I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Centers => Dialysis: Workers => Topic started by: Sara on July 30, 2006, 09:19:42 PM
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Just wondering what the typical qualifications are of a typical tech.
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Ours are high school diplomas
Maybe some jr. college (not required though)
Maybe some dialysis training in vocational school
On-the-job-training in the unit on US
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Just wondering what the typical qualifications are of a typical tech.
Lets see you need...
A High School degree or equivalent
A heart beat
Yeah that's about it, or at least thats what it seems like.
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Just wondering what the typical qualifications are of a typical tech.
Lets see you need...
A High School degree or equivalent
A heart beat
Yeah that's about it, or at least thats what it seems like.
That's about right because at my center I have seen them train the RO guys on the job and they go from being an RO guy to a tech. ::) No offical schooling needed. Now I no, on the job training is the best way to learn however NOT when you're dealing with peoples lives. :-\
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That's about right because at my center I have seen them train the RO guys on the job and they go from being an RO guy to a tech. ::) No official schooling needed. Now I know, on the job training is the best way to learn however NOT when you're dealing with peoples lives. :-\
There are training classes (Theory and Policy / Procedure stuff) and tests that PCT and DA's need to take and pass to hold their position, otherwise they can't work for Fresenius. The on the job training is actually just a part of it. The problem with the on the job training is that in alot of situations people that have no business training because they don't do things right are the ones training the new employees.
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I saw plenty of OJT and some of the results scared the shit out of me. One gangbanger looking guy was kept at bay as well as anyone else that I had any concerns over. One would think that considering the work being done the requirements would be much higher. Considering the cost of dialysis per patient a person would think that high quality people would be affordable. Epoman's pics and descriptions of the Davita Conference in Las Vegas sorta showed us where all those bucks are going. Guess home dialysis might be the way to go..."if you want it done right, do it yourself"...
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I'm pretty sure at my clinic you need to be "bilingual." >:D
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Si!
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O O (pronounced oh oh)
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Just below kitkatz sixth graders standard >:D
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Eeegads! Kevno, that is too low even by MY standards! ;D
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The truth hurts :o
Other the years I have seen some stupid things Nurses have done, also done to me :o >:(
On our unit just now we are training nurses for a new unit. They started in April - June, the new unit does not open until April 2007. So that is one year on job training. Plus the biggest part of the nurses on the unit are staff nurses, so thats four years training as a student Nurse. Plus all the exams that go with that.
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Im an RN and most of our training was theory. Whilst some of the theory is necessary, alot of it is BS. I beleive hands on experience is by far the best way to learn once you get the basic knowledge from theory. I learnt more in 4 weeks of prac than I did in 4 weeks in class.
Im hoping to do HD nursing and possibly home HD in the future.
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I suppose that why I always get the student Nurse, the other Nurses send them around to me to learn about what I have been through over the years. Plus read the notes I have made about the time being an renal patient. I am gentle with them, usually they are only first year students. Being dumped in at the deep end, on a acute renal dialysis unit. But they usually are on the unit for 9 weeks.
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Amber its that way in anything. I've had training in other stuff where schematics and block diagrams are pored over ad infinitum for days on end which is all meaningless. The real learning happens when you get your hands on the equipment and have to fix it. On the other hand in dialysis we are dealing with people. If I make a mistake with some piece of equipment I can go back and make it right. Screwing up a fistula or worse in a patient comes with no second chance.
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I dont mind student nurses looking after me. However I cringed when they got one to do my permacath dressing. She seemed pretty inexperienced in aseptic technique, and although she had a nurse instructing her, she didnt tell her to stop breathing all over the exit site. Normally I would say something but I felt I was too sick to bother.
