Dialysis Technicians

Many people entering the field have some type of experience in a patient-care setting or college training in biology, chemistry, or health-related fields, but the majority of technicians learn their skills through on-the-job training at the first hospital or dialysis center where they are employed.

The ability to talk easily with patients and their families is essential. Kidney patients, especially those who are just beginning dialysis, are confronting a major—and permanent—life change. You must be able to help them deal with the emotional as well as the physical effects of their condition. Good interpersonal skills are crucial, not only in the technician-patient relationship, but in working closely with other technicians and health care professionals as well. Because the slightest mistake can have deadly consequences, a technician must be thorough and detail-oriented. Since the technician is responsible for the lives of patients, you must be mature, able to respond to stressful situations calmly, and think quickly in an emergency. Good mathematical skills and a familiarity with the metric system are essential. You must be able to calibrate machines and calculate the correct amounts and proportions of solutions to be used as well as quickly determine any necessary changes if there are indications that a patient is not responding to the treatment appropriately.

It can be upsetting to work with people who are ill, and if you have a cheerful disposition and pleasant manner this will help ease the patient's anxiety.