Dialysis Technician
Dialysis technicians work with patients whose kidneys no longer function properly to produce urine. Dialysis is a lifesaving procedure used to remove waste and excess fluids from the blood and take them out of the body.
There are two types of dialysis:
- haemodialysis, whereby the patient’s blood is passed through a machine that contains a special filter. The cleansed blood is then returned to the body
- peritoneal dialysis involves inserting a tube into the patient’s abdomen and using the peritoneum (membrane lining of the abdominal cavity) as a filter.
Dialysis technicians monitor patients as they undergo dialysis to ensure that the process proceeds smoothly and the equipment functions effectively. They check the patient’s vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse) and test the blood to make sure that the waste is being removed effectively. Some patients choose to undergo dialysis at home. In these cases, the technician instructs the patient, and other individuals who assist the patient, in the proper use of the equipment and when it is necessary to call for medical help.
Dialysis technicians also need to record treatment information and clean and repair equipment as needed.
Employment
- hospitals
- clinics
- physicians’ consulting rooms
- attend to patients at home
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