Dialysis Assistant Training

Dialysis assistants operate dialysis machines that remove waste, salt and excess water from a patient with kidney damage, experiencing a drug overdose or being treated for plasmaphoresis or hemmodialysis. Assistants specialize in protocol and preparing the patient for the treatment, including giving them instructions.

Prerequisites

• Dialysis assistant training begins with a high school diploma or equivalent that is a prerequisite for training programs at colleges and trade schools. Training at those facilities can last from 12 weeks to a year, depending on the program.

Dialysis Patient Care Technician Track

• College and trade school dialysis assistant training can be a one-semester dialysis patient care technician track. This track is comprised of classroom instruction on medical terms, kidney function and nursing techniques.

Certificate of Completion for Renal Dialysis Technician

• These schools can also offer one-year classes that result in a certificate of completion for renal dialysis technician involving working with artificial kidneys. This track includes classroom instruction and lab work.

National Certifications

• Graduates of these programs can gain employment without national certification, although most employers require you to acquire it shortly after hire. Certification boards are the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT,) the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) and the National Nephrology Certification Organization.