Important facts about kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome, and the dialysis technician career field. Information retrieved from http://www.dialysistechniciansalary.org/ career resource.

1. Helping Dialysis Patients Live Better
Dialysis Technician Career Field

2. Dialysis Process
 Machine performs filtration normally carried out
by the kidneys
 Tube transports blood from the body to the
machine
 Machine removes excess water and waste as
well as restores proper nutrients
 Cleaned blood is returned to the body through a
tube
 Process requires many hours multiple times each
week

3. Diabetes and Heart Disease
 Account for around 80% of kidney failure
 Related to high fat foods and sedentary lifestyle
 Can cause enormous damage to the kidneys
 The most important diseases to understand if
working in a dialysis clinic

4. Nephrotic Syndrome
 Excess protein excreted in the urine
 Swelling in the feet and ankles
 Fluid retention and weight gain
 Foamy urine
 Caused by a variety of diseases
 Glomerulosclerosis
 Glomerulonephritis
 Minimal change disease
 Amyloidosis
 Lupus erythematosus

5. Emotional Stress
 Commonly seen in dialysis patients
 Results from difficult treatment protocol
 Important for dialysis technicians to recognize
signs and symptoms
 Communicate with other members of the dialysis
team
 Contact social workers about concerns

6. Dialysis Technician Profession
 New law requires technicians to successfully
complete state or national certification
 Little or no formal education required
 Training available in most dialysis clinics
 Few barriers compared to other healthcare career
fields
 Personally satisfying
 Financially rewarding
 Chance to help patients who are very sick

7. Industry Resources:
 http://www.dialysistechniciansalary.org/