Hemodialysis Technicians - Helping people since 1974
- Miguel Rivera
- Mar 11, 2015
- 2 min read
Imagine walking into your office and there is no place to sit or stand. There is so much waste and junk cluttering the entire space that it makes it virtually impossible to function. Now imagine that instead of your office that is cluttered with waste, it is your body. People who cannot remove waste products in their blood are called dialysis patients. In the United States, there are over 200,000 people who use dialysis techniques on an ongoing basis (www.medicinenet.com). Hemodialysis Technicians (Patient Care Technicians) are the professionals who care for dialysis patients.
The dialysis process basically removes waste, excess water and other fluids from the kidney when it is suffering from renal failure. The technician also operates dialysis machines and equipment during dialysis treatments under the supervision of a nurse or other healthcare professional. Several other duties include recording patient information and measuring a patient's vital signs before, during and after dialysis under the supervision of a doctor or nurse.
As a Hemodialysis Technician, you have an opportunity to help make significant changes in your patients’ lives. You will be interacting with the same patients at least three times a week. Treatments usually last anywhere from 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours and during that time, Hemodialysis Technicians check the blood pressure frequently and keeps an eye on the dialysis machine to ensure that the proper amount of fluid is being removed from the patient’s body. Patients are able to do other work or even sleep throughout the entire treatment. Not only can you keep an eye on the machine, but you can also make the patient’s visit more enjoyable! This is an ever evolving career that continuously is growing due to the high volume of dialysis patients.
Certification and licensing is a requirement for hemodialysis technicians in all states and require that prospective state-certified technicians be first certified by the Board of Nephrology
Examination for Nurses and Technicians (BONENT).
BONENT is a National exam accepted in every state however each state has its own requirements. Please look into your own state requirements for more specific information.
How do I get started?
MK Education also offers an approved BONENT program and partner with many colleges nationwide. Please look at our hemodialysis technician training program overview page on our website!
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