Dialysis Nursing - Dialysis Technician Schools, Training, Certification

Is Dialysis Nursing For You? Learn About Learn About Dialysis Technician Schools, Training And Certification

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Dialysis Nursing

Dialysis Nursing Job Description

Dialysis nursing is an area of specialty for registered nurses to focus on renal or kidney care. Some of the job duties of a dialysis technician, or a nephrology or urology nurse as they're sometimes called, include taking care of the patients' overall needs, operating the dialysis machines, educating the patients and the families on proper treatment and doing basic medical procedures. They have to make the patient feel comfortable during dialysis and ensure that the equipment is functioning properly; reporting any problems or maintenance needs as they occur.

Dialysis Technician Training

A dialysis nurse is a registered nurse, and therefore must hold a bachelor's or master's of science in nursing degree. They also must have certification as a registered nurse, having passed their NCLEX-RN exam. To specialize in dialysis, either a registered nurse needs to have some previous experience working in renal care or in a dialysis clinic. Another option is that a nurse can attend dialysis school to get the training needed.

Many programs offer full or part time studies and are on average around 450-500 hours in length. Schools that concentrate in this area will require your nursing diploma, your registered nurse certification and a transcript of your studies to accept your application.

There are specialized schools you can attend, although there are also programs available at dialysis clinics. They will teach procedures like hemodialysis, cannulation and decannulation, hooking and priming. You will also get extensive hands on training on top of your classroom theory. The best programs are the ones accredited by RENAP.

Job Opportunities and Average Salary

Although there is no separate distinction for a dialysis nurse in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, they are classified with registered nurses, and thus the field is expected to grow about 23% by 2016. Home health care and outpatient care centers will see most of that growth, but hospitals and dialysis clinics are other great job opportunities.

On average, a dialysis nurse will make between $49,500 and $71,000 a year, depending on their education and experience, so it can be a very lucrative field to go into. Dialysis nursing is simply one option for a registered nurse to pursue if they want to specialize or gain experience in one concentrated area, so once certified as a registered nurse, there are many options open to you.

Dialysis Nursing

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