Dialysis Technician

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Work Tasks

• Help doctors and nurses take care of people with kidney problems
• Get the patient ready for dialysis, weigh them, take their blood pressure, and check other vital signs
• Run the dialysis machine, measure and adjust blood flow rates during dialysis, and tell the doctor if there are any changes in the patient's vital signs
• Help train patients in how to do dialysis at home
• Work indoors in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, or in the homes of patients
• Work with dialysis machines, needles, tubing, solutions, blood samples, and bandages

Salary, Size & Growth

• $36,000 average per year ($17.25 per hour)
• A medium occupation (87,900 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.6% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: On-the-job training in a hemodialysis clinic
• Employers Prefer: A 2-year degree with an emphasis in health science course work and dialysis
• Skills/Courses: At least one year of experience caring for patients with serious kidney disease
• Certification/Licensing: Some states require dialysis technicians to have a license or certificate, and pass a written exam.