I personally dont think a first year student should be put on a dialysis unit. Of course they can do your BP and what not but they arent even close to being qualified for anything. You do need that first year to learn all your basic skills in the uni labs and do some theory to get some general knowledge of things before your thrown out there. We did no prac in our first year. I do think there should be some prac in the first year, but keep it simple to start with. I did a couple of days in the HD unit in my second year and although it was interesting, it was pretty much a waste of time because I was only really allowed to observe. Observing is important, however considering we only got 4 months of prac over 3 years, I think it needed to be spent on the basic training like sticking to routine, doing ECGs, setting up an IV, cannulating etc. We werent even taught to cannulate as thats something you can choose to do later on. I took blood a few times, but only because I asked to be taught while on prac.
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In that 9 weeks the student nurses. Have a couple of weeks on the Transplant ward. On the PD ward. Plus on the haemodialysis unit. Mainly just taking BP's, Temps, getting the chairs ready. They get assigned a Staff Nurse too look after them while they are on the unit, all the poor student came do is just watch and learn. They are never allowed the change a dressing, or even touch the machines. All the student seems to do is follow the Staff Nurse around with a note book. Plus when they are sent to talk to me I usually fill their note book up, there are usually with me for about one hour. Which kills the time for me :)
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Oh dont even remind me about the following of nurses looking for something to do!!! Oh it was so awful!!! You know what I ended up doing and it was the best thing I could of done - at the start of the shift, ask to have patients assigned to you, and you do all the work for them that day. Obviously you need supervision with some things but at least you wont be following a nurse around feeling like a total idiot. We started off with 1 patient, then 2, 4, then max I think I did was 8. I think it is important to do this to get to know the routines of each shift, otherwise you arent going to know what gets done when.
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I have to agree with Hawkeye. a heartbeat is very important in becoming a tech.
I had 7 years as an Air Force medic with national registry EMT when I started in dialysis. I has lots...and I do mean LOTS of IV experience and I think that was a huge plus in doing my job. I am often complimented on my sticking and I think that is because of the gentleness required when starting an IV. It gave me an easy touch with cannulation. Having all of this medical experience helped me to identify problems with my patients before they became big problems. However, we have had alot of techs with no prior medical background. I don't totally agree with this practice, but it appears to be nationwide. For myself...it took me almost 6 months before I felt completely comfortable working on the machines. And I was shadowed until they felt they could trust me with our patients. Dialysis is a truly different world.
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If someone is truly interested in becoming a PCT there are college courses that they can take. Several community colleges offer a renal care program that teaches them the basics of Dialysis. I think it would make the industry a million times better for the patients if it was mandatory that a PCT take this course before being able to get the position. On the job training is nice, and the other stuff Fresenius supplies for training helps, but the quality of people would be better if they had to work for it. I had to go to electrical school and get a degree to work on the machines, why shouldn't they have to get a degree or certificate to "work" on the patients?
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Totally agree with you hawkeye, it seems stupid that you needed a degree where as the "techs" can be any joe blow. We only have nurses at our clinics, and as far as Ive seen they are all registered nurses. And what about emergency procedures? Are the techs all up on those? What if someone had a heart attack?
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Totally agree with you hawkeye, it seems stupid that you needed a degree where as the "techs" can be any joe blow. We only have nurses at our clinics, and as far as Ive seen they are all registered nurses. And what about emergency procedures? Are the techs all up on those? What if someone had a heart attack?
The techs have to have valid CPR cards, but if the Difib needs to be used it's on the nurses to do that.
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It varies from state to state. Where I'm from, the techs need CNA certification & SNF experience. What sucks is that FMC can't renew the CNA certification. So basically we lose out on that one. They should have one more requirement... NO ESL!!! <<- read the thread "Does it bother you when the workers speak their native language". Half of these CNAs have care homes but no professionalism. I believe that you have to be a CCHT in Nevada.
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this year colorado just passed a dialysis tech certification law. don't exactly know what that means yet, i'm sure the state don't know either. you have to have a license to empty a bed pan so hopefully something good will come from this.
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Just wondering what the typical qualifications are of a typical tech.
