If you want to work with kidney dialysis patients, then you may need to get your dialysis technician certification. After getting your certificate, you will know how to operate a dialysis machine and will be comfortable taking care of patients who are suffering from renal failure. Here are some curriculum components of the dialysis tech certification program.
Renal System Physiology
In order to complete your dialysis technician certification training program, you will need to understand the physiology of the renal system. You will also gain proficiency in the anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder, and will develop an understanding of how they work to filter out toxins from the body. Students also need to learn about risk factors for kidney disease such as high blood pressure, family history, and diabetes.
Patient Care
You will participate in clinical classwork so that you learn how to take care of patients undergoing dialysis. You will learn how to assess dialysis patients for allergic reactions, blood pressure abnormalities, and circulation problems. Adverse reactions from renal dialysis need to be recognized and treated quickly to avoid organ collapse.
Caring for renal patients also involves nutritional intervention and dietary guidelines for people who have kidney disease. Other learning components include pharmacology. In this class, you will learn about the medications used in the treatment of kidney disease as well as the medications that may raise the risk of renal failure in those with kidney problems.
