CALIFORNIA OCCUPATIONAL GUIDE - NUMBER 5432003

INTEREST AREASOCIAL

www.calmis.ca.gov

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DIALYSIS TECHNICIANS operate kidneydialysis machines which filter normalwaste products and excess fluids from theblood of patients whose kidneys nolonger function. Dialysis Techniciansperform their duties under the supervisionof physicians or registered nurses. Theyhave clinical and technical skills andcan be responsible for both direct patientcare as well as dialysis equipmentmaintenance and repair. DialysisTechnicians perform the following tasks:

• Get dialyzer (artificial kidney) anddelivery system ready, monitor allequipment while in use, and cleanequipment following treatment.

• Record the patient’s weight and vitalsigns before and after treatment.

• Observe the patient during the dialysis procedure,monitoring and recording vital signs during treatment.

• Administer local anesthetics and drugs under supervision.

• Assess patients for any complications that occur duringthe procedure. They must be ready to take any necessaryemergency measures–including administering oxygen orperforming basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Train patients for at-home dialysis treatment.

Dialysis Technicians may also be known as Hemodialysis orRenal Dialysis Technicians.

WHAT SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT?

Important skills, knowledge, and abilities for DialysisTechnicians include:

• Operation Monitoring – Watching gauges, dials, or otherindicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

• Operation and Control – Controlling operations ofequipment or systems.

• Technology Design – Generating or adapting equipmentand technology to serve user needs.

• Active Listening – Giving full attention to what otherpeople are saying, taking time to understand the pointsbeing made, asking questions as appropriate, and notinterrupting at inappropriate times.

• Oral Expression – The ability to communicate informationand ideas in speaking so others will understand.

• Written Comprehension – The ability to read andunderstand information and ideas presented in writing.

• Information Ordering – The ability to arrange things oractions in a certain order or pattern according to aspecific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers,letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

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• Medicine and Dentistry – Knowledge of theinformation and techniques needed todiagnose and treat human injuries, diseases,and deformities. This includes symptoms,treatment alternatives, drug properties andinteractions, and preventive health-caremeasures.

• Problem Sensitivity – The ability to tell whensomething is wrong or is likely to go wrong. Itdoes not involve solving the problem, onlyrecognizing there is a problem.

WHAT’S THE WORK ENVIRONMENT?

Dialysis Technicians work primarily in outpatientdialysis clinics. They work in clean, climate-controlled environments. They often stand forprolonged periods of time, and the work can bestrenuous. Working with seriously ill patients,they face exposure to infectious diseases such asHIV/AIDS and Hepatitis, as well as exposure tohazardous chemicals while carrying out theirduties. These risks can be minimized byfollowing prescribed sterilization procedures andby using universal precautions such as gowns,gloves, and face shields.

Union Membership

Dialysis Technicians may be members of a unioncovering health care workers.

WHAT’S THE CALIFORNIA JOB OUTLOOK?

The Department of Health Services indicates thatas of early 2003, there were about 4,800 DialysisTechnicians certified in California. TheDepartment indicates that this number hasincreased since certification became arequirement to work in the field.

Trends

Two factors will encourage growth in thisoccupation: the number of patients on dialysiscontinues to increase and Dialysis Technicians areincreasingly replacing registered nurses intreatment centers. Dialysis patients also tend tostay in treatment longer.

This is in addition to the general populationincrease and the rise in the elderly population,

which is the age group that is most likely torequire dialysis care.

Although the number of kidney transplants hascontinued to rise, available donated organsremain limited, and the impact on the number ofpatients in dialysis will be minimal.

WHAT DOES THE JOB PAY?

California Earnings

An informal survey of wages shows that DialysisTechnicians generally start at about $10.00 -$13.25 per hour, and work up to about $20.00 perhour after a number of years on the job.Technicians who work evenings or night shiftsusually earn a shift differential of about $2.00 -$3.50 per hour.

Technicians affiliated with large, acute-carehospitals normally receive higher salaries thanTechnicians employed in outpatient clinics.Wages are generally higher in urban areas.

Hours

Most dialysis clinics are open evenings andweekends to accommodate their patients whowork. Technicians have their choice of variedshifts and full-time and part-time schedules.