This is a very latent response from a former Technical Director for a National Dialysis Chain. I began working in dialysis at 19 and ran screaming away after 22 years because of the decline in appropriate response from the Administration to the appalling lack of training that we were being allowed to provide the staff at the facilities. "Push button" dialysis would be an appropriate term for the current mindset or at least in my humble opinion. I think the emphasis on spending fewer dollars on warm bodies that are backed up by one or two well trained personnel makes for not only a dangerous situation, but also for burn out for everyone involved.
My training was on the job but it was done by vetrans and training was done in levels. I did not officially work on my own until I had mastered the equipment, water treatment, and microbiology.
I think it is time that some of the old dinosaurs of dialysis come back out and look into providing training on a consultation basis so that the facilities could be well staffed again.
I suggest a we begin a forum for training and questions. Of course, the appropriate disclaimers will be necessary....
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I've been a dialysis nurse for near 1 year and my training was done by the unit LPN and PCT's. Of course I'm with a Davita clinic (on my way out the door to be honest soon as I locate that new dream job lol). I was sent for 4 days along with PCT's for dialysis training in a classroom setting at a hotel. I'm the only RN so no RN to teach the things I needed to know there. Fortunately I have over 20 years Critical care experience to back me up and get told everytime I send a pt out to the ER, "it's just hypotension". Thing is every pt I have sent out has been admitted and in the ICU. Last one had encephalopathy due to his aluminium levels. We dont even keep a defib or a cardiac monitor any more as "the company doesnt want the liability". I've had a pt drop in the waiting room post treatment waiting for transportation that my FA says "it's hypotension". She was in rapid atrial fib, yep it was hypotension but not from treatment lol. I have yet to call the MD for an order for antibiotics or other medication adjustments as the FA tells me just write it and give it as "he'll yell at you for calling him for something simply like that". We just hired 2 new pct's and none are certified in anything but a HS diploma. Yet pct's push the heparin although it's against our state practice act. I'm lucky to be told if a pt drops his/her b/p or other symptoms until it's very symptomatic. Oh I'm the only RN and Charge nurse every time I'm there. Sometimes I have an LPN but she's been there so long I'm told by her most of the time when I question something "this is the way we've always done it". States do need to have certification requirements and test these people out. I've also heard techs tell pts to "shut up" when they argue with them and this I just cant tolerate yet the FA looks the other way. I also found out it's pretty much the only place she's (the FA, LPN and most of the PCT's) has every worked (same facility) for 20 years or more. Difficulty to suggest change to bad habits without support. No wonder they cant keep RN's. Are all davita's this way?
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As a former DaVita nurse, notice I said former, yup pretty much all DaVita's are alike.
I have 16 years + of renal and after DaVita bought Gambro I hong on for 3 years and that was all I could do.
Their upper management is a shame. They delegate everything down as far as they can to folks who have no
idea what they are doing then scream when it is wrong. Every good nurse they get they run off. If you are willing
to work your butt off and try to do the right thing and you care about your patients then DaVita is not the place for
you to work. I was managing 5 home hemo units for them and working between 50-70 hours a week plus so much travel
that I never knew what time zone I was in and I am making more money now working 3 12hour shifts a week at a hospital
in Atlanta than I was for them, and I am just a float nurse. Something is wrong with this picture.
Guess what, at the hospital I am appreciated by my employer!!!!
kruep (Kristi)
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I work at FMC and I am a CHT(Certified Hemodialysis Tech). FMC only requires that you have a diploma. We do have to take a test every year in order to keep our jobs. We are evaluated once a year on our performance as well. But we were told last week (By our education department) that the state is passing that all techs have to be certified no matter what company you work for. The nice thing about our company is that if you take the test before it is required they give you a 5% pay increase and reimburse you for your test.
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My center has only employed one tech in the year I have been there. She failed miserably and is no longer there. Our staff now is mostly RN's with a few LPN's.
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two of our techs were home schooled
which is not a bad thing
but they had to take medical classes in reading and math at a local junior college
one could not make the grade and had to drop out
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In MN you have to be licensed by the State, I am going in the AM to interview at a center as I feel thanks to Otto and all of you I can make a great tech and know how to be gentle with the needles.
