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.
Satisfying Aspects
- saving lives
- improving a patient’s quality of life
- rendering a vital service to sick people
- being part of the medical profession
Demanding aspects
- concentration required while performing a procedure
- working long and irregular hours
- working shifts over weekends and holidays
- working with terminally ill patients
Requirements
- tactful and tolerant
- being able to put patients at ease
- compassionate and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- responsible and reliable
- sympathetic and emotionally mature
- able to work carefully and accurately
- have good mechanical aptitude
School Subjects
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Physical Sciences
Recommended Subjects: Life Sciences
Training
Training at various private nursing colleges
Employer
- hospitals
- clinics
- physicians’ consulting rooms
- attend to patients at home
Contact
Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)
P O Box 205
Pretoria, 0001
Tel: (012) 338-9300
Fax: (012) 328-5120
E-mail: hpcsa@hpcsa.co.za
www.hpcsa.co.za