Anyone interested in Dialysis Techanican Program?

Tish88 · May 28, 2011

Don't waste your $ on those programs. The leading dialysis companies provide on the job training and do not require these courses prior to employment.

Minnie02 · Jun 23, 2011

Well,for the program to become a dialysis tech was a big step. I want to become a dialysis RN one day, and this will give me hand on experience. If you know how the nursing schools are in southern california..you would know ...the waiting period to get into the nursing school you wish to go. So yeah, this will be a stepping stone to success. Not wasting my time and energy on something that I don't like doing. But something I will put on my heart and soul in it. So yeah, this career is the best choice. In this way, getting the exposure working in a dialysis center, will prepare me for the future and no knowledge would be wasted. There really some good dialysis tech schools out there, who help to become whom you want to be. Dont take me in the wrong way, but now the career path is set, and there is nothing to worry about.

Trauma Columnist · Jun 26, 2011

But the dialysis companies train you to be a tech. No reason to get ripped off by some for-profit company.

Minnie02 · Jul 1, 2011

But the dialysis companies train you to be a tech. No reason to get ripped off by some for-profit company.

Nope, dialysis companies want a person to be certified by the state in order to work in the company and they would also want the person to have a year experience , if not they won't have it. Let me know if company trains you to be tech, i would be happy to know about that information.

Tish88 · Jul 3, 2011

Nope, dialysis companies want a person to be certified by the state in order to work in the company and they would also want the person to have a year experience , if not they won't have it. Let me know if company trains you to be tech, i would be happy to know about that information.

Davita, Fresenius and Dialysis Clinic Inc will train you to be a tech and within the 18 months of employment you will need to take the certification exam to continue employment with them.

Those companies that are offering training and certification is a big waste of money!!! Why spend thousands of dollars on them when you can get hired as a tech, get trained by your employer and YOU get paid while doing it!!!

Minnie02 · Jul 3, 2011

Davita, Fresenius and Dialysis Clinic Inc will train you to be a tech and within the 18 months of employment you will need to take the certification exam to continue employment with them.
Those companies that are offering training and certification is a big waste of money!!! Why spend thousands of dollars on them when you can get hired as a tech, get trained by your employer and YOU get paid while doing it!!!

NO they don't. They want experienced people before you start working them. I don't want to argue here, because I know how it is.

Tish88 · Jul 4, 2011

I know first hand that they DO hire PCT's with no experience and/or certification. I am a administrator for one of the named companies!

I live in an area that have all 3 of these companies and one of them has a contract with a school that is offering the PCT classes and certification. The students come into the clinic but they are NOT allowed to even touch the patients! What kind of experience is that????

After the students are done with their schooling, they still have to be trained by the dialysis clinic, so don't waste your money on the schooling since you will be trained again at the clinic.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 5, 2011

Yep and I reiterate - Fresenius and Davita are in my area also and I too know they train techs - they do require certification within an amt of time but I sue wouldn't spend money myself to get the training when its provided on the job.

Minnie02 · Jul 5, 2011

I know first hand that they DO hire PCT's with no experience and/or certification. I am a administrator for one of the named companies!
I live in an area that have all 3 of these companies and one of them has a contract with a school that is offering the PCT classes and certification. The students come into the clinic but they are NOT allowed to even touch the patients! What kind of experience is that????
After the students are done with their schooling, they still have to be trained by the dialysis clinic, so don't waste your money on the schooling since you will be trained again at the clinic.

Well, the program I went through also is a well know company which is a dialysis company. And For the fact, I got to cannulate patients, took BP, vitals, entired data in the system, also got one-one talk with nurses/nephorlogist, see how the nurses did the catheter as I m not a nurse, and I always wanted to how its like. There are few other places where these programs take place, but they are very expensive, but the place I went there It was worth every bit. They send recommendation letters and student resumes to different dialysis companies, so right now I m going to go in for interview soon for working as PCT, I just got certified. The program is not expensive at all. That all I can say. I had a really good experience, and the previous people who took the course have a really good feeback.

Tish88 · Jul 5, 2011

Yep and I reiterate - Fresenius and Davita are in my area also and I too know they train techs - they do require certification within an amt of time but I sue wouldn't spend money myself to get the training when its provided on the job.

Under the conditions of coverage with CMS, certification is required within 18 months of employment as a PCT.

This is from the CoC:

494.140(e) ''Patient care dialysis technicians'' by adding paragraph (e)(4), which requires that PCTs, ''Be certified under a State certification program or a national commercially available certification program as follows: (i) For newly employed patient care technicians, within 18 months of being hired as a dialysis patient care technician, or (ii) For patient care technicians employed on October 14, 2008, within 18 months after such date. We are allowing an 18-month time period for certification to ensure that a sufficient time period is available for PCTs to schedule a date to sit for the certification exam. Because we are allowing a lengthy time period to become certified, we are retaining the proposed rule's training program topics to ensure that non-certified PCTs have appropriate training before they begin to provide patient care as a PCT trainee.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 5, 2011

Thanks Tish for the info.