Dialysis nurses administer dialysis to patients whose kidneys have failed and need the aid of dialysis machines to clean toxins out of their blood. The dialysis machine is a substitute for the kidney’s various functions when they no longer work adequately. Dialysis patients need this care from one to three times weekly and sometimes more often. The dialysis nurse hooks the patient up to the machine, operates the machine and monitors the patient during this time. It can be either at the patient’s home, the hospital unit or a dialysis unit. Use these tips to learn how you can get the proper dialysis nurse training and enter this profession.
Education
In high school, you will want to get at least a 3.5 GPA in all of your classes and focus your education in math and science classes. After graduation, you can register for an accredited nursing school and get an Associate of Science Degree, Bachelor of Science Degree, or you can even take vocational courses to become a Licensed Vocational Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse. Some programs will allow you to take the course if you’re a high school graduate or have your (GED) and have 1,000 hours of experience working in a dialysis related setting.
Licensing
After graduating nursing school, you will register to take either the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-LPN/LVN and get your nursing license. The NCLEX is the National Council for Licensing Examination and you will need to pass with an 85% or higher to receive your nursing license. Keep in mind that you will not need a nursing license to become a Certified Dialysis Technician. This position does essentially the same work, but a licensed nurse will administer any medications for you.
Certification and Training
Before you can become a dialysis nurse, you will need at least one to two years experience in an acute care hospital. After that time, you can look into a dialysis certification program. These usually last one year and combine both classroom and practical experience. Places you can find these programs are online, hospitals and dialysis centers. You will have to apply and be accepted into the program. After one year of training and then one additional year of work in dialysis on the floor completing at least 2,000 hours of clinical time, you will be eligible to take the examination with the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC) and receive certification. If you are an RN, you will become a Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN). If you are an LPN/LVN, you will become a Certified Hemodialysis Technician or (CHT). You will also need to take 15 hours of your continuing education in Nephrology.
Skills Needed for Dialysis Nursing
In addition to the educational requirements, you’ll also need certain skills to provide dialysis care. These include:
- Good Communication skills
- Strict Attention to Details
- Empathy and Compassion with patients and families
- Good knowledge of diet and fluid restrictions for dialysis patients
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to lift at least 50 pounds
Job Duties
Dialysis is hooked on to a patient through catheters in the arms, chest or neck area. You will be in charge of hooking the dialysis machine up, taking required blood for lab work and adjusting the settings on the machines. During dialysis you will monitor the patient’s vital signs, give necessary medications and monitor for side effects of the treatment. You will also counsel the patient on diet and fluids necessary to prevent fluid retention in between treatments. For the most part, dialysis is a very rewarding job and you have the opportunity of making great friends with your patients and families. At times, this can be a stressful job. With the critical nature of the procedure, patients can have mild to severe side effects of fluid removal. The ability to act fast when this happens is absolutely necessary.
Employment Opportunities
Being a Certified Dialysis Nurse or Certified Dialysis Technician, you will be able to work in an acute care hospital in the dialysis unit or transport dialysis machines to patient rooms. You will also have the opportunity to work with an outside dialysis company or do dialysis in the patient’s own home.
Salary and Job Outlook
The average salary for a Certified Dialysis Nurse (CDN) is approximately $50,000 to $69,000 per year. A Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) makes approximately $27,000 to $40,000. If you have your LVN/LPN license you will make closer to $40,000.
The job outlook for a dialysis nurse is steady and growing. Unless people receive a kidney transplant, they will require dialysis for life. With the growing incidence of diabetes and other conditions that cause kidney failure, the demand for dialysis nurses and technicians continues to grow steadily.
If you like working closely with patients and families, you have the ability to work under pressure and the desire to help dialysis patients have a good quality of life, then a career in dialysis would be a great choice for you.