Dialysis Technician Training in South Dakota
The Board of Nursing sets the standards for dialysis technician training and certification requirements in the state of South Dakota. According to state law, a licensed nurse may delegate select dialysis tasks to a technician who has at least a high school education or equivalent and who has completed training outlined in §20:48:04.02:09. Technicians must work under the supervision of a nurse and may only carry out select tasks. A technician cannot perform the following tasks:
- Initiate or terminate dialysis via a central catheter
- Administer IV medications other than normal saline, hypertonic saline, or heparin
- Administer blood or blood products
- Accept physician orders
In addition to state requirements, dialysis technicians must comply with the federal regulations recently added to the reimbursement policy at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Since the CMS is responsible for around 80% of the costs associated with the delivery of dialysis treatment, nearly all facilities in the United States will need to abide by CMS policies if they hope to remain in operation. The federal government took over the dialysis reimbursement process because so many patients were having trouble coming up with the money they needed to pay for their therapy. Initially, hospitals had boards that would decide who would benefit from treatment based on age and future contribution to society, but this was seen as an unethical and intolerable approach to care.
CMS regulations 494.140 (e)(1-4) mandate that the patient care technician training and certification requirements be inclusive of the following expectations…
- Meet all applicable state requirements for:
- Education
- Training
- Credentialing
- Competency
- Standards of practice
- Certification
- Licensure
- Have a High School Diploma or equivalency
- Complete an approved training program that includes the following subjects:
- Principles of dialysis
- Care of patients with kidney failure
- Possible complications of dialysis
- Water treatment and dialysate preparation
- Infection control
- Safety
- Dialyzer reprocessing
- Certification by a State or National Program within 18 months of employment
Individuals who are considering a career as a dialysis technician are encouraged to familiarize themselves with common training and certification protocol. In general, dialysis facilities are allowed to develop their own training program based on state established standards. A list of the required curriculum topics can be found by clicking here. In South Dakota, trainees will receive no less than 80 hours of classroom instruction and 200 hours of clinical or laboratory instruction. Each unit test must be passed with a score of 85% or higher. Technicians will also be required to successfully pass either a state approved or national certification examination.
National certification examination options include:
- The Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
- Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT) Exam
- The Board of Nephrology Examiners Nursing and Technology (BONENT)
- Certified Hemodialysis Technician (CHT) Exam
- The National Nephrology Certification Organization, Inc. (NNCO)
- Certified in Clinical Nephrology Technology (CCNT) Exam
- Certified in Biomedical Nephrology Technology (CBNT) Exam
In 1978, Congress established 18 non-profit networks that were given the responsibility of tracking the quality of dialysis care being delivered in the United States. These renal networks have jurisdiction over one to six states where they promote comprehensive patient care, collect statistical data, and act as a resource for dialysis patients and facility personnel. South Dakota is a part of Network 11 along with North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
South Dakota Dialysis Technician Training and Career Links
State Contact Information
Phone: (605) 773-3361
Toll-Free: (800) 738-2301
Email: doh.info@state.sd.us
600 E Capitol Ave Pierre, SD 57501-2536
Web Site: South Dakota Department of Health
National Network: Network 11