Most Technicians work a 40-hour, five-day week.Weekend and after-hours work may be necessary.

Benefits

Employee benefits usually include vacation,holidays, sick leave, retirement benefits, andhealth and life insurance plans. Educationalleave and fee reimbursement benefits are alsocommon in this industry.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR THE JOB?

Education and Training

To perform their job, technicians must fullyunderstand the dialysis equipment – the basictheory of dialysis, the design of the machine, andexactly how it works.

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Although most employers would prefer to hireDialysis Technicians who are already certified,employers may hire in-service trainees for theirapproved training and testing programs.Applicants for Dialysis Technician traineepositions generally must have a high schooldiploma or equivalent. Other desirablequalifications include prior patient care or relatedmedical experience and demonstrated written andverbal communication skills. Some employersrequire applicants to complete two or more yearsof college with an emphasis in health sciencecourse work.

Licensing and Certification

Dialysis Technicians who work in California mustbe certified by the California Department ofHealth Services. They then hold the title ofCertified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT).

To become a CHT, individuals must either:

1. Complete a California Department of HealthServices approved training and testing programin a hemodialysis clinic, hospital unit, orprivate school, or

2. Be certified by the Board of NephrologyExamination for Nurses and Technicians(BONENT).

Technicians from another state who are BONENTcertified can work in California without repeatingthe training.

The National Nephrology Technology CertificationBoard (NNTCB) offers certification examinationsfor both nephrology clinical technicians andnephrology biomedical technicians. The NNTCBis affiliated with the National Association ofNephrology Technicians/Technologists.

Continuing Education

The State requires 30 continuing education hoursbe completed every four years for licenserenewal.

HOW DO I FIND THE JOB?

Dialysis Technicians or job seekers interested intrainee positions should contact dialysis clinics,

hospitals that offer hemodialysis care,employment agencies specializing in the medicalfield, and the local Employment DevelopmentDepartment Job Service office. Individualsinterested in working in Veterans Administration(VA) hospitals should contact the Federal Office ofPersonnel Management. Professional journals andnewsletters of organizations that deal with dialysisor kidney disease may also list jobs.

Direct application to employers remains one ofthe most effective job search methods. Privatefirms are listed in the yellow pages under dialysisclinics or hospitals. California job openings canbe found at various online job-listing systemsincluding CalJOBSSM at www.caljobs.ca.gov or atAmerica’s Job Bank at www.ajb.dni.us.

For other occupational and wage information anda listing of the largest employers in any county,visit the Employment Development DepartmentLabor Market Information Web page atwww.calmis.ca.gov. Find further job searchassistance from your nearest Job Service officewww.edd.ca.gov/jsloc.htm or the closest One-Stop site listed on the California WorkNet site,www.sjtcc.ca.gov/sjtccweb/one-stop.

WHERE CAN THIS JOB LEAD?

Advancement opportunities for DialysisTechnicians depend upon the location of the job.In most facilities, Technicians can advance to aChief Technician position. Dialysis Techniciansworking in some of the larger clinics have theopportunity to advance to Machine MaintenanceTechnician. In this more specialized position, thetechnician is responsible for all dialysis machinemaintenance and repair. A majority of employersalso encourage the Technicians to continue theireducation to become licensed vocational nurses,registered nurses, or other more specialized healthcare therapists or providers.

OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Department of Health ServicesLicensing and Certification ProgramP.O. Box 942732Sacramento, CA 94234-7320(916) 445-2070www.dhs.cahwnet.gov

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National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists (NANT)P.O. Box 2307Dayton, OH 45401-2307(937) 586-3705(877) 607-6268www.dialysistech.org

Employment Projections by Occupationwww.calmis.ca.gov/htmlfile/subject/occproj.htm

Employment and Wages by Occupationwww.calmis.ca.gov/file/occup$/OES$.htm

RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists No. 17Diagnostic Radiologic Technologists No. 89Laboratory Assistants and Technicians (Except Health) No. 201Medical Assistants No. 513Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technicians No. 538

OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

SOC (Standard Occupational Classification)Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other 29-2099

O*NET (Occupational Information Network)Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other 29-2099.99

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics)Health Care Professionals, Paraprofessionals/Technicians, Other 32999

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles)Dialysis Technician 078.362-014

CU/GA 537