Dialysis technicians are essential to every successful treatment, working tirelessly to ensure patients with kidney disease receive the best care possible. This National Dialysis Technician Recognition Week, from October 14-19, we’re celebrating the dedication and expertise of these essential healthcare professionals.
Dialysis technicians work both behind the scenes – ensuring that essential equipment runs smoothly – and directly with patients during treatment. They handle everything from setting up dialysis machines according to a nephrologist’s prescription to tracking vital health data every 30 minutes, keeping the process smooth and safe. Dialysis technicians are a patient’s constant safeguard throughout treatment, and if they notice any issues, they’re quick to alert the nursing staff.
Because most patients undergo treatment three times a week for about four hours per session, the technicians get to know patients personally, and learn to understand what works best for each patient's care.
But being a dialysis technician isn’t just about technology and health data—it’s about compassion. In fact many dialysis technicians are drawn to the profession because of personal experiences. Some have even been dialysis patients themselves and chose to pursue a career helping others through the very same process that once helped them.
Dialysis technicians are so essential to kidney care, we supported legislation in 2023 which helped technicians who have finished their training keep working for up to 180 days while waiting for certification. We were proud when Governor Jay Inslee signed ESHB 1073 into law. NWKC will continue to support similar efforts to improve kidney care, focusing on both patient safety and building a stronger healthcare workforce, in the future.
To all dialysis technicians, thank you for your dedication, your expertise, and your compassion. You play an indispensable role in the lives of dialysis patients, and your hard work is appreciated every day. Thank you.
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