare patients for dialysis, monitor them and the machine during dialysis, and perform required procedures when dialysis is completed.

Dialysis technicians help patients feel comfortable during the procedure and keep the machine in good working condition. With the right combination of training and experience, dialysis technicians can advance to supervisory and managerial positions in the dialysis departments. Salaries for dialysis technicians range from $20,000 to $35,000 per year.

Career Fields/Specializations

Dialysis Technician Career

Dialysis technicians set up and operate hemodialysis machines to provide dialysis treatment for patients with kidney failure. Some of the daily work these technicians perform is removing wastes, salt, and extra water from patients' blood while maintaining safe levels of certain chemicals. Dialysis patients generally use the machine for about four hours, three times a week.

The technicians prepare patients for dialysis, monitor them and the machine during dialysis, and perform required procedures when dialysis is completed. Dialysis technicians help patients feel comfortable during the procedure and keep the machine in good working condition.

Students who want to become a dialysis technician will need at least a high school diploma. Various community colleges, vocational schools, and training centers across the country offer programs leading to certification. Courses in science and health are useful, as is volunteer or part-time work in a hospital. Mechanical ability is also important in this job.

Renal Dialysis Specialist Career

Renal dialysis specialists provide consultation for patients with acute and chronic kidney diseases, including complicated hypertension and kidney failure. Patients are usually trained to perform dialysis treatments safely in the comfort of their own home, thus avoiding multiple weekly visits to the clinic. Renal dialysis specialists fall under the umbrella category of dialysis technicians, who set up and operate hemodialysis machines to provide treatment for patients with kidney failure.

Renal dialysis specialists must work well with other people, and they must be skilled in providing their patients with excellent care in an environment that fosters compassion, dignity and respect.

Hemo Dialysis Specialist Career

Hemodialysis specialists review dialysis orders and record their patients' physical and mental condition through observation and interview. They also review lab work and obtain blood samples and culture specimens.

Under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse, the hemodialysis technician sets up and monitors dialysis machines and systems for correct functioning; responds to visual and audible alarms during the dialysis treatment; and dismantles, cleans and disinfects dialysis machines and equipment after the procedure. These professionals are well-trained in the principles of:

• Dialysis
• Anatomy and physiology of the kidney
• Fluid and electrolyte balance
• Hematologic aspects
• Infectious diseases
• Dialysis systems and equipment
• Vascular access to circulation
• Routine aspects of hemodialysis
• Dietary regulation
• Blood chemistry
• Complications of renal failure
• Psychosocial aspects
• An overview of the peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation

Acute Dialysis Tech Career

Acute dialysis technicians prepare patients for dialysis, monitor them and the machine during dialysis, and perform required procedures when dialysis is completed. Some of the daily work these technicians perform is removing wastes, salt, and extra water from patients' blood while maintaining safe levels of certain chemicals. Dialysis patients generally use the machine for about four hours, three times a week.

These professionals should be able to lift the spirits of patients who are having a bad day, and empathize with the frustration and physical discomfort that many kidney patients feel. Acute dialysis technicians help patients feel comfortable during the procedure and keep the machine in good working condition. With the right combination of training and experience, acute dialysis technicians can quickly advance to supervisory and managerial positions.