With strong communication skills and attention to technical details, being a hemodialysis or dialysis technician may work for you.
If you want a new, challenging job with great projected job growth, you can find it as a hemodialysis technician and with hemodialysis training. These medical technicians work in a variety of locations, but invariably they need communication and technical skills to work with both people and highly sophisticated technology.
Hemodialysis refers to an artificial process of cleansing the blood of toxins in place of the kidneys. In most cases, patients with impaired kidneys or full-blown renal failure are hooked up to a dialysis machine two or three times per week. A dialysis technician works directly with the patient and the machine, monitoring vital signs, recording any changes, and ensuring the machine is working properly at all times.
The technician must be comfortable with attaching the person to the machine using an IV. It's a technical job that demands interpersonal skills and a love of people.
There are two basic routes for hemodialysis technician education. If you're already a nurse, you can take a short hemodialysis course at a local college that will prepare you to be a hemodialysis nurse on a nephrology unit.
If you just want to be a hemodialysis tech, many community colleges offer courses blending hands-on practice, classroom training and clinical practice to prepare you for this demanding career. In some cases, large hospitals, especially teaching hospitals, offer in-house hemodialysis training to Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and other medical paraprofessionals, enabling you to prepare for a new career without leaving the old one behind.
Classes begin soon. Find a hemodialysis technician program in your area and apply today!
Once you've completed your hemodialysis education and have acquired some experience in nephrology, you are eligible to become a Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT). For this certification, you'll need to take a credentialing test from the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology, or BONENT.
Typically, the board requires you to have a high school diploma, at least a year of experience in nephrology and proof that you've completed an accredited dialysis course. Certain states and hospitals may have further requirements beyond hemodialysis technician certification.
Hemodialysis technicians can find jobs in a variety of locations, most notably nursing homes and elder care living facilities. Many large hospitals need in-house hemodialysis technicians. In urban areas, outpatient facilities specializing in hemodialysis treatment are often looking for technicians. Areas with large elderly or diabetic populations may need hemodialysis technicians.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Job Handbook, the job outlook for hemodialysis technicians is pretty good, with a projected growth of around 13 percent through to 2020 and a median pay range of $46,000 per year.
If you're considering hemodialysis training, Reply! can help you find a great education program in your area so you can get started on your new medical career.