This course is designed to prepare individuals with the theoretical, technical, and clinical skills needed to maintain equipment and provide patient care to those being treated for chronic renal diseases. Successful completion of this course will prepare the individual for employment as a dialysis technician in hospitals, renal dialysis facilities, and clinics. Upon completion, students may be eligible to sit for a national exam.  Students in this program will participate in clinical hours with Davita Dialysis.

Training Includes:

• Anatomy and physiology of the kidney
• The principles, processes, and the history of dialysis
• The role of the dialysis technician and his/her part of a dialysis patient care team
• Differentiate between acute and chronic renal failure, discussing causes of each
• How ESRD affects the patient physically, psychologically, socially, and emotionally
• Identify the nutritional needs of the ESRD patient
• Identify related diagnostic tests and treatment modalities
• Discuss the types of vascular access and how to care for them
• Utilize standard precautions and aseptic technique and follow OSHA guidelines
• Implement safety and emergency measures for dialysis patients and self
• Correctly assess the patient’s vital signs and weight
• Calculate weight gain and target loss for the hemodialysis patient and correctly program
  the machine
• Prepare the dialysis machine for the hemodialysis patient, including setting up, testing, recirculating, setting parameters, tearing down, cleaning, and disinfecting
• Prepare packs and basins, correctly drawing up and labeling saline syringes
• Check blood sugars when necessary and identify the normal range
• Discuss the methods of measuring the effectiveness and adequacy of dialysis
• 6 hours of customer service

Admissions Requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Provide proof of high school completion (High school transcripts, copy of high school diploma, or copy of completion of GED requirements)
• Provide documentation of complete immunization records including proof of MMR 1 and 2 or individual titers, current TB test, varicella infection by medical record, varicella titer, or varicella immunization if titer is negative, proof of hepatitis B vaccine or signed MCC waiver
• Tetanus and flu shots for some clinical sites

Cost of Class:

• Registration $180
• Liability Insurance $13
• Text $62.18 (subject to change)
• CPR Card
• Optional accident insurance $1.20

Other Fees:

• Drug screening for clinical site
• Background check for clinical site
• Cost of Certification exam

5/22-8/7, MW, 5:30-8:30 p.m.  Lecture and Lab Nights: No Class week of July 4th
*clinical hours will vary and may include days and/or weekends
$180 plus book and fees        Instructor:   Youngblood
Yancey 828.682.7315

Students in the program may get help paying for class by calling 828.766.1297.