Dialysis Technician
LIMITED ENROLLMENT
Delivery method: On campus
Program begins: Fall and Spring
Program Description
The Dialysis Technician program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties required of dialysis technicians. Students will learn procedures to operate kidney dialysis machines, preparation of the dialyzer, reprocessing and delivery systems, equipment maintenance, and patient monitoring.
Preparation
Students interested in the Dialysis Technician program must be a Certified Nursing Assistant. Successful students have a strong sense of responsibility, patience, and manual dexterity.
Program Requirements
Application Dates:
Fall – August 9
Spring – December 27
Upon receipt of all application materials by the deadline, the Nursing Program Director will evaluate the applicant’s file for completeness of the following requirements:
- Students must obtain a Nursing Assistant Certification while enrolled in the program or provide proof of Nursing Assistant Certification.
- Proof of high school diploma or high school equivalency
- Proof of immunizations dependent on clinical placement
- Exemption requests must be inquired upon and are subject to review and approval by the clinical facility. Clinical affiliates maintain sole discretion as to the student’s ability to participate in the Clinical Experiences.
- TOEFL test as proof of English proficiency score of 70 or higher (for applicants for which English is not their native language)
- Criminal background check and drug screening administered by CastleBranch.
- Required Certifications: Apply for the North Dakota Board of Nursing Unlicensed Assistive Persons (UAP) registry before class start.
Upon successful completion of the above curriculum, the student will receive a Program Certificate in Dialysis Technician and is eligible to apply to take the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) Dialysis Technician Exam.
Career Opportunities
As kidney failure continues to be a growing national health problem, there is a growing demand for well-trained dialysis technicians. Dialysis Technicians are employed in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other medical facilities.
The number of dialysis technician jobs has the potential to increase by more than 15% by 2031 (Healthcare Occupations: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). While most technician training has historically been done "on-the-job," today's healthcare employers seek well-trained technicians with the necessary knowledge and skills to fill this growing number of positions.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, Dialysis Technician students will be able to:
- Work under the supervision of a registered or licensed practical nurse to administer this life-sustaining procedure in a highly invasive and specialized patient care environment.
- Perform the hemodialysis procedure, which removes waste products from the patient’s blood.
- Have a working knowledge of how blood is removed from the patient’s body, cycled through the artificial kidney for cleansing of metabolic waste products before returning to the patient.
- Create daily reports for patient status regarding specimens obtained for testing.
- Possess core knowledge to take the professional certification exam for Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT).