Dialysis Technicians

Volunteering in a hospital, nursing home, dialysis center, or other patient-care facility can give you a taste of what it is like to care for patients. You will soon discover whether you have the necessary disposition to help patients heal both physically and emotionally. Most hospitals have volunteer programs that are open to high school students.

Students interested in the requirements for becoming a dialysis technician may obtain job information from the National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists (NANT) and the Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing Technology (BONENT). If your interest lies specifically in the area of nursing, you may want to contact the American Nephrology Nurses' Association. Also, several journals (such as Journal of Nephrology and the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology) discuss the professional concerns of those working in the field as well as other issues such as treatments and quality control.

Until there are a greater number of organized and accredited training programs, those who are interested in the career of the dialysis technician must seek information about educational opportunities from local sources such as high school career centers, public libraries, and career counselors at technical and community colleges. Specific information is best obtained from dialysis centers, dialysis units of local hospitals, home health care agencies, medical societies, schools of nursing, or individual nephrologists.

Consider joining HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a national membership organization for high school and college students who are interested in pursuing careers in health care. HOSA offers competitions for aspiring health care professionals, including Medical Terminology and Medical Math competitions. Learn more at https://hosa.org/competition.

Participate in information interviews and job-shadowing experiences with dialysis technicians to learn more about the field.