techs have to be tested -- yeah

[twirl]

the techs were upset yesterday -- ha ha ha ---- they have to take a four hour test and pass it -
well, not really - if they fail - they take it over at $150.00 a time -- one tech has to drive to League City - about 1 hour drive unless there is freeway construction - then it could be a 3 hour drive -- and two have to go to Austin, Texas which could be a 2 -3 hour drive --- it is a long true/ false test
failing techs can work but still retake the test until they pass and I guess Davita makes 150.00 per test and even more from failing techs
ha ha ha -- eat all the popcorn you want -- I passed all my tests and my degrees are MINE FOREVER
Texas highways are always under construction --- ha ha ha 

[MIbarra]

They are under construction close to League City too!  It will take him longer to get to League City. ha ha ha

[nursewratchet]

the techs were upset yesterday -- ha ha ha ---- they have to take a four hour test and pass it -
well, not really - if they fail - they take it over at $150.00 a time -- one tech has to drive to League City - about 1 hour drive unless there is freeway construction - then it could be a 3 hour drive -- and two have to go to Austin, Texas which could be a 2 -3 hour drive --- it is a long true/ false test
failing techs can work but still retake the test until they pass and I guess Davita makes 150.00 per test and even more from failing techs
ha ha ha -- eat all the popcorn you want -- I passed all my tests and my degrees are MINE FOREVER
Texas highways are always under construction --- ha ha ha 

  They have 2 years notice for this test.  The state requires it, and Davita will pay for it, unless they don't pass.  They have to pay for a retake.  If they don't pass 2 times, they can't work.  They should have prepared for it, had plenty of time... It is a very hard test.

[dwcrawford]

If it is more difficult than what color is blood, many of mine won't pass.  We have some doozies.  And it seems like  more than a fair number get assigned to my chair.

I hope one of the questions is "should you follow orders given by the doctors?"  And I hope to god the answer is listed as yes.

I really don't have much faith that this upcoming test will have too many successful results.

[marti824]

there's one tech in my center that I know could never pass this test, no matter how easy or difficult. he is a real numb nuts.  I cringe whenever I see him in my section in the morning.

[justatech]

In reality coming from somebody who has taken an passed the test with a 97%, it is not all true and false questions, depending on which tech is being accepted by which facility, the Bonent is 150 questions all dealing with patient care (what would you do scenarios, with only 1 right answer), water room (all the acceptable limits etc), reuse if, even if your facility does not have it and medication questions. The ANNA test is also 150 questions, but they are all patient care related. And I have seen some techs that have passed the test, that I would not let near my family or friends who were sitting in that chair. Just because they are test smart, does not make them dialysis smart!

[girliekick]

as a patient do you get to know if the fail the first test?   Or do they keep it on th DL

[nursewratchet]

as a patient do you get to know if the fail the first test?   Or do they keep it on th DL

Good question.  I don't know that answer.  All of the tchs at my clinic took it and passed it years ago.  I made it a requirement, and gave them a cash bonus if they did it within a timeframe.  Wouldn't hurt to ask if they passed first time. 

[dwcrawford]

You mean this is just a one time thing?  Don't they have to have a license or at least a certificate and don't those things require renewal?  Damn, they test me every few years to see if  I'm still qualified to drive.

[nursewratchet]

You mean this is just a one time thing?  Don't they have to have a license or at least a certificate and don't those things require renewal?  Damn, they test me every few years to see if  I'm still qualified to drive.

 Yes, they have to continue this renewal.  If they don't, they have to start from scratch again.

[justatech]

I can tell you from a tech standpoint, the ones that fail don't like to talk about it. We have one tech that has taken the test 4 times and finally passed on the last one. Now with the laws changing, all techs will have to take this test within a year of their hiring date, or no working. Ones that have been hired before Oct. of this year have until March, maybe April to take the test and pass. We too also get an hourly bonus for being certified, but that is not why most take the test now. I took it within the first year of my hire date just to prove that i could do it.

[spacezombie]

ha ha ha -- eat all the popcorn you want -- I passed all my tests and my degrees are MINE FOREVER
Texas highways are always under construction --- ha ha ha 

Hahaha, I lol'd at this. 

[justatech]

Depending on which test they took, the one certification i took lasts 4 years, but during that 4 years I am required to take 45 contact hours of dialysis related education to keep my certification. If i do not, then it expires and i have to retake the test. The other test is only 2 years valid, and they are required to take 20 hours of education contact time. These are not, take it once and it is good forever kind of tests. As with everything else dialysis changes constantly and we as techs are required to keep up with these changes and such. I think it is hilarious myself that other techs would be upset because they have to take a test that in the end benefits the patients and "supposedly" helps us become better techs. (Some you cannot help, sorry 'bout that) Hope this helps.