A dialysis technician is responsible for setting up and operating dialysis machines and monitoring kidney patients since dialysis machines help in removing toxins, waste products and extra fluids from the patient’s blood. You can become a certified Dialysis Technician by taking up a training program. Here are 7 easy steps on your way of becoming a Dialysis Technician!

Step 1: Learn about the job!
Know the job description!

Step 2: Know the career duties
A Dialysis Technician has to prepare solutions that are use to sterilize the patients’ blood before the dialysis treatment starts. She/he also has to record the blood pressure of the patient, his weight and vital signs both before and at the end of the treatment. Then, the patient’s condition has to be reported to a supervising nurse and physician, as the case may be.

Also, you will be prepared to respond quickly during emergencies involving dialysis treatments. The job also requires the technician to clean up, sterilize and also maintain the dialysis machinery.

Step 3: High School Diploma
A high school diploma or an equivalent of the diploma is a primary requirement for the training programs. In addition, you may also want to enroll in math, science and other health occupation classes to help you with your post secondary studies.

Step 4: Certificates and Licenses
In addition to the diploma, you will need a certificate as “Dialysis Technician” from any national organization. This can be any organization but ones like the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (Check out http://www.bonent.org), and the National Nephrology Certification Organization (Check out http://www.ptcny.com) are especially preferred among employers today. You can also get a national certificate as a qualification for the state licensure.

Step 5: Dialysis Technician training program
You will need to learn anatomy and physiology, CPR, assessment of a patient, and first aid. You will also need to know the correct method to set up and operate the various dialysis equipment. Along with that you will need to prepare dialysis prescriptions, and perform venipuncture and care for patients before, during and after treatment. You will also go through tens of hours in clinical training which will be supervised in the training programs.

Step 6: Education hours
To renew your Dialysis Technician certificates and licenses, you will need to complete a specified number of education hours as a prerequisite. Also the training can be a stepping stone for those who are looking to expand their career towards a registered (or even a licensed vocational) nurse.

Step 7: Work
Be ready to churn out any amounts of work hours that your employer may ask. Since jobs are hard to find now a days, you must be totally prepared to put in all the hard work that is required of you. Being a Dialysis Technician is not easy, but then again, what is? So, a final word to budding technicians out there: good luck!

Source by Ms. Pinky Maniri