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how did the interview go
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hope you heard good news from the interview lola.
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Interview went great until they said I would have to work every other Sat, in phone interview they said M-W-F so I had to turn down the job :'( Otto is on-call Saturdays and with 3 young kids it wouldn't go. OH Well now I will keep driving the school bus
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That's the way it is here. The nurses have to work every other Saturday since the center is open 6 days a week.
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Lola I really thought you were 98, remember when you were going to kick butt and I thought WOW and at her age. :rofl;
where I go is Davita and down the road is another Davita that is only opened on MWF, I started to change to there but I had to be put on at 5am and there is no eating or drinking. Some of our techs only work MWF or TTS but the we have a big turn over with workers.
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I haven't seen the new regulations that are being put out by the government yet myself but I have been told there are lots of changes coming for the dialysis world. The rules are getting stricter and a lot of clinics are going to struggle with them. One good thing that I was told is that all existing PCTs will have to be licensed by 2010 and all new ones will have to come in with one already. That will give them a year to convert and make the people providing the care more responsible for their own actions.
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I haven't seen the new regulations that are being put out by the government yet myself but I have been told there are lots of changes coming for the dialysis world. The rules are getting stricter and a lot of clinics are going to struggle with them. One good thing that I was told is that all existing PCTs will have to be licensed by 2010 and all new ones will have to come in with one already. That will give them a year to convert and make the people providing the care more responsible for their own actions.
That sounds great!! No more on the job training, with us Patients being the learning tool.
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in ohio, you have been required to be licensed for over ten years now. we go through an education program, one year of "temporary" license, and we must take and pass an extensive test at the end of our first year to obtain a license from the Ohio Board of Nursing, which we must then maintain with Continuing Education Credits every year. Trust me guys, all of us techs are not horrible! :-)
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Thanks for the info...
I told you in the intro we know all techs is not horrible........ SO glad your on the forum. Please don't take it personally.......
How has your latest training gone? In your intro you mentioned something in that line?
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I really enjoy this site, and no, I don't take anything personally! believe me, i have worked with some compassionless techs and nurses in my time, and it really irritates me to see patients treated badly. my favorite part of my job is my patients. There is no need for any dialysis worker anywhere to be rude or disrepectful to a patient. I always try to cheer my patients up, because I know it must be horrible to sit in that chair for four hours at a stretch. I can't wait to be a dialysis nurse! i plan on travelling after i graduate so maybe I'll see some of you in the near future! 8)
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Nurses and techs and Doctors need a class on how to become a people person not a rude snobbie person who knows it all and the people on dialysis are just stupid so take your pain and meds and be good don't ask me questions cause i get fustraded and can't answer them with out being rude to you that is a nurse i have to deal with everytime i go in. its so bad i have considered not going in for treatments
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There's an RN that just started working at my center a couple of weeks ago. She's technically competent, but is meaner than a snake. I finally got sick of her, and waited for the Neph, Nutritionist and Center Director to come through. I then opened up a dialog with the hateful nurse. As usual, she was hostile, which raised the ire of the center director. I then proceeded to relate to them my discontent with the RN. I told them that it was unacceptable for my insurance to be paying out buckets of money, and then get treated like crap by employees of the center. I let them all know that I already grabbed the contact information for the CEO of Fresenius, and was ready to write a poison-pen letter.
The center director and the nurse disappeared for about 20 minutes; when she came back, she had a new attitude. Problem solved!
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wish it was that easy for me at my unit no they told me she is not going anywhere cause she is the best of the best at what she does. I know other nurses there that could do her job in a min. was told I will tell her to be nice. Ok that means go ahead and be rude again we don't care your the best of the best. was told by the ass manager he has seen her be down right rude to the pac but nothing was done I am at the point of going over everybody's head to get something done and I have skipped treatments cause i know she is in charge and know other boss would be there like it would help if they was if i could get away with it i would do this :Kit n Stik;
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Some in my unit have worked in er, nursing homes, some have never worked in health care.they train the techs on the job!