If you have an interest in science and technology and also like working with people, there are a number of different jobs in the healthcare field from which to choose. One of them you might want to consider is that of a dialysis technician. Not only will you be making competitive wages, but you will be saving lives. Before making your decision on which field you want to go into, you should give thought to whether or not this position is a good fit with your interests and abilities. So read up on the career. Your can go online or go to your school or public library and find books such as Occupational Handbook by the U.S. Department of Labor which provides a thorough overview of health care careers.
Dialysis Technician Job Description
Dialysis technicians work in a specialized part of the health care industry closely with patients whose kidneys are failing. Sometimes called Hemodialysis technicians, Renal Dialysis Tecnicians or Patient Care Technicians, these healthcare workers operate machines that remove wastes, salt and excess water from patient’s blood. Dialysis Technicians perform their duties under the supervision of physicians or registered nurses. They not only have clinical skills, but they have technical skills as well and can be responsible for both direct patient care and dialysis equipment maintenance and repair. Other responsibilities include observing the patient during the dialysis procedure, monitoring and recording vital signs during treatment, administering local anesthetic and drugs under supervision, assess patients for any complications that may occur during the procedure. They must also be ready to take any necessary emergency measures – including administering oxygen or performing basis cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and train patients for at-home dialysis treatment.
Some important skills, knowledge, and abilities for Dialysis Technicians include:
1. Operation Monitoring – watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
2. Operaton and Control – controlling operations of equipment or systems.
3. Technology Design – generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.
4. Be and active listener – giving your full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
5. Oral Expression – the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
6. Written Comprehension – the ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing, and
7. Information Ordering – the ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or patern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letter, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Although some dialysis technicians can find jobs with a diploma and acquire the necessary skills while working, an increasing number of employers now want candidates with additional training from an accredited dialysis technology school. The school you attend to become a dialysis technician is very important. For example, Dialysis Technicians who want to work in California must be certified by the California Department of Health Services. Then you would hold the title of Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHD). In order to become CHT, individuals must either complete a California Dept. of Health Services approved training and testing program in a hemodialsis clinic, hospital unit, or private school, or be certified by the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT). Technicians from another state who are BONENT certified can work in California without repeating the training. The U.S. Department of Education provides a list of accepted accreditation organizations. If you attend a reputable school, it should offer the established curricula and an externship at the end of the training including hands-on experience in artificial kidneys, technical assessments, fluid oversite,dialysis processes, monitoring equipment and common hemodialysis issues.
The possibilities for continued career growth are greater when you have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree. Maybe you could opt for going to school part time while you are working, which is a good possibility because of the fact that you can do online courses at home. Another thing to look into while considering becoming a Dialysis Tech is the requirements in your particular state of employment as in some states dialysis technicians need to take a certification examination before being hired. In others, only accredited training is required. Regardless, in most cases, to be certified, a dialysis technician must have graduated from high school, completed an approved training program and had clinical experience. Also, at least six months of clinical work is recommended in some states before taking the examination for certification.
Advancement opportunities for Dialysis Technicians depend upon the location of the job. For the most part, Technicians can advance to a Chief Technician position in most facilities. Those working in larger clinics have the opportunity to advance to Machine Maintenance Technician where this more specialized position is responsible for all dialysis machine maintenance and repair. Most employers also encourage Technicians to become licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses or other more specialized health care therapists or providers.
As a Dialysis Technician you can generally expect to earn somewhere between $10.00 – 13.25 per hour and work up to about $20.00 per hour after a number of years on the job. Also, for those Techs who work evenings or night shifs usually earn a shift differential of about $2.00 – $3.50 per hour. Dialysis Technician Jobs in large acute-care hospitals normally pay higher wages than those employed in outpatient clinics. And of course wages are generally higher un urban areas.
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