If you are hoping to become a hemodialysis technician, then you likely realize the job involves working with patients suffering from permanent kidney failure, and your task will be to offer them the best care and treatment possible. You will need a high school diploma or its equivalent and some higher education, often training that grants certification with the successful completion of a six-month or year-long program. Hands-on learning in a clinical setting also is common. Training likely will involve learning how to operate the machinery involved in hemodialysis, developing excellent hygiene practices and learning how to deal with a range of patients, including some who are seriously ill.
To become a hemodialysis technician, you have to be able to work under pressure. You will be dealing with patients who are extremely ill and will need to be able to keep them calm to accurately monitor their vital signs and provide treatment. You also will need to provide them with the emotional support they need, because some may be afraid of dying. Being willing to work long hours also can help if you want to become a hemodialysis technician, because hospital shifts usually last 12 hours and rotate between night shifts and day shifts. In a private practice, you could end up being the only hemodialysis technician on staff, meaning you would be responsible for caring for all patients the practice treats with hemodialysis, as well as being on call when you're not otherwise at work.
A high school diploma or its equivalent is required to become a hemodialysis technician. Course work focused on health, biology, chemistry, math and English will be helpful. Some employers will offer on-the-job training that will teach you enough to earn your certification. Others will require that you finish a hemodialysis technician training program, which will give you a hemodialysis technician diploma or certificate. It can be beneficial to choose a school accredited by a group such as the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT).
Whether you need certification to become a hemodialysis technician depends on the area in which you live. Employers often ask for certification before hiring a hemodialysis technician, but some will allow you to work before you get certification as long as you have graduated from an accredited program. It is important to know what the requirements are at the place you wish to work, because you normally need a year of experience working with patients before you are allowed to sit for the certification exam. The questions the exam asks cover such subjects as caring for patients and how to use the machines. You will need to renew your certification every few years.
There are many places you can choose to work once you become a hemodialysis technician. Public and private clinics, hospitals and home dialysis programs are just a few such places. If you see the job as a stepping stone, proper training and job experience as a hemodialysis technician also could be applied toward eventually becoming a registered nurse.